DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Identifying attributes of CO2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method: Original Research Article: Identifying attributes of CO 2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method

Abstract

Leakage through abandoned wells and geologic faults poses the greatest risk to CO2 storage permanence. For shallow aquifers, secondary CO2 plumes emanating from the leak zones may go undetected for a sustained period of time and has the greatest potential to cause large-scale and long-term environmental impacts. Identification of the attributes of leak zones, including their shape, location, and strength, is required for environmental risk assessment. This study applies a parametric level set (PaLS) method to characterize leak zones. Level set methods are appealing for tracking topological changes and recovering unknown shapes of objects. However, level set evolution using the conventional level set methods is computationally challenging. In PaLS, the level set function is approximated by using a weighted sum of basis functions and the level set evolution problem is replaced by an optimization problem. The efficacy of PaLS is demonstrated by reconstructing attributes of a CO2 leak zone in a carbonate aquifer. Our results show that PaLS is a robust source identification method that can recover the approximate leak zone locations in the presence of measurement errors, model parameter uncertainty, and inaccurate guesses of source flux strengths. Accurate delineation of source geometry is achievable when a relatively dense observationmore » network is used. The PaLS-based, source recovery framework introduced in this work is generic and can be adapted for any reactive transport model by simply switching the pre- and post-processing routines.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
OSTI Identifier:
1533179
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1374670
Grant/Contract Number:  
FE0012231; FE0026515
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 7; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 2152-3878
Publisher:
Society of Chemical Industry, Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; energy & fuels; engineering; environmental sciences & ecology; parametric level set method; geologic carbon sequestration; leakage pathway identification; inverse problems; reactive transport; environmental monitoring

Citation Formats

Sun, Alexander Y., Wheeler, Mary F., and Islam, Akand. Identifying attributes of CO2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method: Original Research Article: Identifying attributes of CO 2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1002/ghg.1665.
Sun, Alexander Y., Wheeler, Mary F., & Islam, Akand. Identifying attributes of CO2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method: Original Research Article: Identifying attributes of CO 2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1665
Sun, Alexander Y., Wheeler, Mary F., and Islam, Akand. Wed . "Identifying attributes of CO2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method: Original Research Article: Identifying attributes of CO 2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1665. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1533179.
@article{osti_1533179,
title = {Identifying attributes of CO2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method: Original Research Article: Identifying attributes of CO 2 leakage zones in shallow aquifers using a parametric level set method},
author = {Sun, Alexander Y. and Wheeler, Mary F. and Islam, Akand},
abstractNote = {Leakage through abandoned wells and geologic faults poses the greatest risk to CO2 storage permanence. For shallow aquifers, secondary CO2 plumes emanating from the leak zones may go undetected for a sustained period of time and has the greatest potential to cause large-scale and long-term environmental impacts. Identification of the attributes of leak zones, including their shape, location, and strength, is required for environmental risk assessment. This study applies a parametric level set (PaLS) method to characterize leak zones. Level set methods are appealing for tracking topological changes and recovering unknown shapes of objects. However, level set evolution using the conventional level set methods is computationally challenging. In PaLS, the level set function is approximated by using a weighted sum of basis functions and the level set evolution problem is replaced by an optimization problem. The efficacy of PaLS is demonstrated by reconstructing attributes of a CO2 leak zone in a carbonate aquifer. Our results show that PaLS is a robust source identification method that can recover the approximate leak zone locations in the presence of measurement errors, model parameter uncertainty, and inaccurate guesses of source flux strengths. Accurate delineation of source geometry is achievable when a relatively dense observation network is used. The PaLS-based, source recovery framework introduced in this work is generic and can be adapted for any reactive transport model by simply switching the pre- and post-processing routines.},
doi = {10.1002/ghg.1665},
journal = {Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology},
number = 4,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 2 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Works referenced in this record:

Optimal Identification of Ground-Water Pollution Sources and Parameter Estimation
journal, February 2001


Shape and topology optimization of compliant mechanisms using a parameterization level set method
journal, November 2007

  • Luo, Zhen; Tong, Liyong; Wang, Michael Yu
  • Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 227, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jcp.2007.08.011

Reactive transport modeling: An essential tool and a new research approach for the Earth sciences
journal, December 2005


Simultaneous characterization of geological shapes and permeability distributions in reservoirs using the level set method
conference, April 2013

