What do stakeholders expect from an integrated system for informing social partners and decision makers in digital monitoring of CO₂ storage

Abstract

The authors participate in DigiMon international project (“Digital monitoring of CO2 storage projects”), which aims to develop a next generation human centred monitoring system for CO2 geological storage sites. It includes newly developed subsurface imaging technologies based on seismic fibre optic and gravity surveying. In addition, the SEL methodology was developed, which provides an assessment framework to understand which technical and non-technical aspects still need to be improved in order to implement CCS and its monitoring system successfully. Application of the SEL methodology based on socio-economic research carried out in Norway, Netherlands, Germany and Greece, identified what do stakeholders expect from a monitoring system. In this paper, the authors provide hints on how the outcomes of the international project DigiMon can be integrated within a Decision Support System (DSS) in order to assist the operator to follow up and manage CCS operation. The role of DSS is to assist data access, reservoir modelling, results interpretation and development of alternative solutions. The key stakeholders (decision makers) that must be kept informed are determined by National legislation. Their role is to assess environmental risk and manage emergency crises, if and when they occur. Processed data can be transmitted exclusively to them and can also be presented on regional maps, highlighting possible mitigation scenarios and intervention measures.