March 2024
Executive Summary
This document presents a comprehensive analysis of the use of remote sensing tools for environmental monitoring and the certification of well sites. The study addresses the need for advanced methodologies in the reclamation of padded sites, which are complex due to their construction in sensitive areas. Traditionally, the environmental monitoring of such sites is both time-consuming and potentially disruptive. This project aimed to leverage remote sensing technologies to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring these environments, thereby supporting better decision-making processes in land use and reclamation certification.
We describe a multi-staged approach, starting with the collection and analysis of extensive datasets from well databases, company records, environmental reports, and remote sensing data. Five tasks were identified to achieve our goals:
The research utilized a combination of airborne and spaceborne datasets to identify padded sites across Alberta. Advanced machine learning algorithms were trained using a dataset of identified padded and unpadded sites to classify new sites based on remote sensing data. The methodology emphasized the integration of these tools into a decision framework that can systematically be used to complement existing evaluation and monitoring methods to assess the status of reclamation efforts.
We highlight the capabilities of remote sensing tools in detecting and classifying padded sites with considerable accuracy including their importance in reducing the ecological footprint of monitoring activities by minimizing ground disturbances during data collection. However, we acknowledge the challenges in the current remote sensing approach, such as the need for larger training datasets and the potential benefits of incorporating additional predictor variables and alternative classification algorithms.
We demonstrate the effectiveness of remote sensing tools in enhancing the reclamation certification process for well sites in general. These tools not only improve the speed and reduce the costs associated with environmental monitoring but also increase the reliability of the data collected, thus facilitating more informed decision-making. Finally, we recommend the continued development and integration of these technologies into standard monitoring practices, suggesting that they hold significant promise for widespread application in environmental monitoring and site reclamation across various industries.
20-RRRC-13