In Australia national regulation regarding CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage activities offshore exist: Commonwealth Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse GasGas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, the atmosphere, and clouds; thus, trapping heat within the surface-troposphere system. e.g. water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), ozone (O3), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) Storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere Act from 2006 with some specific regulations from 2009-2011, The National Greenhouse Energy Reporting Act 2007 and The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Regulations 2008 - 2011 (Parsons and Brinckerhoff, 2012). All documents concern monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions issues as wellManmade hole drilled into the earth to produce liquids or gases, or to allow the injection of fluids as environmental and human health impacts. Measurements, MonitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions and Verification(CO2 storage) The proof, to a standard still to be decided, of the CO2 storage using monitoring results; (in the context of CDM) The independent review by a designated operational entity of monitored reductions in anthropogenic emissions (MMV) responsibilities can be categorised into four phases: a) determination of suitability for injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells and storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere of CO2Carbon dioxide, b) operational plan for injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells and storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere activities, c) reporting, monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions and verification(CO2 storage) The proof, to a standard still to be decided, of the CO2 storage using monitoring results; (in the context of CDM) The independent review by a designated operational entity of monitored reductions in anthropogenic emissions requirements and d) site closure, license surrender and post closure monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions. Federal states (Victoria, Queensland, South Australia) however have adopted their specific Acts and Regulations to regulate onshore geological storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere and Western Australia and New South Wales are progressing following the same process. Most documents agree on the focus of the regulatory results, i.e. a risk assessmentA process intended to calculate or estimate the risk to a given target, part of a risk management system approach and on a life span continuous monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions and verification(CO2 storage) The proof, to a standard still to be decided, of the CO2 storage using monitoring results; (in the context of CDM) The independent review by a designated operational entity of monitored reductions in anthropogenic emissions process based on an adequate monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions plan. Differences in MMV regulatory frameworks between jurisdictions exist, for example, in the frequency of reporting, in terminology, and in levels of prescription. Some documents do not address all (most) MMV issues.
The documents on the technical framework and guidelines in Australia are limited in number and do not provide comprehensive details (such as EUEuropean Union guidelines do) on complying with or regulating MMV requirements (Parsons Brinckerhoff, 2012). The same authors summarize the existing frameworks and guidelines as follows:
- Guidelines for InjectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells and Storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere of Greenhouse GasGas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, the atmosphere, and clouds; thus, trapping heat within the surface-troposphere system. e.g. water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), ozone (O3), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) Substances in Offshore Areas, Clean Energy Division, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, December 2011 which are detailed and specific to Offshore Commonwealth CO2Carbon dioxide geosequestration and thus would not necessarily be appropriate for other jurisdictions.
- Carbon Dioxide CaptureThe separation of carbon dioxide from other gases before it is emitted to the atmosphere and Geological Storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere, Australian Regulatory Guiding Principles, Ministerial Council on mineral and Petroleum Resources, 2005 which set out some objectives for MMV legislative frameworks but no detail.
- The NGER Technical Guidelines for the Estimation of Greenhouse GasGas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, the atmosphere, and clouds; thus, trapping heat within the surface-troposphere system. e.g. water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), ozone (O3), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) Emissions by Facilities in Australia, which are intended to embody the latest methods for estimating emissions and will need to be consistent with chapter 5 of the IPCCIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines (IPCCIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2006). The guidelines acknowledge that methods for estimating fugitive emissions from the injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells and the storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere site have not yet been defined, but are intended for inclusion in future updates of the NGER Determination and these guidelines.
Australia is currently developing a national technical framework for the Measurement, MonitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions and Verification(CO2 storage) The proof, to a standard still to be decided, of the CO2 storage using monitoring results; (in the context of CDM) The independent review by a designated operational entity of monitored reductions in anthropogenic emissions (MMV) of geologically stored CO2Carbon dioxide (Parsons Brinckerhoff, 2012). The authors studied the relevant literature, provided the key findings on the feedback from the stakeholder that were engaged in the activities, presented options for addressing the key issues associated with the development of a national MMV technical framework and provided conclusions on the level of support the development of a national MMV technical framework. Stakeholders' feedback addressed groups of key issues such as scope, context and function of the national MMV technical framework, level of prescriptiveness, development and revision of the framework, knowledge and terminology and compliance and confidence. It has been concluded that Australian Legislation generally focuses on key regulatory outcomes that the MMV programme must demonstrate. Differences in MMV regulatory frameworks between jurisdictions exist, for example, in the frequency of reporting, in terminology, and levels of prescription.
Fundamentally, the existing literature, Australian and international, supports the IEAInternational Energy Agency representation of Core MMV Requirements. In general, the majority of Australian legislation for MMV appears to be more rigorous and prescriptive than those applied internationally. EUEuropean Union, USA and Canadian jurisdictions propose riskConcept that denotes the product of the probability of a hazard and the subsequent consequence of the associated event based monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions plans, less prescriptive and fit for purpose. Parsons Brinckerhoff (2012) further observation was that each site is unique and that the monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions technology selection depends on site specific characteristics. They also resolve that being prescriptive in technology selection could lead to less than favourable results, because not all approaches are applicable in all circumstances. Moreover, it is emphasized that there is no common definition of MMV The "narrow" interpretation would include exclusively measuring the composition of a CO2 streamA flow of substances resulting from CO2 capture processes, or which consists of a sufficient fraction of CO2 and sufficiently low concentrations of other substances to meet specifications of streams permitted for long term geological storage and monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions the injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells, storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere, migrationThe movement of fluids in reservoir rocks and leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column of CO2Carbon dioxide. A "broad" interpretation could include assessment of the site characterisation of the geological storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere formationA body of rock of considerable extent with distinctive characteristics that allow geologists to map, describe, and name it and the impacts of CO2Carbon dioxide leakage(in CO2 storage) The escape of injected fluid from the storage formation to the atmosphere or water column on the environment, human health and other resources. Another issue is a common understanding of a technical framework for MMV of geological storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere of CO2Carbon dioxide is not evident.