This carbon capture storage (CCS) repeat seismic survey’s objective is to regularly monitor the distribution of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), which had been injected into the 800–1100 m deep Utsira Formation sandstone since 1996.
Why monitor Carbon Dioxide levels?
Previous repeat surveys (in total 9 monitor surveys since 1999) showed a large response from the injected CO2. Therefore, it has been possible to map the distribution of undissolved CO2 in detail.
The purpose of the current survey is to monitor the expansion of the plume, and to confirm that the CO2 has stayed within the formation and not penetrated the overburden.
Reliable seismic data acquisition
The Tetra Tech solution involves making optimal line planning decisions to ensure that the survey data is acquired efficiently, minimising the number of lines required for completion.
Achieving the 4D repeatability specifications ensures that the data acquired is of sufficient quality to meet the geophysical objectives to image the CO2 plume.
The acquisition of the 2020 Sleipner CO2 4D survey yielded good coverage and repeatability results, ensuring the survey met its geophysical objectives. SIMOPS played a part during the survey, which was coordinated and managed by Tetra Tech with no lost time or rejected data.
The survey only required 6 of the possible 10 E/W lines and was completed in 5 days, ahead of schedule and under budget.
At a glance
Client
Equinor
Completion date
2020
Location
Norwegian North Sea, Block 15/9, 160 miles west of Stavanger
Services
Offshore in-field feather predictions, optimise line selection, SIMOPS, and perform repeatability analysis to determine the quality of the survey
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The project featured in this article was undertaken by RPS, A Tetra Tech Company and originally published on RPSgroup.com. In March 2026 RPS rebranded to Tetra Tech.
