US 11,988,091 B2
Subsurface contamination source detection and tracking device using artificial intelligence
Mohammed B. AlRayaan, Dammam (SA); Faisal S. Aljar, Al Khobar (SA); and Ibrahim A. Alshayqi, Dammam (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/872,457.
Prior Publication US 2024/0026786 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 49/08 (2006.01); E21B 7/26 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); G01S 13/88 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 49/081 (2013.01) [E21B 7/267 (2020.05); G01N 33/24 (2013.01); G01S 13/885 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a drone-type device, the method comprising:
launching a drone-type device into a subsurface terrain, wherein the drone-type device is configured to navigate the subsurface terrain along a path while searching for a source of one or more pollutants;
obtaining, using one or more sampling compartments on the drone-type device, at least one sample along the path as the drone-type device travels in the subsurface terrain;
measuring, using one or more sensors on the drone-type device on the drone-type device, concentration levels of the one or more pollutants at corresponding locations along the path where the drone-type device obtains the at least one sample;
determining a gradient map of the measured concentration levels in the subsurface terrain surrounding the path taken by the drone-type device; and
based on, at least in part, the gradient map, determining whether the source of the one or more pollutants has been located.