DNA-sequencing method maps subsurface fluid flow paths for enhanced monitoring
Abstract Subsurface technologies including Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, geothermal systems, and hydrogen storage face persistent technical-economic barriers in monitoring precision and cost-effectiveness. Here we present a DNA sequencing method to track microbial communities in subsurfac...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02271-8 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Subsurface technologies including Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, geothermal systems, and hydrogen storage face persistent technical-economic barriers in monitoring precision and cost-effectiveness. Here we present a DNA sequencing method to track microbial communities in subsurface fluid flow. It addresses three main challenges: the lack of large-scale time-lapse monitoring, the absence of microbial tracer selection, and the oversight of front propagation velocity. The method is applied across all stages of a reservoir’s circulating water injection lifecycle, including initial injection, ongoing circulation, post-injection monitoring, and production. The injection and production well samples are analyzed to select stable microbial tracers, enabling flow-front velocity-integrated mapping of subsurface fluid pathways via principal coordinate analysis. The accuracy is validated through physical simulation experiments and the Kalman filter method, enabling 44-day time-lapse, large-scale dynamic monitoring of 1300m-deep subsurface fluid flow pathways. This study helps reduce uncertainties in geoenergy development, supporting the goal of a net-zero emission world. |
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| ISSN: | 2662-4435 |