Low Cost Open-Path Instrument for Monitoring Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide at Sequestration Sites
Project # 42212

Primary Performing Organization:
California Institute of Technology

Public confidence in safety is a prerequisite to the success of carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and storage for any program that intends to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. In that regard, this project addresses the security of CO₂ containment by undertaking development of what is called “an open path device” to measure CO₂ concentrations near the ground above a CO₂ storage area. See schematic for bench top CO₂ measurement.

This project aims to develop a low-cost instrument that will measure CO₂ concentrations over a large area above the underground storage reservoir. The project will focus on extending the range of open path diode laser spectroscopy to a few kilometers. The instrument will use laser beams to probe CO₂ absorption in the air above the reservoir.The remote CO₂ monitor will be less expensive and easier to deploy that a network of local sensors.

The specific objectives of the project are to:

• Develop a prototype instrument capable of measuring CO₂ concentrations over an area of sufficient dimensions to adequately test for CO₂ leakage at storage sites – at an update speed of once every several minutes and an accuracy of 1%.
• Test the prototype instrument over a short distance to help determine its capacity to measure atmospheric CO₂ concentrations within a range of 300–500 ppmv.
• Mount the prototype instrument on a rooftop and determine its performance over a range of 5 kilometers.
• Field test the monitor in an operating CO₂ geological site.
• Develop a computer simulation of system availability.
• Success of this project will contribute to an expanded technology base devoted to the safety of geological storage facilities for CO₂ sequestration.

Contact:
Project Manager: Jose D. Figueroa, jose.figueroa@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• Instrument for Monitoring Atmospheric CO₂ Fact Sheet [PDF]