The first post‐injection seismic monitor survey at the Ketzin pilot CO2 storage site: results from time‐lapse analysis

The injection of CO₂ at the Ketzin pilot CO₂ storage site started in June 2008 and ended in August 2013. During the 62 months of injection, a total amount of about 67 kt of CO₂ was injected into a saline aquifer. A third repeat three‐dimensional seismic survey, serving as the first post‐injection survey, was acquired in 2015, aiming to investigate the recent movement of the injected CO₂. Consistent with the previous two time‐lapse surveys, a predominantly west–northwest migration of the gaseous CO₂ plume in the up‐dip direction within the reservoir is inferred in this first post‐injection survey. No systematic anomalies are detected through the reservoir overburden. The extent of the CO₂ plume west of the injection site is almost identical to that found in the 2012 second repeat survey (after injection of 61 kt); however, there is a significant decrease in its size east of the injection site. Assessment of the CO₂ plume distribution suggests that the decrease in the size of the anomaly may be due to multiple factors, such as limited vertical resolution, CO₂ dissolution, and CO₂ migration into thin layers, in addition to the effects of ambient noise. Four‐dimensional seismic modelling based on dynamic flow simulations indicates that a dynamic balance between the newly injected CO₂ after the second repeat survey and the CO₂ migrating into thin layers and being dissolved was reached by the time of the first post‐injection survey. In view of the significant uncertainties in CO₂ mass estimation, both patchy and non‐patchy saturation models for the Ketzin site were taken into consideration.     

Monitoring CO2 saturation using time‐lapse amplitude versus offset analysis of 3D seismic data from the Ketzin CO2 storage pilot site,Germany

The injection of CO₂ at the Ketzin pilot site commenced in June 2008 and was terminated in August 2013 after 67 kT had been injected into a saline formation at a depth of 630–650 m. As part of the site monitoring program, four 3D surface seismic surveys have been acquired to date, one baseline and three repeats, of which two were conducted during the injection period, and one during the post‐injection phase. The surveys have provided the most comprehensive images of the spreading CO₂ plume within the reservoir layer. Both petrophysical experiments on core samples from the Ketzin reservoir and spectral decomposition of the 3D time‐lapse seismic data show that the reservoir pore pressure change due to CO₂ injection has a rather minor impact on the seismic amplitudes. Therefore, the observed amplitude anomaly is interpreted to be mainly due to CO₂ saturation. In this study, amplitude versus offset analysis has been applied to investigate the amplitude versus offset response from the top of the sandstone reservoir during the injection and post‐injection phases, and utilize it to obtain a more quantitative assessment of the CO₂ gaseous saturation changes. Based on the amplitude versus offset modelling, a prominent decrease in the intercept values imaged at the top of the reservoir around the injection well is indeed associated solely with the CO₂ saturation increase. Any change in the gradient values, which would, in case it was positive, be the only signature induced by the reservoir pressure variations, has not been observed. The amplitude versus offset intercept change is, therefore, entirely ascribed to CO₂ saturation and used for its quantitative assessment. The estimated CO₂ saturation values around the injection area in the range of 40%–60% are similar to those obtained earlier from pulsed neutron‐gamma logging. The highest values of 80% are found in the second seismic repeat in close vicinity to the injection and observation wells.     

Monitoring and volumetric estimation of injected CO2 using 4D seismic,petrophysical data,core measurements and well logging: a case study at Ketzin,Germany

More than 50 000 tons of CO₂ have been injected at Ketzin into the Stuttgart Formation, a saline aquifer, at approximately 620 m depth, as of summer 2011. We present here results from the 1^st repeat 3D seismic survey that was performed at the site in autumn 2009, after about 22 000 tons of CO₂ had been injected. We show here that rather complex time‐lapse signatures of this CO₂ can be clearly observed within a radius of about 300 m from the injection well. The highly irregular amplitude response within this radius is attributed to the heterogeneity of the injection reservoir. Time delays to a reflection below the injection level are also observed. Petrophysical measurements on core samples and geophysical logging of CO₂ saturation levels allow an estimate of the total amount of CO₂ visible in the seismic data to be made. These estimates are somewhat lower than the actual amount of CO₂ injected at the time of the survey and they are dependent upon the choice of a number of parameters. In spite of some uncertainty, the close agreement between the amount injected and the amount observed is encouraging for quantitative monitoring of a CO₂ storage site using seismic methods.     

Variations of near-surface atmospheric CO2 and H2O concentrations during summer on Muztagata

Expeditions during the summers of 2002 and 2003 implemented continuous monitoring of near-surface (2 m height) atmospheric CO₂ and H₂O concentrations at the 4500 m elevation on Muztagata. The resultant data sets reveal a slight decrease of CO₂ concentrations (of about 5 μmol·mol^-1) and changes in the diurnal variations from the end of June to the middle August. The daily maximum CO₂ concentrations occur between 02:30-05:30 AM (local time) and the minimum levels occur between 12:00-15:30 PM. The atmospheric CO₂ concentrations in the summer of 2002 were around 5 μmol·mol^-1 lower than those during the same period of 2003, whereas the diurnal amplitude was higher. In contrast, we found that the daily mean atmospheric H₂O content in 2003 was much lower than that in 2002 and there exists a striking negative correlation between CO₂ and H₂O concentrations. We therefore suggest that the near-surface atmospheric CO₂ concentration is affected not only by photosynthesis and respiration, but also by the air H₂O content in the glaciated region around Muztagata.     

Study on attribute characterization for reservoir dynamic monitoring by seismic

Study on characterizing reservoir parameters dynamic variations by time-lapse seismic attributes is the theoretical basis for effectively distinguishing reservoir parameters variations and conducting time-lapse seismic interpretation,and it is also a key step for time-lapse seismic application in real oil fields. Based on the rock physical model of unconsolidated sandstone,the different effects of oil saturation and effective pressure variations on seismic P-wave and S-wave velocities are calculated and analyzed. Using numerical simulation on decoupled wave equations,the responses of seismic amplitude with different offsets to reservoir oil saturation variations are analyzed,pre-stack time-lapse seismic attributes differences for oil saturation and effective pressure variations of P-P wave and P-S converted wave are calculated,and time-lapse seismic AVO (Amplitude Versus Offset) response rules of P-P wave and P-S converted wave to effective pressure and oil saturation variations are compared. The theoretical modeling study shows that it is feasible to distinguish different reservoir parameters dynamic variations by pre-stack time-lapse seismic information,including pre-stack time-lapse seismic attributes and AVO information,which has great potential in improving time-lapse seismic interpreta-tion precision. It also shows that the time-lapse seismic response mechanism study on objective oil fields is especially important in establishing effective time-lapse seismic data process and interpreta-tion scheme.     

The appraisal of surface orbital vibrators with buried geophone array for permanent reservoir monitoring

Time-lapse seismic is one of the main methods for monitoring changes in reservoir conditions caused by production or injection of fluids. One approach to time-lapse seismic is through permanent reservoir monitoring, whereby seismic sources and/or receivers are permanently deployed. Permanent reservoir monitoring can offer a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution than traditional campaign-based surveys that rely on temporarily deployed equipment while facilitating more frequent measurements. At the CO2CRC Otway Project, surface orbital vibrators were coupled to a buried geophone array to form a permanent reservoir monitoring system. These are fixed position seismic sources that provide both P and S waves using induction motor-driven eccentric masses. After an initial injection of CO₂ in February 2016, five months of continuous seismic data were acquired, and reflection imaging was used to assess the system performance. Analysis of the data showed the effects of weather variations on the near-surface conditions and the sweep signatures of surface orbital vibrators. Data processing flows of the continuous data was adapted from Vibroseis four-dimensional data processing flows. Ground roll proved a significant challenge to data processing. In addition, variations in the surface wave pattern were linked to major rainfall events. For the appraisal of surface orbital vibrators in imaging, a Vibroseis four-dimensional monitor survey data with similar geometry was also processed. Surface orbital vibrators are observed to be reliable sources with a potential to provide a repeatable signal, especially if the ground roll should fall outside the target window of interest. To guide future permanent reservoir monitoring applications, a repeatability analysis was performed for the various key data processing steps.     

