Vattenfall - Geological storage of CO2

Geological storage of CO₂

CO₂ has been stored naturally in the earth's crust for millions of years. Since the early 1970s injection of CO₂ from human activities into subsurface geological formations has been successfully performed, primarily to enhance oil production.

Geological storage of CO₂ is performed today beneath the seabed in the North Sea, in Canada and in Algeria. