Southern France

Through its CO2 storage R&D road map, Total is working on how to best monitor induced seismicity which might be induced by CO2 injection in deep saline aquifers.

Various monitoring solutions are considered, based on a mix between conventional sensors and fiber optics. How and where the sensors (downhole vs surface) will be deployed is also an area of active research within the group.

In order to reach that goal and also to be ready to process the acquired data with the next generation of induced seismicity monitoring systems, Total will deploy various sensors (both conventional and DAS) around the former gas production site (SW of France).

This location has been chosen as it allows to take advantage of both the local low-magnitude seismicity that is still induced by the former gas production, as well as the regional natural seismicity in the Pyrenees.

A conventional network will be deployed at the surface, combining various types of sensors (specifically dedicated seismometers used as standard by universities as well as conventional geophones classically deployed for oil and gas applications). This network will deliver the ground truth of the events occurring in the area. On top of that, optical fibers will be deployed within the area, in various and specific chosen geometries.

A relevant data set will be given to the ENSURE consortium in order to allow for the development of an optimal processing workflow for such heterogeneous networks.

Overview map of the Southern France site. Each site 1-5 include various microseismic monitoring setups.