  • Villegas, Rossmary; Mustieles, Francisco Jose; Kindelan, Manuel
  • SPE Europec/EAGE Annual Conference and Exhibition
  • DOI: 10.2118/100291-MS

Numerical simulation of displacement characteristics of CO2 injected in pore-scale porous media
journal, February 2016

  • Zhu, Qianlin; Zhou, Qianlong; Li, Xiaochun
  • Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 8, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2015.08.004

Level set methods for inverse scattering
journal, June 2006


Universal Approximation Using Radial-Basis-Function Networks
journal, June 1991


Bayesian inversion for facies detection: An extensible level set framework: LEVEL SETS FOR FACIES DETECTION
journal, October 2009

  • Cardiff, M.; Kitanidis, P. K.
  • Water Resources Research, Vol. 45, Issue 10
  • DOI: 10.1029/2008WR007675

History Matching of Channelized Reservoirs With Vector-Based Level-Set Parameterization
journal, June 2014


Level-set methods for structural topology optimization: a review
journal, March 2013

  • van Dijk, N. P.; Maute, K.; Langelaar, M.
  • Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol. 48, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00158-013-0912-y

A geometric approach to joint inversion with applications to contaminant source zone characterization
journal, October 2013


Parametric Level Set Methods for Inverse Problems
journal, January 2011

  • Aghasi, Alireza; Kilmer, Misha; Miller, Eric L.
  • SIAM Journal on Imaging Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 2
  • DOI: 10.1137/100800208

A level set method for materials with texturally equilibrated pores
journal, September 2015

  • Ghanbarzadeh, Soheil; Hesse, Marc A.; Prodanović, MaÅ”a
  • Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 297
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jcp.2015.05.023

Radial basis functions and level set method for structural topology optimization
journal, January 2006

  • Wang, Shengyin; Wang, Michael Yu
  • International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 65, Issue 12
  • DOI: 10.1002/nme.1536

Potential Impacts of Leakage from Deep CO 2 Geosequestration on Overlying Freshwater Aquifers
journal, December 2010

  • Little, Mark G.; Jackson, Robert B.
  • Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 44, Issue 23
  • DOI: 10.1021/es102235w

Fronts propagating with curvature-dependent speed: Algorithms based on Hamilton-Jacobi formulations
journal, November 1988


Changes in the chemistry of shallow groundwater related to the 2008 injection of CO2 at the ZERT field site, Bozeman, Montana
journal, December 2009

  • Kharaka, Yousif K.; Thordsen, James J.; Kakouros, Evangelos
  • Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 60, Issue 2, p. 273-284
  • DOI: 10.1007/s12665-009-0401-1

Orthogonal least squares learning algorithm for radial basis function networks
journal, March 1991

  • Chen, S.; Cowan, C. F. N.; Grant, P. M.
  • IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks, Vol. 2, Issue 2
  • DOI: 10.1109/72.80341

Dissolution of a mineral phase in potable aquifers due to CO2 releases from deep formations; effect of dissolution kinetics
journal, November 2004


Elucidating geochemical response of shallow heterogeneous aquifers to CO2 leakage using high-performance computing: Implications for monitoring of CO2 sequestration
journal, March 2013


Integrated Framework for Assessing Impacts of CO 2 Leakage on Groundwater Quality and Monitoring-Network Efficiency: Case Study at a CO 2 Enhanced Oil Recovery Site
journal, June 2015

  • Yang, Changbing; Hovorka, Susan D.; TreviƱo, RamĆ³n H.
  • Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 49, Issue 14
  • DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01574

A parametric level-set approach for topology optimization of flow domains
journal, June 2009

  • Pingen, Georg; Waidmann, Matthias; Evgrafov, Anton
  • Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol. 41, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00158-009-0405-1

Combined Adaptive Multiscale and Level-Set Parameter Estimation
journal, January 2005

  • Lien, Martha; Berre, Inga; Mannseth, Trond
  • Multiscale Modeling & Simulation, Vol. 4, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1137/050623152

The state of the art in monitoring and verificationā€”Ten years on
journal, September 2015

  • Jenkins, Charles; Chadwick, Andy; Hovorka, Susan D.
  • International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 40
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2015.05.009

A quantitative methodology to assess the risks to human health from CO2 leakage into groundwater
journal, February 2012


