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Home › CATO-2 › Themes › SP3 Underground Storage, Monitoring and Verification › 3.6 Shallow (sub)surface monitoring
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3.6 Shallow (sub)surface monitoringMain objective
This work package will apply and develop methods to monitor the stored CO2 in de the shallow underground as well as in the atmosphere. Netherlands groundwater networkThe use of the groundwater network for measuring natural emissions of CO2 is proposed. This implies extending the existing groundwater monitoring network with CO2 detectors. This can be done either by taking groundwater samples or by installing direct CO2 concentration and flux measurement devices. It is expected that large variations occur, both in time (seasonal variations, weather conditions) and in place (presence of peat).Site-specific baseline monitoring of the shallow subsurfaceBefore any long term monitoring can be performed it is mandatory to establish good baseline data. Without these data, it is impossible to draw any conclusions on the basis of the post-injection measurements. For this reason, sets of baseline data should be acquired for various potential storage locations. As the recording of baseline data is likely to take place over several years, e.g. to comprehend the seasonal variation of CO2 fluxes in the soil, it is necessary to measure these as soon as possible. Such data can prevent future discussions about perceived increases of CO2 emissions over a storage location and can demonstrate naturally occurring fluctuation ranges.Atmospheric monitoringExperience from the existing atmospheric networks will be used to design a system as sensitive as possible for the detection of leaks. A set of advanced atmospheric monitoring devices (CO2, its isotopes and the atmospheric oxygen concentration) will be developed for the accurate discrimination between the natural variability of CO2 in the air, and the "unnatural" CO2 that escapes into the air in the unlikely event of a leak. Model calculations (atmospheric transport and mixing) will be used to determine the sensitivity of the system. Geodetic remote sensing techniques for ground movement
By using satellite geodetic techniques it is possible to monitor surface movement with extremely high precision levels. For singular measurements such precisions are in the order of a millimetre, but deformation rates can reach precision levels of less than one millimetre per year. Monitoring with such sensitivity enables the early detection of varying pressure levels without the necessity of underground sensor networks. Development of an atmospheric pipeline monitoring strategyIf monitoring the CO2 stream at both ends of a pipeline (4.7.1) reveals a loss in transport, action would have to be taken to find the point(s) of release. If such monitoring yields indecisive results, inspection in the field may be necessary as well. In this Work Package several methods for measuring CO2 leakage for pipelines will be developed. These measurements and models are related to those of the atmospheric monitoring work.Work package leaderMembersLatest Publications
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