Hundreds of thousands of oil and gas wells in the U.S. are undocumented, potentially leaking chemicals like methane. Researchers are using AI to find these wells by analyzing historical USGS maps. Programs are being developed to confirm and quantify methane emissions from these wells using drones and low-cost sensors. Over 1,300 potential wells have been found in California and Oklahoma, with researchers verifying 29 so far. Cutting-edge technology, including drones equipped with different sensors, are being utilized to detect and measure methane leaks. The Consortium Advancing Technology for Assessment of Lost Oil & Gas Wells (CATALOG) is leading the effort to address this widespread issue.
https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2024/12/04/ai-helps-researchers-dig-through-old-maps-to-find-lost-oil-and-gas-wells/