Monitoring strategies for CO2 storage

Jonathan Pearce

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Outline of talk

Why do we need to monitor CO2? How & what do we monitor? Examples of monitoring techniques Monitoring strategies Summary Note: Terminology used here is based on European practice regulations will be different in other jurisdictions.

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IPCC Special Report

22. With appropriate site selection based on available subsurface information, a monitoring programme to detect problems, a regulatory system and the appropriate use of remediation methods to stop or control CO2 releases if they arise, the local health, safety and environment risks of geological storage would be comparable to the risks of current activities such as natural gas storage, EOR and deep underground disposal of acid gas.

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Why monitor?

Storage sites must be able to demonstrate that risks are as low as reasonably practical over the long term. Monitoring will play a key role in this. Monitoring may be needed for a variety of reasons

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Why monitor?

To demonstrate site performance.

Calibrate / test reservoir simulations To build public confidence, especially in early demonstrations Predict long-term site behaviour to enable transfer of site responsibility at site closure to Competent Authority Environmental reasons

Verify in situ masses of CO2 stored Understand processes

For climate change Provide early warning of leakage To assess local health, safety and ecosystem impacts of leaks

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Why monitor?

Financial reasons

Markets need confidence in technology. For example, in Europe any CO2 emitted to the ocean or atmosphere from a storage site must be accounted for in National Allocation Plans within the European ETS, requiring quantified measurements. Though not currently in Clean Development Mechanism, MMV methodologies are central to the CDM approval process.

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Monitoring aims

A range of monitoring aims can therefore be recognised: Locating and tracking the CO2 plume at depth Demonstrating containment and monitoring the top-seal Monitoring trapping mechanisms and quantifying storage Verifying and calibrating predictive models Monitoring potential leakage routes including Wellbore integrity Monitoring near-surface leakages, if any Monitoring for seismicity (indicator of fault reactivation) and ground movements

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How and what, to monitor?

Monitoring CO2 both directly and indirectly We need to consider:

Which monitoring aims are required What techniques can be deployed to meet monitoring aims Costs and benefits Accuracy and detection limits Frequency Baseline data Area and volumes to be monitored

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Deep monitoring
Amounts and movement of CO2 within storage reservoir and immediate surroundings Predictive models of site performance calibrated, tested & adjusted Early warning of migration of CO2 to shallower depths Can be acquired at or near surface or in subsurface in wells (injection / NERC monitoring) All rights reserved

Shallow monitoring

Detect & quantify amounts of CO2 that have migrated into the shallow overburden, the soil or seabed Or ultimately the ocean or atmosphere In addition to techniques that measure CO2 concentrations in these locations, an evaluation of the impact on local ecosystems may be needed

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Examples of monitoring

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Selection of monitoring tools

Location of site: Offshore/onshore Access (land use, topography, wells) Volume to monitored (depth, footprint) Monitoring aims Timing Project stage (baseline, injection, post-injection, closure) Mass of CO2 injected (detection limits, plume migration) Cost and benefits Environmental impacts of monitoring technologies

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Selecting monitoring tools

E.g. A generic offshore, depleted gas field

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Categories

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Seismic techniques

Powerful subsurface imaging Range of techniques; surface and downhole Best for reservoirs with good injection & storage properties 3 / 4 D surface seismic Boomer / Sparker High resolution acoustic imaging Well based seismic Multi component seismic

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Monitoring CO2 during injection and after

Plume in 2001

vertical sections (2D) Top reservoir 3D view

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Base reservoir

2 / 3 D seismic

Indictors of subsurface gas on conventional seismic data a) isolated brightspot at a depth of about 800 metres beneath the North Sea [Courtesy of CO2STORE] b) brightspots and gas chimney associated with faulting, North Sea [Courtesy of NASCENT] c) seismically disturbed zones associated with gas I shallow sediments [Courtesy NASCENT].
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High resolution acoustic imaging

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Cross well seismic

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Gravimetric techniques

Measure gravitation acceleration due to mass distributions within the earth Can be used to detect variation in subsurface rock or fluid density Potential to detect mass changes induced by the storage and migration of CO2 into the overburden Ability to detect mass variations may enable estimates of amount of CO2 going into solution (invisible on seismic)
Gravity models to illustrate gravimetric signature caused by leakage of 5MT of CO2 from a putative storage reservoir to shallower depth.

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Electric / electromagnetic techniques

Utilise propagation of electrical or electromagnetic fields within the earth to map subsurface variations in conductivity Offer potential for low cost, low resolution monitoring CO2 resistive and where replaces saline waters may produce a detectable change Little tested in CO2 sites, apart from cross hole techniques ERT used in pollutant migration and Sea bottom EM, a recent development for direct detection of hydrocarbons, may have potential

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Cross hole EM

CO2/oil ratio, predicted from borehole geophysics and cross-hole experiments following CO2 injection from perforation intervals in the green borehole (after Hoversten et al., 2002).

