Quarterly Status Report: Project #26
September through November, 2005
Project Title: An Integrated Geoscience Approach to CO2 Leakage Prediction and
Detection at Geologic Sequestration Sites
Principal Investigator: Tom Wilson, Henry Rauch & Tim Warner
Quaterly Report: September-November 05
1.0 Assessment Summary
Budget Status: We are under-budget on our expenses. Lack of interaction with the
Southwestern Regional Partnership makes us hesitant to hire masters students and a post-doc at
this time. We are unsure what kinds of subsurface and surface geology data exist for the San
Juan Basin Pilot site and what kinds of dedicated activities may be needed to develop databases
that may not for the Simon Canyon pilot area or to expand existing but incomplete databases.
Work Performed:
Task 1 (Wilson)
Startup delays, perceptions and recommendations
As noted in October, startup on our project has been delayed due to uncertainties in the exact
location of the ECBM pilot test area and delays in initiating detailed studies of the pilot test area
by the Southwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership. Further, we note that the
Southwestern Regional Partnership web site (http://www.southwestcarbonpartnership.org/) does
not appear to be up and running. In general we have been unable to locate any databases that
might have been developed as part of the regional partnership’s Phase I efforts.
The Southwest Partnership (SWP) recently scheduled a kickoff meeting for December 15th and
16th in Socorro, New Mexico. We have not initiated any direct contacts with the SWP at this
point to avoid interfering with the development of forthcoming collaborative efforts between
NETL and the SWP on their Phase II efforts. However, now that a kickoff meeting is in the
planning stages, we will conference call with Brian McPherson (technical contact for the
Southwest Region Partnership) prior to their meeting to get some feedback on the extent of
background data that may have been compiled during Phase I to support Phase II pilot efforts. At
that time we will request databases likely to have been developed as part of their Phase I efforts
and will design needed expansions to, and developments of, databases required for our study.
Given the apparent lack of information about the site, we suggest that an extended background
development effort is necessary and justified. Also, although CO2 injection has been delayed, we
do not know what this means about initial field development. In most cases coalbed methane
production is preceded by a lengthy period of water production. As noted in the SWP Phase II
fact sheet (see http://www.netl.doe.gov/coal/Carbon%20Sequestration/rcsp/phase2/pdf
/southwest.pdf) the SWP activities include a Terrestrial Riparian Restoration Project which will
involve the desalinization of water produced from the ECBM pilot. We will want to have our
background efforts completed or at least significantly underway prior to dewatering of the coal
seam, since the dewatering activity may affect conditions in overlying aquifers as well as
microseepage of light hydrocarbons to the surface. These activities have, in the past generated
considerable concern in the Four-Corners area (see http://www.ogap.org/wcbmp.htm) and given
impetus to several citizens action groups. We will need to begin groundwater testing as soon as
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possible to provide baseline data concerning issues of ground water contamination, the
development of methane and hydrogen sulfide seeps, and loss of stock water supply wells. Such
environmental concerns, should they arise, could easily bring carbon sequestration activities in
this area and in others to an early halt.
Remote Sensing
In the last monthly report, existing imagery were noted and illustrated. The table below
summarizes available imagery from the San Juan Basin pilot area.
Imagery
Landsat
orthophoto
Ikonos
Radarsat
Type
TM
TM
TM
ETM+
ETM+
ETM+
resolution
30
30
30
30
30
30
1
1m/4m
Date
ID (eg P/R)
89-07-05
34/34
89-07-05
34/35
89-07-04
35/34
02-08-26
34/34
01-06-04
34/35
00-09-12
35/34
?
Archuleta +
2002-03
2002-09
Standard 25m
1996-2005
Several with different incidence angles available
# of bands
7
7
7
7 + pan
7 + pan
7 + pan
mono
4 + pan
4 + pan
Have
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
QuickBird imagery has not been collected over the site. QuickBird is a satellite image that
provides 0.6 to 0.7 meter resolution in a panchromatic view and 2.4 to 2.8 meter resolution in 4
additional bands spanning the visible and near infrared. Since a kickoff meeting is scheduled for
mid-December we will place an order for a QuickBird new-collect during the next quarter. The
QuickBird image will serve as a high resolution basemap for the background study. A proposal
to obtain Radarsat data at non commercial rates is in preparation. The SWP plans to inject 71,000
tons of CO2 at the site. This is a significant volume and the possibility costs of obtaining radar
interferograms to document surface uplift in response to injected CO2 and long term coal
swelling will also be explored.
Preliminary band ratios have been computed for a couple of the Landsat scenes. In the next
quarter, we will explore different approaches to combining band ratios with other bands and also
examine temporal change in bands and band combinations from different Landsat scenes as we
attempt to gain familiarity with the local geology.
Geologic background
Discussions concerning the geologic background for the site reveal limited information over the
Simon Canyon Pilot area. Discussion with New Mexico Survey coal geologist Gretchen
Huffman and field geologist Sean Connell indicate that detailed surficial geologic maps of the
area do not exist. The most detailed geologic map of the area appears to be a 1x2 degree
1:250,000 scale map of the region (USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Map I-1730).
