Geophysical Techniques for Monitoring CO2 Movement During Sequestration

• Main Authors: Gasperikova, Erika, Hoversten, G. Michael
• Other Authors: United States. Department of Energy.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: California Energy Commission 2005
• Subjects: Natural Gas Fields; Hydrocarbons; 02 Petroleum; Oil Fields; Monitoring; Carbon Dioxide; Geophysics; 03 Natural Gas; Performance; north slope; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/903471; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc881995/

The relative merits of the seismic, gravity, and electromagnetic (EM) geophysical techniques are examined as monitoring tools for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}). This work does not represent an exhaustive study, but rather demonstrates the capabilities of a number of geophysical techniques for two synthetic modeling scenarios. The first scenario represents combined CO{sub 2} enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and sequestration in a producing oil field, the Schrader Bluff field on the north slope of Alaska, USA. EOR/sequestration projects in general and Schrader Bluff in particular represent relatively thin injection intervals with multiple fluid components (oil, hydrocarbon gas, brine, and CO{sub 2}). This model represents the most difficult end member of a complex spectrum of possible sequestration scenarios. The time-lapse performance of seismic, gravity, and EM techniques are considered for the Schrader Bluff model. The second scenario is a gas field that in general resembles conditions of Rio Vista reservoir in the Sacramento Basin of California. Surface gravity, and seismic measurements are considered for this model.