Drones buzzed over Settlers Cabin Park today as environmental groups swept the woods and trails for buried oil and gas infrastructure. Officials and advocates say the aerial search is focused on finding long-forgotten wellbores, roughly 100 by their estimates, that could be leaking methane and other contaminants into the soil and air. The flights are part of a broader push to map undocumented wells so they can be plugged and cleaned up.
Eyes in the sky over Settlers Cabin Park
In a video captured by CBS Pittsburgh, small unmanned aircraft sweep low over the park, turning heads among hikers and dog walkers. Reporter Ross Guidotti describes the work as a hunt that reaches “deep underground,” with crews collecting data that will be used to pinpoint likely well locations for on-the-ground follow-up.
Who is behind the survey and why
According to WPXI, the flights are being run by teams connected to the Environmental Defense Fund and other environmental groups active in Western Pennsylvania. EDF’s Adam Peltz told the station that as many as 100 abandoned wells may lie beneath Settlers Cabin Park, and that locating them could help Pennsylvania qualify for federal money dedicated to plugging those sites.
How the drones track down hidden wells
The crews are not just snapping overhead photos. Instead, the drones carry magnetic sensors that can pick up the steel casings of old wells and methane monitors that flag spots more likely to be leaking, according to a project announcement from Moms Clean Air Force. Project materials say the aircraft usually fly at about 100 feet above the ground and generate detailed maps that field teams can later “ground truth” on foot or with handheld instruments…