2.5.4 Applicable monitoring techniques

Many different techniques are available for the CO2 leakage monitoring both within the wellbore and at the surface, around the wellhead (Clyne et al., 2011, Plasynski et al., 2011). The monitoring methods applicable to abandoned wells are basically limited to surface measurements because the abandoned wells commonly have their casings cut below the ground level and a cap welded on top of the cut casings. Therefore, monitoring technologies involving wireline equipment and downhole tools are not applicable to abandoned wells unless these wells are re-entered and the mechanical plugs and cement plugs are drilled to provide access to the wellbore. Since the leakage of CO2 from the abandoned wells can be confined to the wellbore or the gas can migrate outside the casing, surfacing around the well, the known presence of wells leads to a special areal or spatial focus of layouts of surface monitoring focussing on the vicinity of wells. Applicable monitoring techniques for abandoned wells use direct and indirect methods for monitoring CO2 leakage. Direct methods measure CO2 or tracer concentrations or flow rates to detect leakage, such as analysis of CO2 concentrations in air or in soil/sediment gas. Indirect methods use measurements which indicate CO2 leakage like ecosystem stress monitoring, groundwater monitoring etc. These techniques are described in more detail in Section 2.8.