4D ERT for a Continuous CO2 Leakage Monitoring

4D seismic and 4D micro-gravimetry are ideal geophysical techniques to monitor the volume and density of a CO2 plume respectively. However, as acquisitions are only done once a year, they cannot prevent leakages. Thus, the continuous monitoring of carbon sequestration sites would be required for wider social acceptance. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is a non-destructive technique, which may provide information about contrasts in resistivity. During December 2011, we simulated two CO2 leakages of 1kg and 5kg at 5.3 m depth and we made several ERT acquisitions. This experiment proves that time-lapse ERT and 4D ERT are able to detect any CO2 leakage before it reaches the surface.