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On seismic monitoring of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) leakage from geological storages and its primary detection

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Abstract

Geological storage of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) in mature sedimentary basins and deep saline water aquifer requires special considerations on the potential leakage pathways. Early detection of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) leakage from geological storage is one of the primary objectives of any carbon capture and storage technique. Thermodynamic properties of injected \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) and formation fluid, and change in in-situ conditions may act as driving agent to \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) leakage. Therefore, it is important to monitor the saturation of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) and identify the phase of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) during the injection, storage and after storage stages in order to monitor its possible migration and leakage risks. Seismic monitoring of sequestrated \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) in subsurface is in practice in which Gassmann fluid substitution model is used to estimate porous rock and pore fluid properties. The seismic properties of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) contaminated fluids are predicted by Wood’s volume average formula. The analysis reveals that Wood’s approach is unable to account properly the properties of fluid mixture especially near bubble point pressure of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\)/water mixture, thus unable to monitor primary leakage of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\). A modified approach based on thermodynamics is adopted for the detection of primary leakage of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\). The analysis shows that for a minute amount of free \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\), the P-wave velocity is much lower than the values predicted by the Gassmann-Wood approach. The resulting normal reflectivity and AVO anomalies are much stronger than attained by conventional Gassmann-Wood approaches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

    Perveiz Khalid, Mustansar Naeem,  Zia Ud Din & Qamar Yasin

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  1. Perveiz Khalid
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  2. Mustansar Naeem
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  3. Zia Ud Din
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  4. Qamar Yasin
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Correspondence to Perveiz Khalid.

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Khalid, P., Naeem, M., Zia Ud Din et al. On seismic monitoring of \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\) leakage from geological storages and its primary detection. Acta Geod Geophys 49, 235–247 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-014-0059-3

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