Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Optimum Magnetometer Transect Spacing To Locate Legacy Oil And Gas Wells: Preliminary Results, Jason A. Patton, Michael G. Davis, Kenyon J. Gowing, Hunter B. Vickers

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The purpose of this project was to examine the optimum transect spacing to locate legacy oil and gas wells using an Overhauser magnetometer. Widely known to be a potential environmental hazard, legacy oil and gas wells may act as a conduit for methane and/or deeper subsurface fluids (naturally occurring brines, injected waste fluids, or injected CO₂) to the surface or shallow subsurface. Many plugged wells have all surface equipment removed leaving no visible trace at the surface and thus making the environmental assessment of these wells difficult. Using a magnetometer along a set of predefined transects, magnetic anomalies …