Field test study on leakage monitoring at a geological CO2 storage site using hydrogen as a tracer

Abstract In this study, a new monitoring approach for detecting CO 2 leakage is proposed that utilizes hydrogen gas as a tracer for CO 2 geological storage. The gas leakage from a shallow formation is studied using 20–100-m deep boreholes at the Ito Natural Analog Site field testing facility in Fukuoka, Japan. Direct measurements of CO 2 concentrations may yield unreliable results, particularly in summer when high levels of CO 2 flux are produced from soil respiration. A gas mixture (CO 2 :H 2 /99:1) was injected through a well to the subsurface. The concentrations of gas emitted from the soil were measured in pipes where the gas was trapped; hydrogen was detected at 15 ppm immediately in less than 30 min after the mixed gas was released to the water-saturated zone. Repeated measurements were conducted in the area and elevated H 2 levels of 15–65 ppm were recorded for 2 weeks. CO 2 measurements in the pipes showed elevated levels at one monitoring point a day after the mixed gas was released. The field result was confirmed by laboratory experiments of the mixed gas, verifying that H 2 is detected earlier than CO 2 . The elapsed time between H 2 and CO 2 after the mixed gas released was observed in this study suggesting that H 2 has a potential as signal precursor for a future of CO 2 arrival. However, further experiment should be conducted to demonstrate the applicability of H 2 as a monitoring tool in CCS.

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