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In many parts of the world CO2 is found in geological formations, where it often has been trapped between the pore spaces of sedimentary rock much in the same way as oil and natural gas. The idea behind geological storage is to replicate the conditions existing in these natural CO2 accumulations.
The three most interesting alternatives for storing CO2 from fossil fueled power plants are: existing oil fields, depleted gas reservoirs and deep saline aquifers.
The oil industry has been injecting CO2 into oil fields to enhance the recovery of oil from existing production wells for many years. More than 70 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects around the world are now underway. Most of the CO2 used in these operations is recycled, but some projects are adapted to permanently store the CO2.
These geological formations have proven their capability to hold oil and gas over millions of years and therefore have great potential to serve as long-term storage sites for CO2.
Saline aquifers are underground rock formations that contain salty water. Suitable aquifers for storage are typically located at least 800 metres underground and contain water that is not potable. The CO2 partially dissolves in the formation water and in some cases the CO2 slowly reacts with minerals to form carbonates, thereby permanently trapping the CO2 underground.
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