From geochemical baseline studies to characterization and remediation of gas leaks : experiences and case studies of the French institute for risk management (INERIS)

Abstract : Involved in several research projects funded by France and European Union on carbon capture and storage, INERIS has worked for many years on the design, building, testing and field-deployment of gas monitoring devices in soil and subsurface on industrial sites. INERIS has developed a strong experience using self-designed devices dedicated to the characterization of CO2 storages and analogues of natural or anthropogenic CO2-leaking systems. INERIS focuses on the monitoring of gas flux at surface and on the monitoring of gas migration in the subsurface using gas monitoring wells. After many years of worldwide research done by many researchers and industrials, it's now time to adopt a 'monitoring-ready' approach. That means to be ready to challenge industrial and stakeholders' expectations for efficient, field-deployable and cheap solutions to perform efficient gas monitoring in the soil and the subsurface. We will here discuss the way INERIS performs surface and subsurface gas measurements (1) to achieve baseline studies on storage sites before injection starts, (2) to ensure monitoring in injection and post-injection phases and (3) to characterize leaking processes that impact surface and urban areas.