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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Process-based approach for the detection of deep gas invading the surface

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1356235
The present invention includes a method for determining the level of deep gas in a near surface formation that includes: measuring CO.sub.2, O.sub.2, CH.sub.4, and N.sub.2 levels in percent by volume from one or more surface or near surface geological samples; adding the water vapor content to the measured CO.sub.2, O.sub.2, CH.sub.4, and N.sub.2 levels in percent by volume; normalizing the gas mixture to 100% by volume or 1 atmospheric total pressure; and determining the ratios of: O.sub.2 versus CO.sub.2 to distinguish in-situ vadose zone CO.sub.2 from exogenous deep leakage CO.sub.2; CO.sub.2 versus N.sub.2 to distinguish whether CO.sub.2 is being removed from the near surface formation or CO.sub.2 is added from an exogenous deep leakage input; or CO.sub.2 versus N.sub.2/O.sub.2 to determine the degree of oxygen influx, consumption, or both; wherein the ratios are indicative of natural in situ CO.sub.2 or CO.sub.2 from the exogenous deep leakage input.
Research Organization:
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FG04-90AL65847
Assignee:
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
Patent Number(s):
9,645,129
Application Number:
14/318,087
OSTI ID:
1356235
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English