Networked Sensors for Sequestration MVA

Geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) is advancing as a preferred means of mitigating CO2 emissions from fossil-fueled plants. To verify that GCS performs its intended function of reducing greenhouse gases, monitoring sequestered CO2 is essential. Novel cost-effective tools are needed for reliable longterm measurement to detect, locate, and quantify sources of any escaping CO2 or of surrogate leak indicators including CO2 isotopologues and methane. This STTR project is developing, demonstrating, and installing at a GCS site a set of gas analysis tools, based on networked Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS), which will enable cost effective monitoring and surveying for GCS site leaks. TDLAS is a flexible and configurable sensing technology for measuring trace concentrations of selected target gases in complex gas mixtures. Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of implementing low-cost networked TDLAS for monitoring and mapping leaks from geosequestration reservoir sites, and provided additional insight to the practical implementation of sensors at sequestration sites. Specifically, Phase I showed the use of fiber-coupled TDLAS multiplexing to measure and coarsely map CO2 and CH4 concentrations using a single TDLAS Control Unit serving three Open-Path transceivers. Phase I also included a literature review and a sequestration site visit to understand and specify sensor needs, detection requirements, and installation configurations. Phase II will build, install, and operate a permanent suite of TDLAS sensors that will gather scientific data and demonstrate continuous monitoring for surface leaks at an operating CO2 sequestration reservoir. The sensors will include three distinct configurations: 1) an