Útdráttur:
We present an overview of emerging topics in geophysical sensing for the energy transition, highlighting many novel uses of fibre-optic sensing from listening to marine mammals to imaging the subsurface, for detection of landslides and for earthquake monitoring. A key focus area is the novel use of geophysics for monitoring CO2 storage sites, including conventional surface acquisition, use of time-lapse seismic to detect migrating fingers of CO2, and fibre-optic sensing at surface and downhole. There are many technical challenges involved in applying these methods, including subtle event detection, noise removal, and uncertainty quantification. To better understand long-term geological CO2 containment systems, we have also been studying tectonic degassing in the North Atlantic region. Using data from the OCO-2 and TROPOMI satellites we have analysed emissions of CO₂ and SO₂ from recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, where deviations in CO2 concentration down to 1ppm can be detected. This will link us back to fibre-optic sensing which we are using to explore the relationships between tectonics and CO2 fluxes. Despite the many challenges involved, we can already see the huge potential for application of advanced geophysical sensing and monitoring in our changing world.
Öll velkomin!