PEM Inc. has been awarded a cooperative agreement by the DOE National Energy and Technology Laboratory (NETL). The agreement, focused on deployment and testing of PEM’s Global Monitor Platform (GMP) for improved monitoring, verification and accounting (MVA) of leakage of CO₂ from GSC sites, is a four year effort. PEM’s GMP is the only multi-isotopic platform providing direct measurement and differentiation of fossil-fuel derived CO₂ (ff-CO₂) and biogenic CO₂. The cooperative agreement focuses on developing skill in the detection of ff-CO₂ leakage from a variety of sources including point, line and large-area-low-leakage sources as well as high sensitivity methods for analysis of groundwater and the soil atmosphere for accumulated leakage. The project approach is to experience and document leakage of CO₂ from natural sources (e.g., natural CO₂ vents) likely to be emblematic of potential leakage routes for ff-CO₂ of GSC projects. A range of natural CO₂ source strengths and geological features will be investigated in selected locations. The results and experiences of field the investigations will be applied to active GSC projects.

E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for updated information and to inquire about PEM’s innovative technologies and services or call: 857-998-4031.

Project Title: Near-Surface Leakage Monitoring for the Verification and Accounting of Geologic Carbon Sequestration Using a Field Ready ¹⁴C Isotopic Analyzer (click here for a project abstract)

Principle Investigator: Bruno D.V. Marino PhD ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

PEMs innovations in MVA for GSC include:

• Measurement of 14C/12C ratios in air using a field ready isotopic analyzer with precision of ~ 2 per mil. 14C/12C ratios provide a direct, sensitive and natural signal for detection of ff-CO₂. A 2 per mil analytical precision (D14C) allows detection of approximately 1 ppm ff-CO₂ in background air.
• Simultaneous measurement of 13C/12C ratios with precision of < 0.3 per mil. The 13C/12C ratios while not well suited for detection of ff-CO₂ are characteristic of ecosystem processes potentially linking ecosystem function with GSC storage and/or leakage.
• PEM’s GMP may also be configured with traditional non-isotopic analyzers (e.g., methane, nitrous oxide, etc.).
• PEM’s GMP may be configured with a variety of other instruments such as soil gas chambers, eddy covariance systems and dissolved CO₂ extractors extending skill in detection and measurement of ff-CO₂ in these environments.
• PEM’s GMP analyzers are designed to be deployed in geographic networks with embedded standards and references. The GMP goes beyond single instrument analyses to integrated, process driven and data synthesis capabilities.
• A system level process resulting in data products eligible for carbon markets that are directly comparable across geographic monitoring locations worldwide.
• PEMs technologies and services offer high value to all phases of GSC projects from pre-injection baseline monitoring to injection, to capping and to long term (e.g., 100 years) surveillance and early warning requirements.

PEM’s collaborators include:

• The Kansas City Plant (www.kcp.com), a National Secure Manufacturing Facility,  National Nuclear Security Administration
• The Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory
• Rutgers University
• Private sector technology providers in the monitoring area

Rigorous and credible leakage detection technologies and services for GSC provide a path to meeting the energy requirements of society’s lifeways while innovative alternative energy approaches are proven.  According to the NETL (www.netl.doe.gov), coal-fired utility boilers provide 50%+ of the electricity in the United States. DOE’s Energy Information Agency (EIA) projects that more than 300 GW of coal-fired electricity generating capacity currently in operation will increase to nearly 450 GW by 2030. The amount of CO₂ produced from the combustion of fossil fuels in the United States has reached nearly 6 billion metric tons in 2007 according to EIA, with about 33% from the coal-fired electric power sector (Annual Energy Outlook 2007, Report #:DOE/EIA-0383(2007)).  The current and projected number of GSC projects is growing emphasizing the urgent need for well developed and rigorous MVA technology and services. Please click here to open NETL’s  map of GSC sites. Intern Jared Donisvitch added this data into a Google Earth Application.

  PEM’s GSC MVA innovations support the DOE’s goals for the GSC sector including (www.netl.doe.gov):

• Completion of a material balance with 99 percent accuracy and develop MVA protocols that enable 99 percent of stored CO₂ to be credited as net emissions reduction in 2012. 
• By 2014, develop improved algorithms to enhance the monitoring of CO₂ injected into deep geologic formations.
• By 2018, demonstrate that a suite of technologies coupled with simulation can be used to accurately determine leakage rates (if they exist) from a storage reservoir.