Dual sensor streamer technology used in Sleipner CO2 injection monitoring

CO₂ has been injected into the saline aquifer Utsira Fm at the Sleipner field since 1996. In order to monitor the movement of the CO₂ in the sub‐surface, the seventh seismic monitor survey was acquired in 2010, with dual sensor streamers which enabled optimal towing depths compared to previous surveys. We here report both on the time‐lapse observations and on the improved resolution compared to the conventional streamer surveys. This study shows that the CO₂ is still contained in the subsurface, with no indications of leakage. The time‐lapse repeatability of the dual sensor streamer data versus conventional data is sufficient for interpreting the time‐lapse effects of the CO₂ at Sleipner, and the higher resolution of the 2010 survey has enabled a refinement of the interpretation of nine CO₂ saturated layers with improved thickness estimates of the layers. In particular we have estimated the thickness of the uppermost CO₂ layer based on an analysis of amplitude strength together with time‐separation of top and base of this layer and found the maximum thickness to be 11 m. This refined interpretation gives a good base line for future time‐lapse surveys at the Sleipner CO₂ injection site.     

CO2 storage in the high Arctic: efficient modelling of pre‐stack depth‐migrated seismic sections for survey planning

The sequestration of CO₂ in subsurface reservoirs constitutes an immediate counter‐measure to reduce anthropogenic emissions of CO₂, now recognized by international scientific panels to be the single most critical factor driving the observed global climatic warming. To ensure and verify the safe geological containment of CO₂ underground, monitoring of the CO₂ site is critical. In the high Arctic, environmental considerations are paramount and human impact through, for instance, active seismic surveys, has to be minimized. Efficient seismic modelling is a powerful tool to test the detectability and imaging capability prior to acquisition and thus improve the characterization of CO₂ storage sites, taking both geological setting and seismic acquisition set‐up into account. The unique method presented here avoids the costly generation of large synthetic data sets by employing point spread functions to directly generate pre‐stack depth‐migrated seismic images. We test both a local‐target approach using an analytical filter assuming an average velocity and a full‐field approach accounting for the spatial variability of point spread functions. We assume a hypothetical CO₂ plume emplaced in a sloping aquifer inspired by the conditions found at the University of Svalbard CO₂ lab close to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, constituting an unconventional reservoir–cap rock system. Using the local‐target approach, we find that even the low‐to‐moderate values of porosity (5%–18%) measured in the reservoir should be sufficient to induce significant change in seismic response when CO₂ is injected. The sensitivity of the seismic response to changes in CO₂ saturation, however, is limited once a relatively low saturation threshold of 5% is exceeded. Depending on the illumination angle provided by the seismic survey, the quality of the images of five hypothetical CO₂ plumes of varying volume differs depending on the steepness of their flanks. When comparing the resolution of two orthogonal 2D surveys to a 3D survey, we discover that the images of the 2D surveys contain significant artefacts, the CO₂‐brine contact is misplaced and an additional reflector is introduced due to the projection of the point spread function of the unresolvable plane onto the imaging plane. All of these could easily lead to a misinterpretation of the behaviour of the injected CO₂. Our workflow allows for testing the influence of geological heterogeneities in the target aquifer (igneous intrusions, faults, pervasive fracture networks) by utilizing increasingly complex and more realistic geological models as input as more information on the subsurface becomes available.     

Comparison of surface seismic sources at the CO2SINK site, Ketzin, Germany

In 2004 three seismic surface sources (VIBSIST, accelerated weight drop and MiniVib) were tested in a pilot study at the Ketzin test site, Germany, a study site for geological storage of CO₂ (EU project CO₂SINK). The main objectives of this pilot study were to 1) evaluate the response of the Ketzin site to reflection seismics, especially at the planned injection depth, 2) test different acquisition parameters and 3) use the results to guide the planning of the 3D survey. As part of these objectives, we emphasize the source performance comparison in this study. The sources were tested along two perpendicular lines of 2.4 km length each. Data were acquired by shooting at all stations (source and receiver spacing of 20 m) on both lines, allowing common‐midpoint stacked sections to be produced. The sources' signal characteristics based on signal‐to‐noise ratio, signal penetration and frequency content of raw shot records were analysed and stacked sections were compared. The results show that all three surface sources are suitable for reflection seismic studies down to a depth of about 1 km and provide enough bandwidth for resolving the geological targets at the site, i.e., the Weser and Stuttgart Formations. Near surface conditions, especially a thick weathering layer present in this particular area, strongly influence the data quality, as indicated by the difference in reflectivity and signal‐to‐noise ratio of the two common‐midpoint lines. The stacked sections of the MiniVib source show the highest frequency signals down to about 500 ms traveltime (approximately 500 m depth) but also the shallowest signal penetration depth. The VIBSIST source generates signals with the highest signal‐to‐noise ratio and greatest signal penetration depth of the tested sources. In particular, reflections below 900 ms (approximately 1 km depth) are best imaged by the VIBSIST source. The weight drop performance lies in between these two sources and might be recommended as an appropriate source for a 3D survey at this site because of the shorter production time compared to the VIBSIST and MiniVib sources.     

