Large area two dimensional mapping of carbon dioxide fluxes for assessment and control of carbon capture and storage project
Lead Research Organisation:
British Geological Survey
Department Name: Energy & Marine Geoscience
Organisations
| Description | A portable and lightweight sensor for rapidly scanning areas for CO2 or methane releases. |
| Exploitation Route | We have already deployed the equipment in the UK, and will build upon it in future projects. It may alter the way we work in the future - namely using it for a rapid survey first, and then using the more quantitative equipment just at specific sites of interest - thus saving time. 2020 update: After first tests in the UK, the portable equipment was taken to Mexico and tested at an active geothermal field as a quick way to locate gas vents for more detailed sampling. The equipment surpassed expectations, and gave 1000s of analyses in a very short space of time. It very clearly demonstrated the highly localised nature of the gas emanations, and drew attention to working up a staggered sampling protocol - quick and broad sampling first, then focus on specific areas with more detailed methodologies. Whilst this equipment was not part of the original study as proposed, it has been successful, and will contribute to publications within other projects (and hence not reported here). 2021 update: We used a combination of experience from the above project in Mexico, together with experience from an Innovate-UK project on gas sensing via UAVs in an EU-funded project called 'SECURe'. This again uses UAVs to monitor CO2 and methane, and we have constructed a new optical system to mount under a large rotary UAV to monitor for CO2 at a CO2 injection test site. This work aligns well with the on-going aim to monitor and quantify greenhouse gas (CO2 and methane) emissions - be that from anthropogenic or natural sources. 2022 update: We further developed the lightweight sensors to fit under a 'blimp' (helium filled 'Helekite') and tested the sensor at different altitudes and distances away from a release of methane. Unfortunately, Covid restrictions, coupled with funding issues, prevented a several tonnes release of CO2 release at the Geoenergy Test Bed, and we were not able to deploy the developed monitoring methods more widely (at least for now). |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment,Other |
| Description | As a development on the side of the main project, parts of the sensor were deployed in an innovative way at the Los Humeros geothermal system in Mexico to help with mapping surface gas releases. This worked very well, and we will build on this for deployment in the UK and in other countries. A report on the work in Mexico is being prepared, and will be submitted to the power company that own the site we were studying. 2020 update: The equipment surpassed expectations in Mexico, and gave 1000s of analyses in a very short space of time. It very clearly demonstrated the highly localised nature of the gas emanations, and drew attention to working up a staggered sampling protocol - quick and broad sampling first, then focus on specific areas with more detailed methodologies. Whilst this equipment was not part of the original study as proposed, it has been successful, and will contribute to publications within other projects (and hence not reported here, though data from the equipment are likely to be presented at the World Geothermal Congress in 2020). 2021 update: We continue to develop and modify the equipment, and test it at a range of different settings. Within the EU-funded 'SECURe' project were will deploy a modified version of the above via UAV, and monitor atmospheric CO2 concentrations at a CO2 injection research site. Whilst application to a range of sites is funding-driven. It does provide the opportunity to test the system for reliability and robustness. 2022 update: We further developed the lightweight sensors to fit under a 'blimp' (helium filled 'Helekite') and tested the sensor at different altitudes and distances away from a release of methane. Unfortunately, Covid restrictions, coupled with funding issues, prevented a several tonnes release of CO2 release at the Geoenergy Test Bed, and we were not able to deploy the developed monitoring methods more widely (at least for now). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |