Rapid surface detection of CO2 leaks from geologic sequestration sites

Abstract

This study focuses on developing a method to characterize and detect leakage of carbon dioxide from a geologic sequestration site using a Picarro gas analyser, and to systematically evaluate the robustness of detection ability and optimize the data acquisition parameters by testing under varying conditions at the Zero Emissions Research and Technology field site in Bozeman, MT. It was determined (1) both 12CO₂ or 13CO₂ measurements provide equally good leak detection ability, (2) wind speed and direction does not limit detection ability with a sampling height less than 30 cm, and (3) δ13C measurements did not provide a reliable method for leak detection with our data acquisition strategy.