Monitoring Quiescent Volcanoes by Diffuse CO2 Degassing: Case Study of Mt. Fuji, Japan

Since the 8th century, more than seventeen eruptions have been recorded for the Mt. Fuji volcano, with the most recent eruption occurring in 1707 (Hoei eruption). For the past 300 years the volcano has been in a quiescent stage and, since the early 1960s, has exhibited neither fumarolic nor thermal activity. However, the number of low-frequency earthquakes with a hypocentral depth of 10–20 km increased significantly beneath the northeastern flank of Mt. Fuji in 2000–2001, suggesting a possible resumption of magmatic activity. In this study, diffuse CO₂ efflux and thermal surveys were carried out in four areas of the volcano in 2001–2002 in order to detect possible signs of the upward movement of deep magma. At all survey points, the CO₂ efflux was below the detection limit with the exception of a few points with biological CO₂ emission, and ground temperatures at a depth of 20–30 cm were below ambient, indicating no surface manifestations of gas or heat emission. Should magma rise into the subsurface, the diffuse CO₂ efflux would be expected to increase, particularly along the tectonically weakened lineation on the Mt. Fuji volcano, allowing for the early detection of pre-eruptive degassing.     

Full waveform inversion in the time lapse mode applied to CO2 storage at Sleipner

Carbon capture and storage is a viable greenhouse gas mitigation technology and the Sleipner CO₂ sequestration site in the North Sea is an excellent example. Storage of CO₂ at the Sleipner site requires monitoring over large areas, which can successfully be accomplished with time lapse seismic imaging. One of the main goals of CO₂ storage monitoring is to be able to estimate the volume of the stored CO₂ in the reservoir. This requires a parametrization of the subsurface as exact as possible. Here we use elastic 2D time‐domain full waveform inversion in a time lapse manner to obtain a P‐wave velocity constrain directly in the depth domain for a base line survey in 1994 and two post‐injection surveys in 1999 and 2006. By relating velocity change to free CO₂ saturation, using a rock physics model, we find that at the considered location the aquifer may have been fully saturated in some places in 1999 and 2006.     

Iterated extended Kalman filter method for time-lapse seismic full-waveform inversion

Time-lapse seismic data is useful for identifying fluid movement and pressure and saturation changes in a petroleum reservoir and for monitoring of CO₂ injection. The focus of this paper is estimation of time-lapse changes with uncertainty quantification using full-waveform inversion. The purpose of also estimating the uncertainty in the inverted parameters is to be able to use the inverted seismic data quantitatively for updating reservoir models with ensemble-based methods. We perform Bayesian inversion of seismic waveform data in the frequency domain by combining an iterated extended Kalman filter with an explicit representation of the sensitivity matrix in terms of Green functions (acoustic approximation). Using this method, we test different strategies for inversion of the time-lapse seismic data with uncertainty. We compare the results from a sequential strategy (making a prior from the monitor survey using the inverted baseline survey) with a double difference strategy (inverting the difference between the monitor and baseline data). We apply the methods to a subset of the Marmousi2 P-velocity model. Both strategies performed well and relatively good estimates of the monitor velocities and the time-lapse differences were obtained. For the estimated time-lapse differences, the double difference strategy gave the lowest errors.     

Calendar time interpolation of amplitude maps from 4D seismic data

A calendar time interpolation method for 2D seismic amplitude maps, done in two steps, is presented. The contour interpolation part is formulated as a quadratic programming problem, whereas the amplitude value interpolation is based on a conditional probability formulation. The method is applied on field data from the Sleipner CO₂ storage project. The output is a continuous image (movie) of the CO₂ plume. Besides visualization, the output can be used to better couple 4D seismic to other types of data acquired. The interpolation uncertainty increases with the time gap between consecutive seismic surveys and is estimated by leaving a survey out (blind test). Errors from such tests can be used to identify problems in understanding the flow and possibly improve the interpolation scheme for a given case. Field‐life cost of various acquisition systems and repeat frequencies are linked to the time‐lapse interpolation errors. The error in interpolated amplitudes increased by 3%‐4% per year of interpolation gap for the Sleipner case. Interpolation can never fully replace measurements.     

