Reclamation of Plugged and Abandoned Natural Gas Facilities Using Drone Technologies

Natural gas development within specific geographic areas of the Southwest is on the decline due to reservoir production decline within certain formations after decades of development and extraction. This is particularly true for areas within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. As the reservoir volume declines, and the wells become uneconomical, they are plugged, abandoned, operational facilities removed and the graded locations reclaimed to match historic natural terrain. The reclamation of these disturbed areas can be accomplished through a variety of methods to support recontouring design and reclamation that matches natural adjacent terrain. This may include land survey, onsite review and analysis of conditions and the adoption of new technologies that promote efficiency in the design of the recontouring plans that will meet the requirements of diverse regulatory requirements of Tribal and Federal authority . Many locations have been in operation for decades within topographically challenging areas that limit the ability to capture existing grade and drainage patterns via traditional land survey. Through the use of drone technology, these sites are mapped to obtain contour, Lidar data, and high resolution aerial imagery to define existing grade and drainage patterns. This data is then processed and used to design recontouring plans of the location that match topography, drainages (if applicable) and promote a return to natural conditions. This methodology has facilitated efficient reclamation design that provides clear expectations for implementation by a contractor, meets regulatory requirements, and promotes a natural regrade that enhances a return to native conditions from previously disturbed areas.