To investigate geological formation boundaries and the distribution of the CO2 in the underground scientists use for example 3D seismics.
Seismic waves are generated via a so called seismic source (picture 1) with a falling weight. At many different places in the investigated area geophones detect the arrival of these waves. Seismic waves propagate differently with CO2 in the pore space of the rocks.
Within the CO2MAN project seismic measurements have been conducted on a 10 square kilometre large area around the pilot site from the 3rd of September until the start of November 2012. These measurements will monitor the distribution of the 60,000 tons of CO2 in the storage reservoir. Similar campaigns were conducted in 2005 before injection started and in 2009 (22,000 tons CO2 stored).
picture 1: so called seismic source - vehicle with weight
picture 2: vehicle with instruments