An assessment of controlled source EM for monitoring subsurface CO2 injection at the wyoming carbonSAFE geologic carbon storage site

Abstract

We evaluate if electromagnetic (EM) geophysical methods for monitoring geologic carbon storage (GCS) efforts at the Wyoming CarbonSAFE project adjacent to the Dry Fork Station power plant near Gillette, Wyoming. This first involved acquiring both electric and magnetic fields at eleven different locations ranging in distance from immediately adjacent to 4 km from the plant. Passive EM measurements were made to provide spectral EM noise measurements generated by electricity production at the plant and to determine if useful magnetotelluric (MT) data can be successfully collected in the region. The processed data indicate that useful MT data can be collected as long as the site is located more than 2km away from the power plant as well as active roads and rail lines. Controlled source EM data were collected using three different source configurations, two of which connected to steel casings used to complete the injection wells. Comparing the EM noise measurements to the CSEM data show measurable electric and magnetic field signals at all sites. Next a series of three-dimensional (3D) numerical models were built that simulate resistivity changes caused by the proposed CO₂ injection at depths ranging from 2.4 to 3.0km. These models were used to simulate various EM measurement configurations. The modeling shows that casing-source CSEM monitoring can provide sensitivity to the injected CO₂ if source electrodes are connected to the bottom of one or both of the injection wells.