Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Soil gas dynamics monitoring at a CO2-EOR site for leakage detection

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A comprehensive soil gas monitoring program was conducted at a CO2-enhanced oil recovery site in western Mississippi to validate near-surface monitoring technologies for CO2 leakage detection. The program included three main monitoring technologies: (1) using commercial sensors for real-time in situ monitoring of atmospheric and soil CO2 concentrations and of environmental parameters; (2) intermittent soil CO2 flux measurements with a portable CO2 flux survey system; and (3) on-site soil gas composition measurements in semipermanent soil gas wells with a portable gas chromatograph. Atmospheric and soil CO2 concentrations measured with the commercial sensors vary from 340 ppm in the atmosphere to ~12% (volume percentage) in soil at a depth of 3 m showed variations at different time scales over a period of 214 days. Atmospheric and soil CO2 concentrations also showed dependence on environmental parameters. Average CO2 flux measurements at the site were ~6 ± 5.2 g/m2/day, comparable to soil CO2 flux measurements reported at other sites. Grid soil CO2 flux measurements on the pad identified a point with CO2 flux up to 5200 ± 4000 g/m2/day, likely due to a focused leak from the underlying pipeline. Soil gas composition monitoring in the soil gas wells fell into two groups based on the relationship of the soil gas compositions, likely resulted from different biogeochemical processes. The field results provided valuable information on soil gas dynamics for validating numerical models of soil gas transport in the vadose zone and designing and implementing near-surface monitoring programs at other geological carbon sequestration sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beaubien SE, Jones DG, Gal F, Barkwith AKAP, Braibant G, Baubron JC, Ciotoli G, Graziani S, Lister TR, Lombardi S, Michel K, Quattrocchi F, Strutt MH (2013) Monitoring of near-surface gas geochemistry at the Weyburn, Canada, CO2-EOR site, 2001–2011. Int J Greenh Gas Control 16(Supplement 1):S236–S262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Board MOG (1966) Cranfield field, Cranfield unit, Basal Tuscaloosa reservoir. Adams and Franklin Counties, Mississippi, pp 42–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowden AR, Pershke DF, Chalaturnyk R (2013) Geosphere risk assessment conducted for the IEAGHG Weyburn-Midale CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project. Int J Greenh Gas Control 16(Supplement 1):S276–S290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen G, Loisy C, Laveuf C, Le Roux O, Delaplace P, Magnier C, Rouchon V, Garcia B, Cerepi A (2013) The CO2-Vadose project: experimental study and modelling of CO2 induced leakage and tracers associated in the carbonate vadose zone. Int J Greenh Gas Control 14:128–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortis A, Oldenburg CM, Benson SM (2008) The role of optimality in characterizing CO2 seepage from geologic carbon sequestration sites. Int J Greenh Gas Control 2:640–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai Z, Keating E, Bacon D, Viswanathan H, Stauffer P, Jordan A, Pawar R (2014a) Probabilistic evaluation of shallow groundwater resources at a hypothetical carbon sequestration site. Sci Rep 4:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai Z, Keating E, Pawar R, Bacon D, Viswanathan H, Zheng L, Carroll S (2014b) Risk assessment for shallow groundwater resources at a potential carbon sequestration site. Sci Rep 4:4006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DOE/NETL (2009) Monitoring, verification, and accounting of CO2 stored in deep geologic formations. National Energy Technology Laboratory, p 132

  • Garcia B, Delaplace P, Rouchon V, Magnier C, Loisy C, Cohen G, Laveuf C, Le Roux O, Cerepi A (2013) The CO2-vadose project: numerical modeling to perform a geochemical monitoring methodology and baseline performance assessment for various geochemical variables (gas flux, gas composition, stable isotopes and noble gases) in the carbonate vadose zone. Int J Greenh Gas Control 14:247–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gershenzon NI, Soltanian M, Ritzi RW Jr, Dominic DF (2014) Influence of Small Scale Heterogeneity on CO2 Trapping Processes in Deep Saline Aquifers. Energy Procedia 59:166–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gershenzon NI, Ritzi RW, Dominic DF, Soltanian M, Mehnert E, Okwen RT (2015) Influence of small-scale fluvial architecture on CO2 trapping processes in deep brine reservoirs. Water Resour Res 51:8240–8256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hingst MC (2013) Geochemical effects of elevated methane and carbon dioxide in near-surface sediments above an EOR/CCUS site, Dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin

