Effective microseismic monitoring of the Quest CCS site, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Microseismic monitoring represents a key surveillance technology to verify the integrity of subsurface CO2 storage sites. The precise location of microseismic events is first and foremost a direct and immediate indication of caprock and seal behavior but could also provide insight into CO2 plume migration. Tiny precursor movements provide diagnostic information about injection-related reservoir and caprock dynamics long before potential seal failure occurs. We present a case study from the Quest CCS facility in Canada, where a variety of different monitoring technologies are employed. We present the different microseismic sensor technologies and array configurations currently installed at the site and compare them against each other with respect to their reliability and effectiveness in providing the required verification information.