Potential of diffuse scatterer interferometry for monitoring CO₂ storage sites in European contexts (land cover types)

Abstract

This article proposes to test the feasibility of long-term surface deformation monitoring based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry on carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage sites with land cover representative of potential European injection sites (agricultural or forests with minimum built-up land cover). Because no operational injection site is currently active in Europe, a SAR data set (based on EnviSAT-ASAR spaceborne data) is simulated by combining SAR scenes acquired over a potential future European injection site with deformation measurements from SAR analysis carried out on the In-Salah (Algeria) CO 2 injection demonstrator site. The study shows that under such conditions, both persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) and diffuse scatterer (DS) interferometry appear insufficient to provide a sufficiently dense measurement network to characterize surface deformation correctly. Alternative solutions, to be investigated in further studies, include the use of data archives with shorter acquisition time spans (e.g. Sentinel-1 data when available) or installation of corner reflectors. The cost of the latter mixed space/ground solution must be evaluated with respect to conventional ground-based measurement methods in the proposed context.

Quantitative Assessments of CO2 Injection Risks for Onshore Large Scale CO2 Storage

“…However, despite this weakness, the results are consistent with other work performed in the Paris Basin (Vidal-Gilbert et al, 2009;Rohmer and Raucoules, 2012;Raucoules et al, 2015). Uncertainties on the input parameters are still important issues to evaluate mechanical behavior should be addressed during site characterization of the CO 2 storage project.…”

Review of the Monitoring Applications Involved in the Underground Storage of Natural Gas and CO2

“…All the contributions are focused on the monitoring and characterization of the Aquistore CO 2 storage project located in Saskatchewan near Weyburn; (iv) France, with a total contribution of five: three journal articles and two conference proceedings. These articles propose to test the feasibility of long-term surface deformation monitoring by InSAR on carbon dioxide storage projects in European contexts, such as Lorraine, e.g., [90], where studies were conducted but CCS operations were not funded, and the monitoring of flux and soil-gas concentrations at the Lacq-Rousse CCS pilot site [22]. The congress proceedings show the preliminary studies for CO 2 injection in the PICOREF sector situated in the Paris basin [59] and a study on the use of persistent scatterers interferometry in highly vegetated/agricultural areas for long-term CO 2 storage monitoring [73].…”

“…• Modeling: studies analyzing all the available data to obtain a reservoir system model for understanding the physical, chemical, and geotechnical parameters, such as fluid pressure, permeability, angle of internal friction, porosity, acidity, and temperature, e.g., [46,99]; • Simulation: researchers simulating the geological conditions and their changes by the exposition of the areas to specific activities. This type of study is very important to learn the possible effects and prevent damage caused by gas storage activities, e.g., [90,100]; • Characterization: contributions aimed at the geological, geotechnical, geochemical, and geophysical detailed characterization of the potential reservoir system analyzed in the study area, e.g., [33,63];…”

“…These simulations can be achieved by using a large amount of data and they are used to analyze complex situations that could present risk. Some articles with this aim propose the feasibility test of long-term surface deformation monitoring based on SAR interferometry of carbon dioxide storage sites, e.g., [66,90,99].…”