Leak Detection in CO2 Storage Sites

This chapter proposes developing an in situ Carbon dioxide (CO₂) monitoring and verification technology based on the implementation of permanent down-hole gauges (PDG) or "smart wells" along with artificial intelligence and data mining (AI&DM). The technology attempts to identify the characteristic of the CO₂ leakage by de-convolving the pressure signals collected at the smart well sites. Since creating an actual leak in an existing CO₂ storage site is not a viable option for testing this technology, the demonstration of this technology's predictive capabilities is performed through numerical simulation and modeling of an actual CO₂ storage site in the Citronelle field. The chapter explains the development of the next generation of intelligent techniques that take maximum advantage of data collected using "smart field" technology to continuously and autonomously monitor and verify CO₂ storage in geological formations. This technology will provide the means for in situ detection and quantification of CO₂ leakage in the reservoir.