  • Hovorka SD, Meckel TA, Trevino RH, Lu J, Nicot J-P, Choi J-W, Freeman D, Cook P, Daley TM, Ajo-Franklin JB, Freifeild BM, Doughty C, Carrigan CR, Brecque DL, Kharaka YK, Thordsen JJ, Phelps TJ, Yang C, Romanak KD, Zhang T, Holt RM, Lindler JS, Butsch RJ (2011) Monitoring a large volume CO2 injection: year two results from SECARB project at Denbury’s Cranfield, Mississippi, USA. Energy Procedia 4:3478–3485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hovorka SD, Meckel TA, Treviño RH (2013) Monitoring a large-volume injection at Cranfield, Mississippi—project design and recommendations. Int J Greenh Gas Control 18:345–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Islam A, Sun AY, Yang C (2016) Reactive transport modeling of the enhancement of density-driven CO(2) convective mixing in carbonate aquifers and its potential implication on geological carbon sequestration. Sci Rep 6:24768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewicki J, Hilley G, Dobeck L, Spangler L (2010) Dynamics of CO2 fluxes and concentrations during a shallow subsurface CO2 release. Environ Earth Sci 60:285–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litynski J, Plasynski S, Spangler L, Finley R, Steadman E, Ball D, Nemeth KJ, McPherson B, Myer L (2009) U.S. Department of Energy’s regional carbon sequestration partnership program: overview. Energy Procedia 1:3959–3967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mickler PJ, Yang C, Scanlon BR, Reedy R, Lu J (2013) Potential impacts of CO2 leakage on groundwater chemistry from laboratory batch experiments and field push–pull tests. Environ Sci Technol 47:10694–10702

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldenburg C, Lewicki J, Dobeck L, Spangler L (2010) Modeling gas transport in the shallow subsurface during the ZERT CO2 release test. Transp Porous Med 82:77–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodosta T, Litynski J, Plasynski S, Spangler L, Finley R, Steadman E, Ball D, Hill G, McPherson B, Burton E, Vikara D (2011) US Department of Energy’s regional carbon sequestration partnership initiative: update on validation and development phases. Energy Procedia 4:3457–3464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romanak KD, Bennett PC, Yang C, Hovorka SD (2012) Process-based approach to CO2 leakage detection by vadose zone gas monitoring at geologic CO2 storage sites. Geophys Res Lett 39:L15405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romanak K, Sherk GW, Hovorka S, Yang C (2013) Assessment of alleged CO2 leakage at the Kerr farm using a simple process-based soil gas technique: implications for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) monitoring. Energy Procedia 37:4242–4248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romanak KD, Wolaver B, Yang C, Sherk GW, Dale J, Dobeck LM, Spangler LH (2014) Process-based soil gas leakage assessment at the Kerr farm: comparison of results to leakage proxies at ZERT and Mt. Etna. Int J Greenh Gas Control 30:42–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rostron B, Chalaturnyk R, Gardner C, Hawkes C, Johnson J, White D, Whittaker S (2009) 8+ years of characterization, monitoring, and risk assessment at the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Weyburn-Midale CO2 monitoring and storage project, Saskatchewan, Canada. J Geochem Explor 101:86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schacht U, Jenkins C (2014) Soil gas monitoring of the Otway Project demonstration site in SE Victoria, Australia. Int J Greenh Gas Control 24:14–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schloemer S, Furche M, Dumke I, Poggenburg J, Bahr A, Seeger C, Vidal A, Faber E (2013) A review of continuous soil gas monitoring related to CCS—technical advances and lessons learned. Appl Geochem 30:148–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schütze C, Dietrich P, Sauer U (2013) Diagnostic monitoring to identify preferential near-surface structures for CO2 degassing into the atmosphere: tools for investigations at different spatial scales validated at a natural analogue site. Int J Greenh Gas Control 18:285–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soltanian MR, Amooie MA, Cole DR, Graham DE, Hosseini SA, Hovorka S, Pfiffner SM, Phelps TJ, Moortgat J (2016a) Simulating the Cranfield geological carbon sequestration project with high-resolution static models and an accurate equation of state. Int J Greenh Gas Control 54(Part 1):282–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soltanian MR, Amooie MA, Dai Z, Cole D, Moortgat J (2016b) Critical dynamics of gravito-convective mixing in geological carbon sequestration. Sci Rep 6:35921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Romanak K, Holt RM, Lindner J, Smith L, Roecker F, Xia Y, Rickerts J, Horvorka S (2012) Large volume of CO2 injection at the Cranfield, early field test of the SECARB Phase III: near-surface monitoring, 2012 Carbon Management Technology Conference, Orlando, Florida, USA, p 10