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Sea bottom EM

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Geochemical techniques

Analyse chemistry of fluids and gasses to detect and measure concentrations above background from leaks Samples can be taken in near subsurface (soil, springs), surface, atmosphere, or oceans Background levels onshore very variable due to variations in biological production caused by weather, seasons etc Offshore sampling of seawater currently mostly at surface, although sampling from depth at ambient pressures is now possible Use of tracers in injected CO2 shows potential, allowing identification of potential leakage sites, and of leaked CO2. Wide range of established techniques for measuring CO2 in springs and well waters

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Soil Gas analysis

Probes or accumulation chambers placed in or on the soil Grid pattern over expected footprint of leakage Samples analysed periodically often by portable gas analysers Does not provide total coverage

Soil gas measurement in the Phase 1 CO2 injection area of the Weyburn oilfield. Note the in-situ soil gas probe to the right of the portable gas analyzer (red).
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What sample density and frequency is appropriate? How are adequate baselines established?

Soil Gas analysis Probes or accumulation chambers placed in or on the

soil Grid pattern over expected footprint of leakage Samples analysed periodically often by portable gas analysers 12-18 - abandoned Well WellContinuous monitoring2-25 - Suspended stations
all infrastructure removed infrastructure in place, failed casing

CO2
dry creek bed

dugout

a) Carbon Dioxide

2.2 2 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0

swampy ground

b) Carbon Dioxide

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Atmospheric monitoring Fixed or mobile Infra-red analysers Continuous monitoring at a site or rapid areal
coverage

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Airborne remote sensing

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Monitoring strategies

A strategy should comprise, inter alia Clear statement of aims Justification of selection of parameters, techniques, threshold values Frequency of monitoring Footprint of monitored area Record keeping and reporting (internal, external) These will vary with the techniques used, parameters being monitored and stage of project

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Four basic stages

1. 2. 3. 4.
Pre-injection Site characterisation for licence to inject Baseline surveys Injection Monitoring for trading Monitoring for local HSE Post-injection Building confidence in predictive models Application for licence to close site Post-transfer Undertaken by Competent Authority

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1. Pre-injection

Operator applies for a storage licence with an appraisal term: Site characterisation and geological model Predictive model including reservoir simulation Environmental impact assessment Risk assessment Monitoring programme Remediation strategy

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1. Pre-injection

The appraisal terms are time-limited Non-intrusive exploration Intrusive characterisation, including injection tests For depleted gas fields appraisal terms may be 1-5 years For saline aquifers, appraisal and exploration terms may be much longer. Site performance criteria defined as part of licence to inject. Baseline survey(s) will be needed prior to injection and would be undertaken once a consent to store has been obtained Monitoring programme will be specific to each site.

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2. Injection

Mass of CO2 injected to be verified at regular intervals. History matching against predicted behaviour. If migration and/or leakage occurred Monitoring would establish if site performance is still acceptable. Monitoring type and frequency could be changed. Revision of storage capacities, project lifetime may be needed. Remediation may be necessary. Injection may need to be stopped.

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3. Post-injection

Operator applies for consent to close site Monitoring continues at a reduced level Infrastructure likely to be decommissioned at end of injection so access to wells may no longer be possible. EC Directive suggests duration of up to 20 years with MS discretion Transfer of responsibility for site to Competent Authority Evidence that (revised) site performance is acceptable against pre-defined criteria. Long-term risk assessment is acceptable. Competent Authority may wish to continue monitoring and will developing a financial mechanism to fund this.

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4. Post-transfer

No monitoring should be required The safety case for a storage site should be based on the fundamental principle that there will be no requirement for future generations to demonstrate the sites safety.1 Therefore no storage site should be closed unless the longterm safety can be assured. It follows therefore that long-term post-closure monitoring should not be needed.

1
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Stenhouse et al., 2004.

4. Post-closure

However, arguments for post-closure monitoring are: To demonstrate no fugitive emissions (leaks) to avoid loss of credits, at least during the lifetime of the ETS. To provide assurance that site integrity is maintained. Confirmation of (some) safety assessment predictions. Public confidence, especially in early demonstration storage projects.

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Monitoring programmes

Monitoring plans will be submitted as part of applications for consent to inject: Plans need to consider: 3D volume and footprint of baseline surveys (defined by site characterisation and predictive modelling of plume behaviour) Appropriate technique selection Frequency of monitoring: depends on rate of injection, speed of plume migration, objectives, technique (continuous or repeat surveys) Use of monitoring wells Repeatability, accuracy, detection limits Costs, usefulness, risks and potential impacts

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Summary

Monitoring will be required for a variety of reasons to provide confidence in the safety of CO2 storage. Monitoring of the injected CO2 has been shown to be technically feasible in a number of demonstration and research projects.

1+ Mt demonstrations: Sleipner, In Salah, Weyburn Pilot tests: Frio, Nagaoka, Otway, CO2Fieldlab, West Pearl, CO2ReMoVe Small-scale, research: CO2GeoNet, ZERT, CO2CRC
See www.co2captureandstorage.info/co2tool_v2.2.1

Lots of techniques are available.

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