The Gas Monitoring Facility provides equipment for the field measurement of gases in the near surface environment. The main focus of current research is on monitoring for leakage and the impacts of leakage from the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). Research has also been carried out on radon, landfill gases, volcanic gases and for geothermal studies. The facility provides equipment for measuring concentrations of a range of gases in both the soil and the atmosphere and for determining the flux of gases across the soil/air boundary.
Measurement of radon in soil gas was used in exploration for uranium from the 1960s, with equipment being developed in conjunction with Harwell. Radon, as well as CO2 and other gases, was used in exploration for other minerals in subsequent decades. More recently radon in soil gas has been used to assess indoor radon hazard, radiation dose to wildlife and as a more general tracer gas to identify fluid migration pathways and mechanisms.
Within the last decade near surface gas measurements have formed an important part of monitoring for carbon capture and storage projects and have been used on projects worldwide. This has involved research at sites of natural CO2 seepage in Italy, Germany and Greece, the Weyburn project in Canada, In Salah in Algeria and experimental injection facilities in the UK (ASGARD) and Norway (CO2 Field Lab). Observations have also been made at UK landfill sites. Projects include the EU Weyburn project, In Salah Gas Joint Industry Project, CO2GeoNet, CO2ReMoVe, CO2 Field Lab and RISCS. This has involved both national and international collaboration in particular with European and North American colleagues.
The detection and quantification of CO2 leakage are required under developing legislation as defined, for example, by EU Directives.
Please contact Dr Dave Jones for further information