Development of a Novel IR Detector for Improved CO2 Subsurface Sequestration Monitoring

Low cost and accurate monitoring of sequestered gases such as CO2 is critical to insure that sequestered gases are not reentering the atmosphere. Management requires, in part, improved atmospheric and ground monitoring of greenhouse gases through sensors capable of measuring the flux, concentration and the carbon isotope of CO2 with high accuracy. These Monitoring, Verification and Accounting (MVAA) tools needs to meet very strict requirements including a) the ability to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic CO2; (b) sensitive to the location of injected CO2 and any potential release; (c) is robust enough for operating in harsh environments; and (d) capable of monitoring requirements across the range of storage formation(s), depth)s), temperature(s), pressure(s) and porocities. In this program Amethyst Research will develop an ultra-sensitive infrared detector, designed to operate at 4.35 m that can accuracy to rapidly measure the concentration and isotopic ratio of CO2 isotopologues. The ultra-high performance infrared sensor will be field tested using the fiber sensor array installed at the University of Montanas Zero Emission Research technology subsurface CO2 field site. Commercial Application and Other Benefits: Amethyst is developing a low noise high sensitivity mid infrared sensor for use in CO2 monitoring. This technology can be translated to other applications including monitoring of other gasses as well as infrared imagining and infared tomography.