Detection of leaks in carbon storage operations from above-zone pressure monitoring data

While efforts should be made to reduce the risk of leakage in carbon storage operations; if there is a leak it will be important to quickly detect, locate and characterize it in order to maximize the effectiveness of remedial strategies. One of the most promising methods for early detection involves the use of above-zone pressure monitoring data. Because pressure responses in the subsurface propagate quickly, pressure data from monitoring wells may be used to detect and characterize leaks before CO2 has even reached them. We present an assessment for the predictability of leak locations and leakage volumes, given the use of different numbers of above-zone pressure monitoring wells, over different monitoring time-periods, in an uncertain heterogeneous environment.

Speaker: Dave Cameron, Stanford