Tracerco has introduced its proprietary chemical tracer technology into a U.S.-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) project for the first time, marking a milestone for monitoring CO₂ containment in large-scale sequestration.
With decades of experience applying tracer technology in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the company has adapted its tools for CCS, enabling operators to track plume migration, verify seal integrity, and detect potential leaks at ultra-low concentrations. Unlike other monitoring methods, Tracerco’s tracers can distinguish between naturally occurring, recycled, and newly injected CO₂, providing what the company describes as an “independent source of truth” for project verification.
Tracerco says the technology is particularly valuable for projects seeking to qualify for 45Q tax credits, as it allows continuous injection without interrupting operations. The tracers work alongside seismic and other monitoring approaches as part of broader measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) plans, helping operators meet regulatory and stakeholder demands for transparency.
The deployment underscores the growing role of subsurface monitoring technologies in both carbon management and upstream operations. As oil and gas companies integrate CCS into their portfolios, tracer-based verification offers early warning detection and data-backed assurance of long-term storage performance.
