Deployment of a carbon isotope ratiometer for the monitoring of CO2 sequestration leakage.

ABSTRACT

In an effort to monitor leakage from underground CO(2) storage, a field-deployable analyzer capable of rapidly measuring the CO(2) mixing ratio and δ(13)C values (±0.05 ppm(v) ± 0.2‰, 60 s) was deployed to distinguish between biogenic and fossil CO(2) sources. The analyzer was interfaced with a multiport inlet unit to allow autonomous sampling from multiple locations. The instrument and inlet interface were deployed at the Zero Emissions Research and Technology (ZERT) site (Bozeman, Montana, July 14-22, 2009) during a controlled, subsurface release of CO(2) depleted in (13)C. A biogenic diurnal cycle was observed far from the release, and the associated Keeling plot suggested a CO(2) source (δ(13)C = -27.0 ± 0.5‰) consistent with local C(3) vegetation. Inlets near the leak showed large CO(2) mixing ratios (388/>40 000 ppm(v)) whose predominant source was the release CO(2) (inferred δ(13)C = -58.2 ± 0.7‰). Measurements 3 m from the source showed diurnal CO(2) cycles (382-2400 ppm(v)) influenced by leaked CO(2), possibly due to diel air mixing. Finally, the data from all of the sampling inlets was combined to spatially localize the leak position.