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Oil and gas infrastructure, particularly for exploration, can be in areas that are hard to access. Remote sensing allows companies to save time and money monitoring their reclamation efforts in these hard-to-reach places, but the technology can’t do everything. The oil and gas industry in Alberta has started to use remote sensing in order to certify old well sites are cleaned up. The Alberta Energy Regulator says it does not have a tally on how many reclamation certificates have been issued for sites where remote sensing was used, but confirms Imperial Oil received the first two such certificates in 2021. On its website, Imperial Oil says it “received the first reclamation certificates ever issued for reclamation assessment activities completed using remote sensing technology …. without setting foot on the ground.” The process involves the use of satellite imagery and LiDAR — essentially laser mapping — mounted to aircraft or drones in order to assess plant cover, growth and health, instead of relying on observation from helicopter flyovers or in-person visits. Limited on-the-ground assessments must be used to verify results. It’s a money saver for companies operating in remote areas such as Imperial’s leases near Cold Lake, Alta., where the […]
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