--> Microseismic Monitoring at the CO2 Geological Storage Site—Initial Results Observed at Cranfield in the US

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Microseismic Monitoring at the CO2 Geological Storage Site—Initial Results Observed at Cranfield in the US

Abstract

Passive microseismic monitoring is a superior method for monitoring the mechanical effects on CO2 injection. To evaluate the relation between CO2 injection and induced microseismicities, we constructed the microseismic monitoring array at the commercial-scale CO2 injection site, Cranfield oilfield, Mississippi, the U.S. and performed microseismic monitoring. The monitoring started at the end of 2011, and we have performed observation for more than a year. For now, we observed no microseismic events induced by CO2 injection at the site. The recorded signals were identified background noises, artificial noise due to activities at the site, noises due to the weather such as thunderstorms, precipitation, or air pressure changes, and natural earthquakes that occurred far from the site. To evaluate the monitoring system sensitivity, we estimated the minimum detectable magnitude based on the observed data. The natural earthquake and background noise records yielded M2.5 at the distance of 300km, and around M −1, respectively.