Resman CCS tracers

Operational envelope

Applicable for all nonsolid phases of CO₂—gas, liquid, and supercritical

Applications

• Before CO₂ injection, analysis of potential storage sites
• During CO₂ injection, plume monitoring and identification of flow patterns
• After CO₂ injection, tracking CO₂ movement plus providing early warning and identifying the source of potential leaks and seeps
• Measurement, monitoring, and verification (MMV)

Benefits

• Verify the integrity of carbon storage operations to reassure investors, regulators, and the public
• Quantify CO₂ retention
• Calibrate the reservoir model
• Distinguish between naturally occurring and injected CO₂
• Physically differentiate CO₂ injection points (wells)
• Quantify the rate of CO₂ leakage (if necessary)
• Determine sweep volumes of unwanted fast-breakthrough conduits
• Continuously monitor caprock integrity via a network of permanent soil sensors
• Enhance reservoir simulation by adding CO₂ tracer data
• Validate and interpret seismic and pressure data
• Enhance insurance documentation

Features

• 12 unique signatures—the largest number to date in the industry
• No measurable degradation during the injection period and for decades afterward
• Detectable at concentrations as low as 100 parts per quadrillion (ppq)
• High-integrity detection system (HIDS) comprising an extensive network of sensors at the surface
• No external power requirements for propulsion, interrogation, or communication
• Nonradioactive chemicals

How they improve performance

Evidence-based flow and carbon storage integrity monitoring
Direct measurements of CCS tracers—instead of relying on interpretation—are particularly important in the case of CO₂ storage because of public concerns about potential leaks.

How they work

Resman™ CCS tracer signals are plotted against time, a dissimilar tracer, or both, for advanced analysis. The resulting curves are then interpreted, often together with other relevant data. Appearance of the tracer in a different place compared with where it was introduced provides proof of mass transport and connectivity.

The value comes from interpreting the tracer journey, a task that we have simplified with advanced digital workflows that use the direct measurements as input.

To study reservoir transport and integrity, the Resman CCS tracer is pumped into the injector flow stream, either directly or through an injection port. It is carried passively through the reservoir and if it returns to surface, the log of its journey is downloaded, providing information on the reservoir structure and injection efficiency. 

For saturation measurement, the tracer is applied in a push-pull operation; it is injected with CO₂-saturated water and produced back after a short shut-in period. The residual CO₂ saturation is calculated from the response of the back-produced tracer.

A centralized lab facility in Norway provides parts-per-quadrillion (ppq) performance. Results are provided via our Tracer Track™ visualization
solution, where applicable.