Bell Creek Test Site Initial Analysis of Processed InSAR Data Completed - Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership Phase III Task 9 Milestone M63
Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) satellite data provide a series of images that can be used to detect subtle movements of the ground surface, known as deformation. Ground elevation measurements from InSAR data have the potential to detect changing reservoir pressure conditions by observing the deformation at the overlying surface. The objectives for InSAR analysis at the Bell Creek Field are to 1) determine naturally occurring deformation rates prior to the start of field pressurization, 2) determine if deformation has occurred as a result of the injection of CO2 and/or pressure maintenance prior to CO2 injection, 3) attempt to identify swept and unswept areas of the field, 4) provide an estimate of injection volumes or pressure differentials required to produce measurable surface deformation, 5) evaluate the potential to use ground deformation and ground motion obtained from InSAR to calibrate geologic models, 6) identify fault activation or reactivation if present, 7) evaluate the applicability of InSAR as an areal monitoring technique with regard to unique challenges imposed by the environment and enhanced oil recovery activities, and 8) compare with data from existing and planned time-lapse 3D seismic monitoring surveys and passive seismic monitoring as validation and to investigate InSAR as a technique to delineate field compartmentalization and monitor subsurface pressure plumes over large areas. The InSAR analysis will be completed in two phases. The InSAR analysis is being completed in two stages. The first stage consisted of historical processing of lower resolution from an Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) data set prior to field pressurization. This phase determined that ground deformation can be sufficiently detected and identified natural historical ground movement. Based on those data, it was decided to proceed with a second stage of data collection and analysis using higher-resolution COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) satView/Download Document