Fassett’s paper (Geologic and Coal Resources of the Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation, San
Juan Basin, New Mexico and Colorado, Chapter Q, USGS Professional Paper 1625-B) provides
an excellent reference to the geology of the Fruitland coal. The map on the following page
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(Figure 1) taken from Fassett’s paper illustrates the general structure of the San Juan Basin on
the top of the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone at the base of the coal bearing Fruitland Formation. The
map reveals the pilot site is located in the deeper part of the basin. Surface elevations at the site
vary from about 6300 to 6600 feet above sea level. Depths to the Fruitland are approximately
3000 feet,and net thickness of the Fruitland Formation coal beds is between 50 to 60 feet in the
Figure 1: Depth to the base of the Fruitland Formation. Approximate location of the
SWP ECBM pilot area is circled.
Figure 2: Stratigraphic cross section showing coal distribution within the Fruitland
Formation. Section passes near the pilot site. Position approximated by red rectangle.
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area. Coals are distributed through the Fruitland Formation as shown in the cross section in
Figure 2 (Ayers and Zellers (1994) taken from Fassett).
Characterization efforts have also included compilation of basic culture, township, range and
section layers for the San Juan basin project area base map (see Figure 3).
Figure 3: Preliminary base map of the area with culture, township, range and
section layers. Several wells have been located in the vicinity of the proposed
injection well. The general location of the pilot site is circled above.
Several wells (see Figure 3) have been located using the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division
Oil and Natural Gas Administration and Revenue Database. In the coming months well files in
the area will be searched for drillers picks on formation tops to allow construction of structure
and isopach maps of subsurface intervals across the site. Geophysical logs will also be located an
downloaded from the on-line data base.
In spite of delays in establishing links to the Southwest Regional Partnership concerning their
plans for the San Juan Basin pilot, the details and limitations of their databases, additional
database needs related to NETL tracer studies, and the time table for initiation of production
from the injection well, we have made significant strides to initiate independent characterization
efforts and move the planning for this effort forward. The forthcoming Southwest Regional
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Partnership kickoff meeting should provide opportunities to answer many of our questions and to
design site specific field efforts in support of the NETL tracer studies.
Task 2(Rauch)
Startup delays, perceptions, and planning
Startup of Rauch's task project work has been delayed, for reasons noted above under Task 1
(Wilson). However, planning work is proceeding in preparation for later work. Rauch has had
recent discussions with Art Wells, the primary NETL collaborator on our RDS research project
regarding the coordination of our ground water monitoring activities with the tracer and soil gas
monitoring efforts planned by Art Well's NETL team (Art Wells, Rod Diehl, and Brian Strazisar,
and Curt White of Parsons Laboratory). Rauch has also been in recent discussions with the West
Virginia University Sponsored Programs Office, with Parsons Laboratory at Pittsburgh PA
NETL, and with Triad Black Rock Test Lab in Morgantown, WV, in an effort to obtain detailed
price information for future ground water sample chemical analyses, and to secure a backup
laboratory company to Parsons Laboratory at Pittsburgh NETL for these chemical analyses if
needed. Contact has also been initiated with the Morgantown NETL Parsons Lab to obtain price
information for future vadose zone gas analyses.
Task 3(Warner)
1.1 Recommended Changes to Objectives
As noted in earlier months, we are waiting for details on pilot site background, site preparation,
and the timetable for deployment activities to unfold. As these details emerge, it may be
necessary for us to modify objectives and field activities. One prominent concern, for example,
relates to an apparent absence of detailed surficial geology maps of the pilot site and surrounding
area. It may be necessary for us to undertake field mapping efforts in the area to provide the level
of detailed information on surface lithology distributions that will be needed for interpretation of
Landsat imagery and future hyperspectral imagery. We expect many of these uncertainties to be
clarified following the Southwestern Regional Partnership’s kickoff meeting in mid-December.
1.2 Recommended Changes to Technical Approach
None
1.3 Task Progress against major planned accomplishments



Hiring of grad students and post-doc has been delayed to allow us to identify specific
limitations in the Southwest Regional Partnership data bases for the San Juan Basin pilot
area. We may need to change efforts to address these deficiencies. It will be best for us to
consider these needs prior to advertising the post-doc position.
Geological characterization of the San Juan Basin is well under way.
Existing remote sensing data over the area has been identified. Some data (Landsat &
orthophoto imagery) have been obtained. Preliminary analysis of Landsat data has been
initiated.
2.0 Impact on project accomplishments
All issues have been addressed in the preceding discussions
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3.0 Task cost variances from planned budget
No major cost variances. Hiring of grad students and post doc waits more definitive start date for
NETL collaborative field effort.
4.0 Budget forecast
As noted, we are currently under budget, so the forecast is good.
5.0 Open items/issues
There has been some discussion that we should attempt characterization of a second pilot site in
collaboration with one of the other regional partnerships. We would appreciate any efforts that
NETL can bring to bear to resolve uncertainties in where our efforts should be dedicated. At
present, we are operating under the assumption that our efforts should be focused on developing
the background studies needed to precede initiation of the San Juan Basin ECBM pilot. If we are
to redirect our efforts into some other area, we will need some advance notice to plan site
characterization and a long enough window of time to carry out basic background studies.
6.0 Presentations and publications
None
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