Wireless, Distributed Data Acquisition and Interpretation System for Seismic Monitoring and Carbon Storage Site Characterization

Statement of the problem or situation that is being addressed At the initial phase of a carbon storage project, there is a strong need to understand natural seismicity risks prior to any CO2 injection, preferably prior to making large investments in developing the storage project. Current processes to understand seismicity risks are highly specialized, labor intensive, time constrained, and expensive. The level of naturally occurring seismic noise also creates an apparent threshold and substantial potential error in identifying and detecting the first motion of seismic events. A balance is sought between a fit-for-purpose number and placement of sensors along with the sensitivity, frequency range, and types of sensors for accurate seismic detection of very small seismic events (M < 0) to deploy over months to years, while also creating an intelligent level of processing and interpretation that is streamlined and does not create a burdensome task for carbon storage project developers and operators. Because seismicity assessment remains an important factor across the project lifecycle (prior to, during, and after CO2 injection). General statement of how this problem is being addressed In this Phase I SBIR, Resensys proposes developing a wireless, distributed data acquisition and interpretation system tailored for monitoring and characterization of seismic activity at carbon storage sites. The seismicity data collected in real time during the CO2 storage site characterization and sequestration processes combined with advanced signal processing and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) methodologies provide understanding of natural seismicity risks prior to any CO2 injection, prior to making large investments in developing the storage project. Innovations in Resensys’s proposed system include an enhanced SeniMax™ for microseismic monitoring which enables integration with high sensitivity seismic sensors including geophones or accelerometers for M<0 microseismic event detection. A network of sensing nodes with each node consisting of a wireless data acquisition and communication unit provides real-time data on seismic activities enabling passive seismic monitoring. The proposed system facilitates easier, better, higher-resolution and high-reliability data acquisition for seismic monitoring and reducing the risks and costs posed to the carbon storage project, especially during the site characterization phase. In addition, to maximize reliability of the results for a potential CO2 injection site, optimal placement of sensors will be investigated to avoid noise from non-seismic sources. The innovations will also include a tailored level of digital signal processing combined with AI/ML algorithms and models and right-sized data storage and archiving for efficient seismic source mapping and CO2 reservoir imaging. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits Resensys’s proposed system tailored for monitoring and characterization of seismic activity at carbon storage sites will demonstrate a clear value proposition. It facilitates easier, better, higher-resolution data acquisition and interpretation of seismicity and the risks posed to the carbon storage project, especially during the site characterization phase, for a broad set of stakeholders. The goal is to develop a turnkey service that will deliver a passive seismic monitoring network by using seismic sensor data, with a tailored level of processing, data storage and archiving.