Soil H<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Surveys at Several Active Faults in Japan

Soil H₂ and CO₂ surveys were carried out along seven active faults and around the aftershock region of the 2000 Tottori-ken Seibu earthquake in Japan. Diffuse CO₂ effluxes were also measured along one fault and around the 2000 aftershock region. The results show highly variable H₂ concentration in space and time and it seems that the maximum H₂ concentration at each active fault correlates with fault activity as exemplified by the time of the latest big earthquakes. Even though observed H₂ concentrations in four faults were markedly lower than those collected previously in the latter half of the 1970s, it is evident that the higher H₂ concentrations in this study are due to the addition of the fault gases. Comparing the chemical composition of trapped gases (H₂: 5–20% and CO₂/H₂: 0.5–12) in fractured rocks of drill cores bored at the Nojima fault, a soil gas sample with the highest H₂ concentration showed large amounts of the trapped fault gas, diluted with atmospheric component. The profile experiment across a fracture zone at the Yamasaki fault showed higher H₂ concentrations and lower CO₂/H₂ ratios as was observed in soil gas from the fracture zone. A few days after the 2000 Tottori-kei Seibu earthquake, no CO₂ effluxes related to the occurrence of earthquakes were observed at the aftershock region. However, only above the epicenter zone, relatively high H₂ concentrations in soil gases were observed.     

Shear wave velocity prediction during CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-EOR and sequestration in the Gao89 well block of the Shengli Oilfield

Shear-wave velocity is a key parameter for calibrating monitoring time-lapse 4D seismic data during CO₂-EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) and CO₂ sequestration. However, actual S-wave velocity data are lacking, especially in 4D data for CO₂ sequestration because wells are closed after the CO₂ injection and seismic monitoring is continued but no well log data are acquired. When CO₂ is injected into a reservoir, the pressure and saturation of the reservoirs change as well as the elastic parameters of the reservoir rocks. We propose a method to predict the S-wave velocity in reservoirs at different pressures and porosities based on the Hertz–Mindlin and Gassmann equations. Because the coordination number is unknown in the Hertz–Mindlin equation, we propose a new method to predict it. Thus, we use data at different CO₂ injection stages in the Gao89 well block, Shengli Oilfield. First, the sand and mud beds are separated based on the structural characteristics of the thin sand beds and then the S-wave velocity as a function of reservoir pressure and porosity is calculated. Finally, synthetic seismic seismograms are generated based on the predicted P- and S-wave velocities at different stages of CO₂ injection.     

Fluid injection monitoring using electrical resistivity tomography — five years of injection at Ketzin,Germany

Between the years 2008 and 2013, approximately 67 kilotons of CO₂ have been injected at the Ketzin site, Germany. As part of the geophysical monitoring programme, time‐lapse electrical resistivity tomography has been applied using crosshole and surface‐downhole measurements of electrical resistivity tomography. The data collection of electrical resistivity tomography is partly based on electrodes that are permanently installed in three wells at the site (one injection well and two observation wells). Both types of ERT measurements consistently show the build‐up of a CO₂‐related resistivity signature near the injection point. Based on the imaged resistivity changes and a petrophysical model, CO₂ saturation levels are estimated. These CO₂ saturations are interpreted in conjunction with CO₂ saturations inferred from neutron‐gamma loggings. Apart from the CO₂–brine substitution response in the observed resistivity changes, significant imprints from the dynamic behaviour of the CO₂ in the reservoir are observed.     

Diffuse CO2 emission rate from Pululahua and the lake-filled Cuicocha calderas,Ecuador

We report herein the first results of two soil CO₂ efflux surveys carried out at Cuicocha lake-filled and Pululahua caldera volcanic systems, Ecuador. A total of 172 and 217 soil CO₂ efflux measurements were taken at the surface environment of Pululahua and Cuicocha calderas respectively, by means of the “accumulation chamber” method during the summer of 2006 to constrain the total CO₂ output from the studied area. Soil CO₂ efflux values ranged from non-detectable up to 48.5 and 141.7 g m^{− 2} d^{− 1} for Cuicocha and Pululahua calderas respectively. In addition, probability graphs were used to distinguish the existence of different geochemical populations. Sequential Gaussian Simulation was used to construct an average map for 100 simulations and to compute the total CO₂ emission at each studied area: 106 and 270 t d^{− 1} (metric tons per day) for Cuicocha (13.3 km²) and Pululahua (27.6 km²) volcanoes respectively.     

