Development of Novel Monitoring Tools for Geologic Sequestration
Project # 04FE18-7

Primary Performing Organization
Los Alamos National Laboratory

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	FIGURE 1. Schematic of CO2-PENS Framework for understanding geologic storage systems and CO2 release from these systems. Red circles and text indicate the objectives and target areas of this novel monitoring program and how these objectives can map into the DOE Carbon Sequestration Roadmap.

The purpose of this project is to investigate the ability to quantify surface carbon dioxide (CO₂) leakage over large spatial and temporal scales, detect and locate cap rock fractures, and detect and locate chemical changes within the reservoir rock over large spatial scales. Once they are developed, these new tools may be used to help verify the 99 percent storage permanence target of the 2007 DOE Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap. The project will create a Monitoring, Verification and Accounting (MVA) tool set, examine multiple potential technologies, and set research directions on specific pathways most likely to succeed.

Both direct and indirect CO₂ detection tools will be integrated to provide a high temporal and spatial resolution for detecting CO₂ leakage at the surface and identifying the subsurface source and pathways. Novel seismic and acoustic imaging analysis will be performed to characterize the location of the CO₂ plume and determine any structural (cap rock fracture) or chemical (mineralization or precipitation) changes to the storage reservoir. These MVA technologies are being advanced to better quantify the storage permanence of CO₂ within a storage reservoir. The research is being conducted in three phases. Phase one consists of laboratory and modeling work to create in situ MVA systems. Phase two consists of field deployment tests of in situ instruments, as well as developing the integration of surface and subsurface data for determining leakage mechanisms. Phase three consists of expanding areas of analyses to large spatial scales through development of laser-based remote sensing instrumentation and novel seismic imaging techniques.

Contact:
Project Manager: Darin Damiani, darin.damiani@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• Development of Novel Monitoring Tools Fact Sheet [PDF]