Subsurface Biological Activity Zone Detection Using Genetic Search Algorithms

Abstract

Use of generic search algorithms for detection of subsurface biological activity zones (BAZ) is investigated through a series of hypothetical numerical biostimulation experiments. Continuous injection of dissolved oxygen and methane with periodically varying concentration stimulates the cometabolism of indigenous methanotropic bacteria. The observed breakthroughs of methane are used to deduce possible BAZ in the subsurface. The numerical experiments are implemented in a parallel computing environment to make possible the large number of simultaneous transport simulations required by the algorithm. Our results show that genetic algorithms are very efficient in locating multiple activity zones, provided the observed signals adequately sample the BAZ.