A stochastic model for daily subsurface CO2 concentration and related soil respiration

Near-surface soil CO₂ gas-phase concentration (C) and concomitant incident rainfall (P_i) and through-fall (P_t) depths were collected at different locations in a temperate pine forest every 30 min during the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons (and then averaged to the daily timescale). At the daily scale, C temporal variations were well described by a sequence of monotonically decreasing functions interrupted by large positive jumps induced by rainfall events. A stochastic model was developed to link rainfall statistics responsible for these jumps to near-surface C dynamics. The model accounted for the effect of daily rainfall variability, both in terms of timing and amount of water, and permitted an analytical derivation of the C probability density function (pdf) using the parameters of the rainfall pdf. Given the observed positive correlation between daily C and soil CO₂ fluxes to the atmosphere (F_s), the effects of various rainfall regimes on the statistics of F_s can be deduced from the behavior of C under different climatic conditions. The predictions from this analytical model are consistent with flux measurements reported in manipulative experiments that varied rainfall amount and frequency.     

Capillary pressure for the sand–CO2–water system under various pressure conditions. Application to CO2 sequestration

Accurate modeling of storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in heterogeneous aquifers requires experiments of the capillary pressure as function of temperature and pressure. We present a method with which static drainage and imbibition capillary pressures can be measured continuously as a function of saturation at various temperature (T) and pressure (P) conditions. The measurements are carried out at (T, P) conditions of practical interest. Static conditions can be assumed as small injection rates are applied. The capillary pressure curves are obtained for the unconsolidated sand–distilled water–CO₂ system. The experimental results show a decrease of drainage and imbibition capillary pressure for increasing CO₂ pressures and pronounced dissolution rate effects for gaseous CO₂. Significant capillary pressure fluctuations and negative values during imbibition are observed at near critical conditions. The measurement procedure is validated by a numerical model that simulates the experiments.     

Gas hazard assessment in a densely inhabited area of Colli Albani Volcano (Cava dei Selci, Roma)

The northwestern flank of the Colli Albani, a Quaternary volcanic complex near Rome, is characterised by high pCO₂ values and Rn activities in the groundwater and by the presence of zones with strong emission of gas from the soil. The most significant of these zones is Cava dei Selci where many houses are located very near to the gas emission site. The emitted gas consists mainly of CO₂ (up to 98 vol%) with an appreciable content of H₂S (0.8–2%). The He and C isotopic composition indicates, as for all fluids associated with the Quaternary Roman and Tuscany volcanic provinces, the presence of an upper mantle component contaminated by crustal fluids associated with subducted sediments and carbonates. An advective CO₂ flux of 37 tons/day has been estimated from the gas bubbles rising to the surface in a small drainage ditch and through a stagnant water pool, present in the rainy season in a topographically low central part of the area. A CO₂ soil flux survey with an accumulation chamber, carried out in February–March 2000 over a 12 000 m² surface with 242 measurement points, gave a total (mostly conductive) flux of 61 tons/day. CO₂ soil flux values vary by four orders of magnitude over a 160-m distance and by one order of magnitude over several metres. A fixed network of 114 points over 6350 m² has been installed in order to investigate temporal flux variations. Six surveys carried out from May 2000 to June 2001 have shown large variations of the total CO₂ soil flux (8–25 tons/day). The strong emission of CO₂ and H₂S, which are gases denser than air, produces dangerous accumulations in low areas which have caused a series of lethal accidents to animals and one to a man. The gas hazard near the houses has been assessed by continuously monitoring the CO₂ and H₂S concentration in the air at 75 cm from the ground by means of two automatic stations. Certain environmental parameters (wind direction and speed; atm P, T, humidity and rainfall) were also continuously recorded. At both stations, H₂S and CO₂ exceeded by several times the recommended concentration thresholds. The highest CO₂ and H₂S values were recorded always with wind speeds less than 1.5 m/s, mostly in the night hours. Our results indicate that there is a severe gas hazard for people living near the gas emission site of Cava dei Selci, and appropriate precautionary and prevention measures have been recommended both to residents and local authorities.