The EU CCS directiveDirective 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (Directive 2009/31/ECEuropean Commission) was published in 2009 and should have been fully transposed by the member states by June 2011. In connection with the implementation of the directive, the Commission produced four guidance documents in order to facilitate and aid the member states during the national implementation processes. These are herein referred to as GD1 (ECEuropean Commission, 2011a), GD2 (ECEuropean Commission, 2011b), GD3 (ECEuropean Commission, 2011c) and GD4 (ECEuropean Commission, 2011d).
Following the directive, leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column is defined as any release of CO2Carbon dioxide from the storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere complex and is mainly mentioned in Article 16 - "Measures in case of leakages or other significant irregularities" and Annex 1, step 3 "Characterisation of the storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere dynamic behaviour, sensitivity characterisation and risk assessmentA process intended to calculate or estimate the risk to a given target, part of a risk management system". The directive makes it clear that member states are responsible for ensuring that if leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column or any other significant irregularityAny irregularity in the injection or storage operation or in the condition of the storage volume itself, which implies the risk of a leakage or risk to the environment or human health occurs, the operator informs the competent authority (hereafter referred to as CA) and that the operators takes the necessary corrective measures including those related to the protection of human health. The operator must also notify the CA "in cases of leakages and significant irregularities which imply the riskConcept that denotes the product of the probability of a hazard and the subsequent consequence of the associated event of leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column".
To ensure that leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column events have been accounted for in the planning process of a geological storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere site of CO2Carbon dioxide, the operator has to include a proposed corrective measures plan in the storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere permit application. The corrective measures plan is included in the final storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere permit and the operator is required to notify the CA in case of leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column or significant irregularities. The storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere permit will also state that the operator has to implement the proposed corrective measures plan in case of leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column or any other significant irregularities. If the operator fails to do so, the necessary measures should be taken by the CA, and the costs then recovered from the operator.