Storage Readiness Levels: communicating the maturity of site technical understanding, permitting and planning needed for storage operations using CO2

A framework of Storage Readiness Levels (SRLs) is presented to communicate the entirety of technical appraisal, permitting and planning activities achieved at a potential CO2 storage site and what remains to be completed for CO2 storage operations. The schema, based on learning gained from the experience of researchers, regulators and industry...

Quantifying efficiency of field-wide geophysical surveys for verifying CO2 plume conformance during storage operations

To manage risks in CO2 storage operations, monitoring systems need to be designed such that the data can inform the operator whether the storage site will continue to behave as expected or not. In order to compare the benefits of different monitoring strategies, we require a measure of ‘efficiency' that is based on a balance between monitoring...

Assessment of the potential for geological storage of CO2 in the vicinity of Moneypoint, Co. Clare, Ireland

The largest single point CO2 emitter in Ireland, the Moneypoint Power Station (3.95 Mt CO2 per annum), is located in Co. Clare and geologically lies within the Clare Basin. In terms of the economics of transportation of CO2 from Moneypoint, a possible local storage site would be favoured. The study investigated a number of critical criteria with...

Results of geophysical monitoring over a "leaking" natural analogue site in Italy

CO2 storage in the subsurface is becoming more and more attractive as a means to reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and hence minimize human-induced global warming. The ability to monitor and verify these CO2 storage reservoirs is a key element for further implementation of other storage sites. Since the current sites fortunately do not...

The fluid flow consequences of CO2 migration from 1000 to 600 metres upon passing the critical conditions of CO2

The minimum injection depth for the storage of CO2 is normally set at 800 metres. At and beyond this depth in the subsurface conditions exist where CO2 is in a so-called critical state. The supercritical CO2 has a viscosity comparable to that of a normal gas and a liquid-like density, Due to the high density of the supercritical CO2, storing the...

Assessing the mechanical impact of CO2 injection on faults and seals

Two options for geological storage of CO2 are currently considered: storage in depleted hydrocarbon fields, which have a hydrocarbon proven seal, and storage in deep (>800m) saline aquifers, which lack such a seal. Pore pressure changes resulting from fluid extraction and subsequent CO2 injection into the reservoir induce stress changes that may...

Second Generation CO2 FEP Analysis: CASSIF - Carbon Storage Scenario Identification Framework

Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) is a promising contribution to reduce further increase of atmospheric CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. The CCS concept anticipates that large amounts of CO2 are going to be stored in the subsurface for the long term. Since CCS is a rather new technology, uncertainties related with the future evolution of...

Regional search, selection and geological characterization of a large anticlinal structure, as a candidate site for CO2-storage in northern Germany

This paper reports on the regional screening, selection and geological characterisation of a potential on-shore CO2 storage site (saline aquifer) in north-eastern Germany. The main objective of this study was to identify and investigate a candidate storage site, capable to accommodate the total amount of approximately 400 million tons of CO2....