A Review on Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Monitoring Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage: Deployment, Field Learnings, and Challenges

Abstract

Geological CO₂ storage is pivotal to global net-zero strategies, yet its long-term security relies on advanced monitoring systems capable of detecting subsurface changes with high fidelity. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has emerged as a powerful acoustic-based technology for monitoring, measurement, and verification, transforming standard fibre-optic cables into dense seismic arrays. This review focuses on DAS deployment strategies and their real-world performance across landmark CO₂ storage projects including Otway (Australia), Aquistore and Quest (Canada), CarbonSAFE (USA), and Minami-Aga (Japan). Case studies illustrate both the promise and limitations of DAS in diverse settings such as cemented vertical wells, retrofitted observation wells, surface-deployed arrays, and offshore telecommunication cables. A critical theme across deployments is the pervasive challenge of noise contamination (thermal fluctuations, mechanical vibrations, hydraulic disturbances, and offshore environmental noise) which degrade signal fidelity and complicate interpretation. These acoustic interferences, compounded by issues of fibre–formation coupling, axial strain sensitivity, and offshore repeatability, highlight why DAS remains underutilized despite its unrivalled spatial density and temporal continuity. By synthesizing lessons from field applications, this review underscores how DAS can advance acoustic monitoring of CO₂ storage while identifying the technical and regulatory barriers that must be overcome for its integration into large-scale, reliable subsurface surveillance frameworks.