Satellite-based measurements of surface deformation reveal fluid flow associated with the geological storage of carbon dioxide

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data, gathered over the In Salah CO2 storage project in Algeria, provide an early indication that satellite‐based geodetic methods can be effective in monitoring the geological storage of carbon dioxide. An injected mass of 3 million tons of carbon di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2010-02, Vol.37 (3), p.np-n/a
Main Authors: Vasco, D. W., Rucci, A., Ferretti, A., Novali, F., Bissell, R. C., Ringrose, P. S., Mathieson, A. S., Wright, I. W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon capture and storage
Carbon dioxide
Carbon sequestration
Climate change
deformation
Earth
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid flow
Fluids
Fracture mechanics
Geodetics
geological storage
Geology
Geophysics
Hydrology
InSAR
Remote sensing
Reservoirs
Rock deformation
Satellites
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Summary:Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data, gathered over the In Salah CO2 storage project in Algeria, provide an early indication that satellite‐based geodetic methods can be effective in monitoring the geological storage of carbon dioxide. An injected mass of 3 million tons of carbon dioxide from one of the first large‐scale carbon sequestration efforts, produces a measurable surface displacement of approximately 5 mm/year. Using geophysical inverse techniques, we are able to infer flow within the reservoir layer and within a seismically detected fracture/fault zone intersecting the reservoir. We find that, if we use the best available elastic Earth model, the fluid flow need only occur in the vicinity of the reservoir layer. However, flow associated with the injection of the carbon dioxide does appear to extend several kilometers laterally within the reservoir, following the fracture/fault zone.
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2009GL041544