Effective monitoring of long-term site stability for transparent carbon capture and storage hazard assessment

University of Alberta


Project Type

Development

Project Value

$1,010,000

Project Status

Active

Location

Scotford, AB

Funding Amount

$507,408

ENSURE will demonstrate the use of microseismic monitoring for seal integrity verification for large-scale carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects. Microseismic events provide direct insights into CO2 migration within the storage reservoir and potential caprock integrity challenges within the overburden. This goal will be achieved by developing advanced analysis tools and comparing data, existing and newly acquired, from various sensor types and networks at various sites, including fiberoptic sensors. The project is a data-driven exercise that seeks to optimize the quality and efficiency of CCS microseismic monitoring arrays. ENSURE will also investigate public acceptance of CCS and alternative microseismic monitoring scenarios with large scale public surveys in Canada and several European countries that evaluate technology and project risk perceptions and trust in CCS stakeholders. The project technology will be tested and optimized at the Quest CCS facility for the Scotford Upgrader in Alberta operated by Shell Canada Ltd and owned by Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Chevron Canada Oil Sands Partnership, and Shell Canada Ltd.

ACT partners: France, Norway

Participating organizations: NORSAR, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, TOTAL SE, Shell Canada, Midwest Regional Carbon Initiative, BP International Limited, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Shell Global Solutions International B.V.