Gas Storage Safety Monitoring with Advanced Reflectometry Technologies (NGS-SMART)

In alignment with California's clean energy and climate goals, this project contributes to enhancing the safety of underground gas storage wells by developing and validating real-time, non-invasive monitoring technologies; particularly, distributed fiber optic sensing and electromagnetic time domain reflectometry. Laboratory tests demonstrated distributed fiber optic sensing's high sensitivity in detecting structural deformations and potential leakages, while electromagnetic time domain reflectometry effectively located damages in well casing material, though further evaluation of its sensitivity to minor changes is needed. Larger scale tests at C-FER Technologies validated the accuracy of distributed fiber optic sensing in locating abnormal thermal signatures and its sensitivity to strain signals during pressure cycling, while electromagnetic time domain reflectometry identified complex casing damage features with some limitations in detecting smaller, distant anomalies. By correlating data with previous well logs for non-intrusive diagnostics, field results at the Pacific Gas and Electric Company site further affirmed the capability of distributed fiber optic sensing for continuous well integrity monitoring, and the potential in operational settings of electromagnetic time domain reflectometry. The project also focused on knowledge transfer through industry collaborations, technical advisory committee, discussions with stakeholders, and preparations for scientific publications. Future recommendations include: further development and demonstration of these technologies at pilot scales, integration into existing underground gas storage infrastructure, ongoing adaptation to diverse conditions, and potential expansion to other aspects of the gas supply chain. This project represents a significant step forward in underground gas storage well monitoring, aligning with California’s sustainable and safe energy infrastructure objectives and offering a model for global application in similar contexts.