Microseismicity sensing of CO2-enhanced oil recovery and sequestration in an oil reservoir: Citronelle field, Alabama, USA

This paper reports a study that proposes the use of Geophysical testing techniques to monitor the effects of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) injection into a test well in the Citronelle Oil Field in Mobile, Alabama, for both CO₂ sequestration and enhanced oil recovery. The Citronelle Oil Field is the largest conventional oil field in the State of Alabama and is currently in the tertiary oil production stage. This research is part of a proposed research to evaluate the Rodessa Formation (depth 3,505.2 meters) for its potential to recover additional oil through enhanced oil recovery using carbon dioxide (CO₂ EOR), as well as its CO₂ sequestration potential. The goal of the Geophysical testing is to determine if seismic measurements are capable of detecting changes in the geologic formation and the presence and migration of CO₂ during and after the injection. Comprehensive geophysical studies will be conducted based on surface seismicity testing using linear arrays of seismometers to detect and observe wave propagations and reflections through the soil medium. Since the Citronelle oil field is located in the vicinity of a concentrated population; innovative seismic measurement techniques that can reduce disturbance to the neighborhoods, including wireless transducers and ambient excitation, are to be explored.