Regulator building database of aerial maps to track Oklahoma oil field activity

Aided by grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, commission employees have been scanning old U.S. Department of Agriculture photos stored in the state library. The Oklahoma Geological Survey has contributed thousands of photos, as well.

“We've been hammering at this for a while,” Lord said.

Lord said the commission's database includes thousands of aerial photographs, some dating as far back as 1935, but there are close to 60,000 more waiting to be scanned and plotted.

“We're building a library for future use,” he said. “We'll scan until we run out of money.”

Lord said the effort has focused on counties with a lot of oil and natural gas activity.

The historical photos helped commission officials identify old wells that needed to be plugged at the site of the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, he said.

Officials said the picture-enhanced database is simpler to use than the commission's historical records. Some of the agency's older records are only accurate to within 10 acres of the listed location.