Geological Carbon Sequestration: A New Approach for Near-Surface Assurance Monitoring
2011
Geological Carbon Sequestration Monitoring
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Wielopolski Lucian
Primary Institution: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Hypothesis
A CO2 leak would impact the vegetation and result in a near surface carbon suppression.
Conclusion
The study validated that leaking CO2 suppresses near surface carbon and demonstrated the suitability of the INS system for measuring these changes.
Supporting Evidence
- Preliminary field results showed carbon suppression of 14% in the first year and 7% in the second year.
- The INS system allows for spatial averaging of signals over large areas.
- Measurements of total organic carbon (TOC) can indicate CO2 seepage effects.
Takeaway
This study shows that when CO2 leaks from underground, it can reduce the amount of carbon in the soil above, which can be measured using a special technique.
Methodology
The study used inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to measure total carbon in soil affected by CO2 leakage.
Limitations
The study did not perform chemical analysis of soil samples to avoid disturbing CO2 flow conditions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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