Keeping an Eye on Injected CO₂

"Take an energy excursion to explore the various technologies to allow scientists and engineers to monitor carbon storage projects and ensure they protect underground sources of drinking water and public health and safety."

Summary

This lesson examines a number of tools for monitoring a carbon storage project, including atmospheric, near-surface and subsurface techniques. Motivation for this lesson is to understand how monitoring plans are uniquely designed based on the specific project. “Keeping an Eye on Injected CO2” lays the foundation for the next lesson, which focuses on a near-surface monitoring program designed to address specific landowner concerns.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explore a number of different monitoring tools for carbon storage projects
    • Atmospheric
    • Near-Surface
    • Subsurface
      • Case study: Bell Creek Oil Field Monitoring Program
  • Understand the importance of a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Plan
    • Public availability through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    • Case study on Archer Daniels Midland MRV reports
  • Summarize the reasons why monitoring programs are site specific
Oklahoma Academic Standards
TEKS Standards
College Board Units and Topics
Next Generation Science Standards