Geochemical Impacts to Groundwater from Geologic Carbon Sequestration: Controls on pH and Inorganic Carbon Concentrations from Reaction Path and Kinetic Modeling
journal, June 2010

  • Wilkin, Richard T.; DiGiulio, Dominic C.
  • Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 44, Issue 12
  • DOI: 10.1021/es100559j

Geochemical Implications of Gas Leakage associated with Geologic CO 2 Storageā€”A Qualitative Review
journal, August 2012

  • Harvey, Omar R.; Qafoku, Nikolla P.; Cantrell, Kirk J.
  • Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1021/es3029457

Piecewise polynomial, positive definite and compactly supported radial functions of minimal degree
journal, December 1995

  • Wendland, Holger
  • Advances in Computational Mathematics, Vol. 4, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1007/BF02123482

History matching of facies distribution with the EnKF and level set parameterization
journal, October 2010

  • Chang, Haibin; Zhang, Dongxiao; Lu, Zhiming
  • Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 229, Issue 20
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jcp.2010.07.005

Geochemical modeling of a sustained shallow aquifer CO2 leakage field study and implications for leakage and site monitoring
journal, June 2015


On optimization algorithms for the reservoir oil well placement problem
journal, August 2006


Modeling of CO2 Leakage up Through an Abandoned Well from Deep Saline Aquifer to Shallow Fresh Groundwaters
journal, August 2011


Parameter estimation and prediction for groundwater contamination based on measure theory: PARAMETER ESTIMATION AND PREDICTION
journal, September 2015

  • Mattis, S. A.; Butler, T. D.; Dawson, C. N.
  • Water Resources Research, Vol. 51, Issue 9
  • DOI: 10.1002/2015WR017295

A robust geostatistical approach to contaminant source identification: ROBUST GEOSTATISTICAL APPROACH
journal, February 2007


Probabilistic evaluation of shallow groundwater resources at a hypothetical carbon sequestration site
journal, March 2014

  • Dai, Zhenxue; Keating, Elizabeth; Bacon, Diana
  • Scientific Reports, Vol. 4, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1038/srep04006

L EVEL S ET M ETHODS FOR F LUID I NTERFACES
journal, January 2003


A constrained robust least squares approach for contaminant release history identification: CONSTRAINED ROBUST LEAST SQUARES
journal, April 2006

  • Sun, Alexander Y.; Painter, Scott L.; Wittmeyer, Gordon W.
  • Water Resources Research, Vol. 42, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1029/2005WR004312

Inversion of pressure anomaly data for detecting leakage at geologic carbon sequestration sites
journal, August 2012


Sharp Front Capturing Method for Carbon Dioxide Plume Propagation during Injection into a Deep Confined Aquifer
journal, February 2010

  • Liu, Yongzhong; Wang, Le; Yu, Bo
  • Energy & Fuels, Vol. 24, Issue 2
  • DOI: 10.1021/ef9010498

Bayesian geostatistical design: Task-driven optimal site investigation when the geostatistical model is uncertain: BAYESIAN GEOSTATISTICAL DESIGN
journal, March 2010

  • Nowak, W.; de Barros, F. P. J.; Rubin, Y.
  • Water Resources Research, Vol. 46, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1029/2009WR008312

Cloud computing for integrated stochastic groundwater uncertainty analysis
journal, May 2012


TOUGH2 User's Guide Version 2
report, November 1999

  • Pruess, K.; Oldenburg, C.M.; Moridis, G.J.
  • LBNL--43134
  • DOI: 10.2172/751729

Optimal design of pressure-based, leakage detection monitoring networks for geologic carbon sequestration repositories
journal, November 2013

  • Sun, Alexander Y.; Nicot, Jean-Philippe; Zhang, Xiaodong
  • International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 19
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2013.09.005

Early detection of brine and CO2 leakage through abandoned wells using pressure and surface-deformation monitoring data: Concept and demonstration
journal, December 2013


Improving monitoring protocols for CO2 geological storage with technical advances in CO2 attribution monitoring
journal, October 2015


A level-set approach for inverse problems involving obstacles Fadil SANTOSA
journal, January 1996

  • Santosa, Fadil
  • ESAIM: Control, Optimisation and Calculus of Variations, Vol. 1
  • DOI: 10.1051/cocv:1996101

On mobilization of lead and arsenic in groundwater in response to CO2 leakage from deep geological storage
journal, November 2009