682 / 2024-09-19 01:00:21

Design of Measurement, Monitoring and Verification (MMV) Plan for Targeted Risk associated with offshore CCUS

Carbon Capture and Storage,,Environmental monitoring,geophysics

Coastal seas are increasingly being investigated for their potential for carbon dioxide storage complexes, and there is careful consideration being given to potential conflicts with wind energy projects. In several jurisdictions worldwide regulators are concerned that 3D seismic reflection surveys are not possible within the wind farm areas. 4D seismic reflection surveys are environmentally problematic, are costly, and also struggle to detect small-scale leakage, and there is a need for alternative monitoring techniques.

Relict, or abandoned wells, can be leakage pathways if they are not correctly capped, and could be pathways for buried CO₂ to migrate to the surface. In the appraisal of a possible CCS storage complex, an analysis is completed of the locations and status of wells, and this appraisal feeds into the design of a MMV plan. In this presentation I will :1) discuss approaches to the design of an appropriate MMV plan; 2)  present the design and testing of a seabed lander and sensor system developed as part of Project Greensand Phase 2 (offshore Denmark). The lander system comprises chemical and acoustic sensors, and the requirements for battery and communication will be discussed.

Coastal seas are increasingly being investigated for their potential for carbon dioxide storage complexes, and there is careful consideration being given to potential conflicts with wind energy projects. In several jurisdictions worldwide regulators are concerned that 3D seismic reflection surveys are not possible within the wind farm areas. 4D seismic reflection surveys are environmentally problematic, are costly, and also struggle to detect small-scale leakage, and there is a need for alternative monitoring techniques.

Relict, or abandoned wells, can be leakage pathways if they are not correctly capped, and could be pathways for buried CO₂ to migrate to the surface. In the appraisal of a possible CCS storage complex, an analysis is completed of the locations and status of wells, and this appraisal feeds into the design of a MMV plan. In this presentation I will :1) discuss approaches to the design of an appropriate MMV plan; 2)  present the design and testing of a seabed lander and sensor system developed as part of Project Greensand Phase 2 (offshore Denmark). The lander system comprises chemical and acoustic sensors, and the requirements for battery and communication will be discussed.