On December 7, 2019, the UMT long-range UAS Cicada participated in a wide-area low altitude UAV aeromagnetic survey targeting abandoned oil and gas wells on lands overseen by the Department of Conservation of the State of New York.

1. UAV Aeromagnetic Surveys targeting abandoned
oil and gas wells in New York State

2. Background Information
Abandoned wells are unplugged wells
(primarily oil or gas wells) that have not been
operated and maintained in accordance with
prevailing statute and regulation. Many
abandoned wells have fallen into advanced
states of disrepair.
Orphan wells are a subset of abandoned wells
for which no owner can be determined.
In most instances, orphan wells were drilled in
the late 1800s to early 1900s, prior to the
establishment of a modern regulatory
framework in New York.
Due to their advanced age and the lack of
comprehensive well information, these wells
may present significant threats to public
safety and the environment.
Historic Lease Map – Western New York

3. NYS 1 m LiDAR data
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Digital Surface Model (DSM)

4. Terrain obstacles
Survey Obstacle Model NYS two foot orthoimagery 2012

5. Mission Planning
QGC Mission Plan
Google Earth Mission Plan

6. UAV Aeromagnetic Surveys -Dec 7, 2019
Three flights Raw total magnetic field data

7. Base station data
52548
52550
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52568
16:51:30 17:51:30 18:51:30 19:51:30 20:51:30
MagneticTotalFieldF[nT]
UTC Time

8. Data Processing and Contouring
Processed total magnetic intensity Magnetic contour map – well targets

11. Battery-Powered vs Hybrid UAS
Professional Battery-Powered Hexacopter – 4 flights UMT Cicada Hybrid – 3 flights

12. Future Work
• Ground Verification surveys
• More magnetic surveys (finish
the last quarter section)
• Blind trials (no lease map)
• UAV-based LiDAR flights