Project Info

UAV/Drone-Based Aeromagnetic Survey Planning and Training for Orphaned Well Detection

Richard Krahenbuhl
rkrahenb@mines.edu

Project Goals and Description:

The Mines Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Innovation Center (MCIC) is hiring a summer undergraduate researcher in the Geophysics Department to support our new CarbonSAFE project. This project, funded by the Department of Energy, is investigating the feasibility of carbon capture and storage in southern Colorado. A major aspect of the project is performing a sequence of drone-based aeromagnetic surveys of the area to determine if there are orphaned wells that could provide conduits for CO2 migration from the storage reservoir at depth to the surface. The position will include in-person training with the UAVs, magnetic sensors, and data processing tools, as well as assisting team members with the development of project field guides, survey plans, and safety guides. If the DOE project receives approval to begin field activities within the timescale of the SURF, the selected students may then travel to southern Colorado (near Pueblo) for flights and data collection in the field.

More Information:

Grand Challenge: Not applicable.
https://projecteos.org/

Primary Contacts:

Richard Krahenbuhl, rkrahenb@mines.edu | Inese Berzina-Pitcher, inese.berzina-pitcher@mines.edu

Student Preparation

Qualifications

We are looking for a student who is pursuing a degree in geophysics or related discipline with excellent collaboration skills, who is motivated to set goals and proactively seek out resources to support them in meeting those goals.

TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)

3-5

SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED

Student learning objectives include:
  • Develop project planning skills for real-world research and field activities that involve multiple stakeholders
  • Training to safely operate a large survey drone with instrumentation including:
    • Magnetics
    • Lidar
    • GNSS/GPS
  • Learning to download, process, visualize and make informed decision from the resulting survey data
Student’s responsibilities will include:
  • Co-developing real-world project management plans including flight plans, fieldwork timelines, and safety protocols
  • Acquiring the appropriate certification to fly a university drone with sensors for research and education
  • Committing to the training necessary to safely fly a UAV with geophysical sensors

MENTORING PLAN

This project uses a teamwork approach, in which the group can support each other at all levels from instrument training, data processing, and project planning. There is also space to support any individual research interests the student brings to this work. The student will also have the opportunity to be an integral member of a research team and participate in team's weekly meetings.  Students will gain practical experience and research skills while being  mentored by project researchers.

Preferred Student Status

Sophomore
Junior
Return to All Project Page
Share This