According to the EUEuropean Union GeoCapacity project several specific geological criteria are required for a site to be suitable for CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere:
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Appropriate depth of reservoirA subsurface body of rock with sufficient porosityMeasure for the amount of pore spaceSpace between rock or sediment grains that can contain fluids in a rock and permeabilityAbility to flow or transmit fluids through a porous solid such as rock to store and transmit fluids to guarantee that CO2Carbon dioxide reaches its supercritical(CO2Carbon dioxide) Conditions where carbon dioxide has some characteristics of a gas and some of a liquid dense phase but not so deep that permeabilityAbility to flow or transmit fluids through a porous solid such as rock and porosityMeasure for the amount of pore spaceSpace between rock or sediment grains that can contain fluids in a rock are low;
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Integrity of sealAn impermeable rock that forms a barrier above and around a reservoirA subsurface body of rock with sufficient porosityMeasure for the amount of pore spaceSpace between rock or sediment grains that can contain fluids in a rock and permeabilityAbility to flow or transmit fluids through a porous solid such as rock to store and transmit fluids such that fluids are held in the reservoirA subsurface body of rock with sufficient porosityMeasure for the amount of pore spaceSpace between rock or sediment grains that can contain fluids in a rock and permeabilityAbility to flow or transmit fluids through a porous solid such as rock to store and transmit fluids to prevent migrationThe movement of fluids in reservoir rocks of CO2Carbon dioxide from the storage(CO2Carbon dioxide) A process for retaining captured CO2Carbon dioxide, so that it does not reach the atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding the earth; the gases are mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%) site;
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Enough CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2Carbon dioxide) A process for retaining captured CO2Carbon dioxide, so that it does not reach the atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding the earth; the gases are mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%) capacityThe accumulated mass of CO2Carbon dioxide that can be stored environmentally safely, i.e., without causing leakage(in CO2Carbon dioxide storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formationA body of rock of considerable extent with distinctive characteristics that allow geologists to map, describe, and name it to the atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding the earth; the gases are mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%) or water column of CO2Carbon dioxide or native reservoirA subsurface body of rock with sufficient porosityMeasure for the amount of pore spaceSpace between rock or sediment grains that can contain fluids in a rock and permeabilityAbility to flow or transmit fluids through a porous solid such as rock to store and transmit fluids fluids or triggering geologic activity that has a negative impact on human health or the environment to receive the CO2Carbon dioxide projected to be released from the sourceAny process, activity or mechanism that releases a greenhouse gasGas in the atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding the earth; the gases are mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%) that absorbs and emits infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, the atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding the earth; the gases are mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%), and clouds; thus, trapping heat within the surface-troposphere system. e.g. water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2Carbon dioxide), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), ozone (O3), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), an aerosol, or a precursor thereof into the atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding the earth; the gases are mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%); and
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Adequate petrophysical reservoirA subsurface body of rock with sufficient porosityMeasure for the amount of pore spaceSpace between rock or sediment grains that can contain fluids in a rock and permeabilityAbility to flow or transmit fluids through a porous solid such as rock to store and transmit fluids properties to guarantee CO2Carbon dioxide injectivityA measure of the rate at which a quantity of fluid can be injected into a well to be economically feasible and that satisfactory CO2Carbon dioxide will be retained (GeoCapacity, 20052005 - GeoCapacityAssessing European Capacity for Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxidesee more).
These criteria hinge on the values of a number of geological and physical parameters and it is critical in the search for appropriate sites for CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere to assess whether the criteria listed above and their related geological and physical parameters are satisfied. Screening sedimentary basins for CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere potential is the first phase in a site selection procedure: it aims to identify predictable, laterally continuous, permeable reservoirA subsurface body of rock with sufficient porosity and permeability to store and transmit fluids rocks overlain by potentially good qualcty caprocks at an appropriate depth. The screening phase gives an indication of those sites which appear suitable based on existing data. The screening should therefore narrow the search at an initial phase so that overpriced and time-consuming additional studies such as collecting and interpreting seismic data are confined to small prospective regions (EUEuropean Union Geocapacity, 20052005 - GeoCapacityAssessing European Capacity for Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxidesee more).
If a number of similarly appropriate CO2Carbon dioxide sites are identified in the screening procedure, other non-geological criteria such as economic, logistical and conflict of interest considerations can be used to select which of those sites shall be investigated in further detail. According to the Global CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage Institute report, Global Status of CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage (GCCSI, 20102010 - GCCSIThe Global Status of CCSsee more), in the initial demonstration phaseDemonstration phase means that the technology is implemented in a pilot project or on a small scale, but is not yet economically feasible at full scale of CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage development there is a strong economic driver to find storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere locations close to emissions sources. In regions deprived of adequate storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere potential, long-distance transport of CO2Carbon dioxide by pipeline or ship might be feasible in the long-term once wide-scale deployment of CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage underpins the scale efficiencies that are necessary to moderate the price of CO2Carbon dioxide transport over great distances.
The prospects for economic savings using proximate zones for storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere needs to be balanced with consideration of the storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere riskConcept that denotes the product of the probability of a hazard and the subsequent consequence of the associated event of candidate sites. RiskConcept that denotes the product of the probability of a hazard and the subsequent consequence of the associated event analysis and cost-benefit of the trade-offs between the storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere asset quality, distance of transport and treatment of riskConcept that denotes the product of the probability of a hazard and the subsequent consequence of the associated event is less mature in CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage when compared to decision analysis in other more established resource sectors. Tested and wellManmade hole drilled into the earth to produce liquids or gases, or to allow the injection of fluids-established economic riskConcept that denotes the product of the probability of a hazard and the subsequent consequence of the associated event-based investment decision methods, adapted from, for instance, the oil and gas sector should be considered. In some cases, storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere site selection and commitment have been too strongly based on the proximity to the emission sourceAny process, activity or mechanism that releases a greenhouse gas, an aerosol, or a precursor thereof into the atmosphere without considering a range of storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere options. This can lead to a commitment to a single site or area prematurely. Such lack of integrated analysis can and has impacted significantly on timeline and economics for projects. In some cases, aggressive timing targets can lead to taking on higher risks, particularly for storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere, if there are a limited number of choices. Viable storage capacityThe accumulated mass of CO2 that can be stored environmentally safely, i.e., without causing leakage of CO2 or native reservoir fluids or triggering geologic activity that has a negative impact on human health or the environment is that subset of the effective capacity that results from technical, legal, regulatory, infrastructural and general economic aspects of CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere. As such, it is susceptible to rapid changes as technology, policies, regulations and economics develop.