CO2 storage capacity estimation: Issues and development of standards

Abstract

Associated with the endeavours of geoscientists to pursue the promise that geological storage of CO 2 has of potentially making deep cuts into greenhouse gas emissions, Governments around the world are dependent on reliable estimates of CO 2 storage capacity and insightful indications of the viability of geological storage in their respective jurisdictions. Similarly, industry needs reliable estimates for business decisions regarding site selection and development. If such estimates are unreliable, and decisions are made based on poor advice, then valuable resources and time could be wasted. Policies that have been put in place to address CO 2 emissions could be jeopardised. Estimates need to clearly state the limitations that existed (data, time, knowledge) at the time of making the assessment and indicate the purpose and future use to which the estimates should be applied. A set of guidelines for estimation of storage capacity will greatly assist future deliberations by government and industry on the appropriateness of geological storage of CO 2 in different geological settings and political jurisdictions. This work has been initiated under the auspices of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (www.cslforum.org), and it is intended that it will be an ongoing taskforce to further examine issues associated with storage capacity estimation.

Southern Adriatic Sea as a Potential Area for CO2Geological Storage

“…This technique consists of three main phases: capture of CO 2 emitted by power and industrial plants; transport of CO 2 to a suitable site; CO 2 injection into deep geological formations (saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas fields and coal beds) where it will be trapped for thousands of millions of years. CO 2 storage is achieved through a combination of physical and chemical mechanisms that are effective over different time frames and scales Bradshaw et al, 2007). Among all the storage options, deep saline aquifers have the greatest potential for the storage of CO 2 , with a globally estimated storage potential of at least 1000 Gt (Benson and Cook, 2005).…”

A method for quick assessment of CO2 storage capacity in closed and semi-closed saline formations

“…Reliable estimates are needed for the CO 2 storage capacity of geologic basins (Bradshaw et al, 2007). Currently, basin-scale storage capacity is often estimated based on the effective pore volume of suitable formations (i.e., those formations with sufficient injectivity, size, and long-term CO 2 containment capability).…”

Have We Overestimated Saline Aquifer CO2Storage Capacities?

“…Bradshaw et al [11] underlined the large discrepancies concerning regional capacity assessments between various publications. Theoretical CO 2 storage capacity is calculated as a cumulative storage from various trapping mechanisms, some of them occurring at a time scale that is not compatible with an industrial project, as sketched in Figure 1.…”