Study of Gas Tracers for CO2 monitoring

Abstract

Abstract Gas tracers have been tested for monitoring and detecting CO2 displacement in the underground and eventually leakages to the upper layers in geological storage sites. Commonly used tracers are perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). In Brazil, we are carrying out gas tracers studies in laboratory for further application in field test facilities. These experiments consist of injecting CO2 with perfluorocarbon (perfluoropropane – PP and perfluormethylcyclopentane – PMCP) at low pressure (ca. 290 psi) in pressurized vessels with different types of sediments and soil samples. After flowing through the sample pores, the tracer is adsorbed into a capillary adsorption tube (CAT) with a specific fiber for perfluorcabon. Then, the tracer is extracted from the CAT through a Thermal Desorption System and subsequently analyzed in a Gas Chromatograph with an Electron Capture Detector (GC -ECD). The objective of these experiments is to evaluate the PFCs as a monitoring tool, analyzing the tracer retention times in different sediments, as well as understanding the CATs adsorption capacity and performance. After laboratory tests, field experiments will be conducted in the course of this project. Several experiments of CO2 injection and controlled leaks will be developed in shallow vertical wells at the project site as a continuity of the experiments started at Ressacada Farm Site (Florianopolis, Brazil). The project aim is to understand the flow and dispersion of CO2 in soil and atmosphere simulating an eventual leakage from a geological reservoir using an automated system with a dedicated module for tracers injection into CO2 stream.