Cerberus

When CO2 is captured and stored in underground reservoirs, ensuring its containment is critical. Leakage poses environmental risks and can impact geological formations. Therefore, effective monitoring is essential.

DTU Offshore, with funding from Innovation Fund Denmark, is embarking on a project to address this challenge. The research center will leverage artificial intelligence to create a software solution designed for automated and continuous monitoring of CO2 containment. This new system aims to enhance field-specific surveillance strategies.

The project, known as ‘Cerberus’, is a collaborative effort between DTU Offshore, TotalEnergies, and Nordsøfonden. Drawing on extensive experience with subsurface processes, the Cerberus team will develop an AI-powered software that not only detects potential leaks in real-time but also identifies their root causes.

Overcoming limitations of traditional monitoring
Current monitoring technologies, such as conventional 4D seismic surveys, are known for being both time-consuming and costly. These traditional methods are often not feasible for regular use, making it difficult to detect potential leaks in CO2 storage sites promptly.

To overcome these limitations, the Cerberus project is focusing on integrating diverse data sources and reservoir models to enable real-time, continuous monitoring of CO2 storage. This cost-effective approach enhances the long-term safety and reliability of underground CO2 storage.

The development of this advanced monitoring solution is being led by DTU Offshore in collaboration with TotalEnergies and Nordsøfonden. The new software tool will be validated through extensive testing using field data and high-fidelity simulations from depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Danish North Sea, which are being repurposed for CO2 storage. This rigorous validation process is essential for ensuring the tool's accuracy and effectiveness in maintaining CO2 containment.

In demand by underground CO₂ storage operators
The Cerberus project has the potential to enhance the attractiveness and cost-effectiveness of geological CO2 storage in Danish North Sea reservoirs. By providing a digitalized solution based on open-source software, Cerberus aims to make CO2 storage more accessible and affordable for operators and CO2 emitters both in Denmark and globally.

The project’s name, Cerberus, is inspired by the three-headed guardian from Greek mythology, reflecting the project’s role in safeguarding CO2 storage. Like its mythological namesake, the Cerberus project is designed to be a vigilant, AI-powered tool that provides robust oversight and ensures the secure management of CO2 in subsurface environments.