  • Yang C, Mickler PJ, Reedy R, Scanlon BR, Romanak KD, Nicot J-P, Hovorka SD, Trevino RH, Larson T (2013a) Single-well push–pull test for assessing potential impacts of CO2 leakage on groundwater quality in a shallow Gulf Coast aquifer in Cranfield, Mississippi. Int J Greenh Gas Control 18:375–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Romanak K, Hovorka S, Holt RM, Lindner J, Trevino R (2013b) Near-surface monitoring of large-volume CO2 injection at cranfield: early field test of SECARB Phase III. SPE J 18:486–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Romanak K, Hovorka S, Triveno R (2013c) Modeling CO2 release experiment in the shallow subsurface and sensitivity analysis. Environ Eng Geosci 19:207–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Dai Z, Romanak KD, Hovorka SD, Treviño RH (2014a) Inverse modeling of water–rock–CO2 batch experiments: potential impacts on groundwater resources at carbon sequestration sites. Environ Sci Technol 48:2798–2806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Hovorka S, Young MH, Trevino R (2014b) Geochemical sensitivity to CO2 leakage: detection in potable aquifers at carbon sequestration sites. Greenh Gases Sci Technol 4:384–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Hovorka SD, Delgado-Alonso J, Mickler PJ, Treviño RH, Phillips S (2014c) Field demonstration of CO2 leakage detection in potable aquifers with a pulselike CO2-release test. Environ Sci Technol 48:14031–14040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Treviño RH, Zhang T, Romanak KD, Wallace K, Lu J, Mickler PJ, Hovorka SD (2014d) Regional assessment of CO2–solubility trapping potential: a case study of the coastal and offshore Texas miocene interval. Environ Sci Technol 48:8275–8282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Hovorka SD, Treviño RH, Delgado-Alonso J (2015) Integrated framework for assessing impacts of CO2 leakage on groundwater quality and monitoring-network efficiency: case study at a CO2 enhanced oil recovery site. Environ Sci Technol 49:8887–8898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X, Apple ME, Dobeck LM, Cunningham AB, Spangler LH (2013) Observed response of soil O2 concentration to leaked CO2 from an engineered CO2 leakage experiment. Int J. Greenh Gas Control 16:116–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory under the project of DE-FC26-05NT42590 through the Southeastern Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership’s Phase III research project, and managed by the Southern States Energy Board. We appreciate guest editors, Drs. Soltanian and Dai, and anonymous reviewers for their comments which improve this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX, 78758, USA

    Changbing Yang, Katherine D. Romanak, Robert C. Reedy, Susan D. Hovorka & Ramon H. Trevino

Authors
  1. Changbing Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katherine D. Romanak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert C. Reedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Susan D. Hovorka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ramon H. Trevino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Changbing Yang.

Additional information

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, C., Romanak, K.D., Reedy, R.C. et al. Soil gas dynamics monitoring at a CO2-EOR site for leakage detection. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 3, 351–364 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-017-0053-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-017-0053-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation