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Multiscale characterisation of chimneys/pipes: fluid escape structures within sedimentary basins

Multiscale characterisation of chimneys/pipes: fluid escape structures within sedimentary basins
Multiscale characterisation of chimneys/pipes: fluid escape structures within sedimentary basins
Evaluation of seismic reflection data has identified the presence of fluid escape structures cross-cutting overburden stratigraphy within sedimentary basins globally. Seismically-imaged chimneys/pipes are considered to be possible pathways for fluid flow, which may hydraulically connect deeper strata to the seabed. The properties of fluid migration pathways through the overburden must be constrained to enable secure, long-term subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. We have investigated a site of natural active fluid escape in the North Sea, the Scanner pockmark complex, to determine the physical characteristics of focused fluid conduits, and how they control fluid flow. Here we show that a multi-scale, multi-disciplinary experimental approach is required for complete characterisation of fluid escape structures. Geophysical techniques are necessary to resolve fracture geometry and subsurface structure (e.g., multi-frequency seismics) and physical parameters of sediments (e.g., controlled source electromagnetics) across a wide range of length scales (m to km). At smaller (mm to cm) scales, sediment cores were sampled directly and their physical and chemical properties assessed using laboratory-based methods. Numerical modelling approaches bridge the resolution gap, though their validity is dependent on calibration and constraint from field and laboratory experimental data. Further, time-lapse seismic and acoustic methods capable of resolving temporal changes are key for determining fluid flux. Future optimisation of experiment resource use may be facilitated by the installation of permanent seabed infrastructure, and replacement of manual data processing with automated workflows. This study can be used to inform measurement, monitoring and verification workflows that will assist policymaking, regulation, and best practice for CO2 subsurface storage operations.
CO sequestration, Chimneys, Geological storage, North Sea, Overburden, Pipes
1750-5836
Robinson, Adam
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Callow, Ben James
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Böttner, Christoph
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Yilo, Naima Karolina
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Provenzano, Giuseppe
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Falcon-Suarez, Ismael Himar
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Marin Moreno, Hector
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Lichtschlag, Anna
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Bayrakci, Gaye
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Gehrmann, Romina
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Parkes, Lou
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Roche, Ben
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Saleem, Umer
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Schramm, Bettina
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Waage, Malin
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Lavayssiere, Aude
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Li, Jianghui
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Jedari Eyvazi, Farid
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Sahoo, Sourav
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Deusner, Christian
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Kossel, Elke
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Minshull, Timothy
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Berndt, Christian
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Bull, Jonathan
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Dean, Marcella
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James, Rachael
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Chapman, Mark
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Best, Angus I.
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Bünz, Stefan
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Chen, Baixin
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Connelly, Douglas
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Elger, Judith
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Haeckel, Matthias
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Henstock, Timothy
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Karstens, Jens
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Macdonald, Calum
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Matter, Juerg
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North, Laurence J
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Reinardy, Benedict
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Robinson, Adam
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Callow, Ben James
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Böttner, Christoph
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Yilo, Naima Karolina
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Provenzano, Giuseppe
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Falcon-Suarez, Ismael Himar
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Marin Moreno, Hector
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Lichtschlag, Anna
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Bayrakci, Gaye
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Gehrmann, Romina
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Parkes, Lou
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Roche, Ben
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Saleem, Umer
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Schramm, Bettina
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Waage, Malin
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Lavayssiere, Aude
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Li, Jianghui
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Jedari Eyvazi, Farid
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Sahoo, Sourav
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Deusner, Christian
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Kossel, Elke
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Minshull, Timothy
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Berndt, Christian
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Bull, Jonathan
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Dean, Marcella
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James, Rachael
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Chapman, Mark
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Best, Angus I.
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Bünz, Stefan
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Chen, Baixin
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Connelly, Douglas
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Elger, Judith
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Haeckel, Matthias
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Henstock, Timothy
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Karstens, Jens
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Macdonald, Calum
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Matter, Juerg
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North, Laurence J
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Reinardy, Benedict
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Robinson, Adam, Callow, Ben James, Böttner, Christoph, Yilo, Naima Karolina, Provenzano, Giuseppe, Falcon-Suarez, Ismael Himar, Marin Moreno, Hector, Lichtschlag, Anna, Bayrakci, Gaye, Gehrmann, Romina, Parkes, Lou, Roche, Ben, Saleem, Umer, Schramm, Bettina, Waage, Malin, Lavayssiere, Aude, Li, Jianghui, Jedari Eyvazi, Farid, Sahoo, Sourav, Deusner, Christian, Kossel, Elke, Minshull, Timothy, Berndt, Christian, Bull, Jonathan, Dean, Marcella, James, Rachael, Chapman, Mark, Best, Angus I., Bünz, Stefan, Chen, Baixin, Connelly, Douglas, Elger, Judith, Haeckel, Matthias, Henstock, Timothy, Karstens, Jens, Macdonald, Calum, Matter, Juerg, North, Laurence J and Reinardy, Benedict (2021) Multiscale characterisation of chimneys/pipes: fluid escape structures within sedimentary basins. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 106, [103245]. (doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2020.103245).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Evaluation of seismic reflection data has identified the presence of fluid escape structures cross-cutting overburden stratigraphy within sedimentary basins globally. Seismically-imaged chimneys/pipes are considered to be possible pathways for fluid flow, which may hydraulically connect deeper strata to the seabed. The properties of fluid migration pathways through the overburden must be constrained to enable secure, long-term subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. We have investigated a site of natural active fluid escape in the North Sea, the Scanner pockmark complex, to determine the physical characteristics of focused fluid conduits, and how they control fluid flow. Here we show that a multi-scale, multi-disciplinary experimental approach is required for complete characterisation of fluid escape structures. Geophysical techniques are necessary to resolve fracture geometry and subsurface structure (e.g., multi-frequency seismics) and physical parameters of sediments (e.g., controlled source electromagnetics) across a wide range of length scales (m to km). At smaller (mm to cm) scales, sediment cores were sampled directly and their physical and chemical properties assessed using laboratory-based methods. Numerical modelling approaches bridge the resolution gap, though their validity is dependent on calibration and constraint from field and laboratory experimental data. Further, time-lapse seismic and acoustic methods capable of resolving temporal changes are key for determining fluid flux. Future optimisation of experiment resource use may be facilitated by the installation of permanent seabed infrastructure, and replacement of manual data processing with automated workflows. This study can be used to inform measurement, monitoring and verification workflows that will assist policymaking, regulation, and best practice for CO2 subsurface storage operations.

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Robinson_Callow_etal_Multiscale_characterisation_chimneys_IJGGC_2020 - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 14 December 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 19 February 2021
Published date: March 2021
Additional Information: Funding Information: This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 654462 (STEMM-CCS) and the Natural Environment Research Council (CHIMNEY; NERC Highlight Topic; NE/N016130/1 ). We would like to thank all those involved in the planning and acquisition of data during research cruises MSM63, JC152, POS518 and MSM78, including the officers, engineers and crews, the scientific parties, and all seagoing technicians and engineers. The NERC Ocean-Bottom Instrumentation Facility ( Minshull et al., 2005 ) provided the OBSs and OBEs and their technical support at sea during JC152. OBSs and technical support at sea during MSM63 were provided by GEOMAR. RD2 is operated by the British Geological Survey. We are grateful for the support of Applied Acoustics Ltd during Sparker data acquisition. We thank Steven Constable from Scripps Institution of Oceanography for lending eight CSEM loggers, David Myer for CSEM data analysis routines, Kerry Key for the CSEM inversion and modelling routines and giving input to the data analysis, and Karen Weitemeyer for input to the discussion of CSEM data, and guidance on the analysis and modelling of the Ocean Bottom instrument data. We thank Jeroen Snippe for input to the discussion of reactive transport modelling. We thank the editors, and Alan Orpin and an anonymous reviewer for their positive and constructive comments. Funding Information: This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No.654462 (STEMM-CCS) and the Natural Environment Research Council (CHIMNEY; NERC Highlight Topic; NE/N016130/1). We would like to thank all those involved in the planning and acquisition of data during research cruises MSM63, JC152, POS518 and MSM78, including the officers, engineers and crews, the scientific parties, and all seagoing technicians and engineers. The NERC Ocean-Bottom Instrumentation Facility (Minshull et al. 2005) provided the OBSs and OBEs and their technical support at sea during JC152. OBSs and technical support at sea during MSM63 were provided by GEOMAR. RD2 is operated by the British Geological Survey. We are grateful for the support of Applied Acoustics Ltd during Sparker data acquisition. We thank Steven Constable from Scripps Institution of Oceanography for lending eight CSEM loggers, David Myer for CSEM data analysis routines, Kerry Key for the CSEM inversion and modelling routines and giving input to the data analysis, and Karen Weitemeyer for input to the discussion of CSEM data, and guidance on the analysis and modelling of the Ocean Bottom instrument data. We thank Jeroen Snippe for input to the discussion of reactive transport modelling. We thank the editors, and Alan Orpin and an anonymous reviewer for their positive and constructive comments. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors
Keywords: CO sequestration, Chimneys, Geological storage, North Sea, Overburden, Pipes

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 445927
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/445927
ISSN: 1750-5836
PURE UUID: d810ca85-8483-4245-9ecd-5570ae4a2911
ORCID for Adam Robinson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3447-870X
ORCID for Ben James Callow: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2296-1702
ORCID for Hector Marin Moreno: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3412-1359
ORCID for Romina Gehrmann: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3099-2771
ORCID for Jianghui Li: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2956-5940
ORCID for Timothy Minshull: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8202-1379
ORCID for Jonathan Bull: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3373-5807
ORCID for Rachael James: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7402-2315
ORCID for Timothy Henstock: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2132-2514
ORCID for Juerg Matter: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1070-7371

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 14 Jan 2021 19:14
Last modified: 12 Nov 2024 03:12

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Contributors

Author: Adam Robinson ORCID iD
Author: Christoph Böttner
Author: Giuseppe Provenzano
Author: Ismael Himar Falcon-Suarez
Author: Hector Marin Moreno ORCID iD
Author: Anna Lichtschlag
Author: Gaye Bayrakci
Author: Romina Gehrmann ORCID iD
Author: Lou Parkes
Author: Ben Roche
Author: Umer Saleem
Author: Bettina Schramm
Author: Malin Waage
Author: Aude Lavayssiere
Author: Jianghui Li ORCID iD
Author: Farid Jedari Eyvazi
Author: Sourav Sahoo
Author: Christian Deusner
Author: Elke Kossel
Author: Christian Berndt
Author: Jonathan Bull ORCID iD
Author: Marcella Dean
Author: Rachael James ORCID iD
Author: Mark Chapman
Author: Angus I. Best
Author: Stefan Bünz
Author: Baixin Chen
Author: Douglas Connelly
Author: Judith Elger
Author: Matthias Haeckel
Author: Jens Karstens
Author: Calum Macdonald
Author: Juerg Matter ORCID iD
Author: Laurence J North
Author: Benedict Reinardy

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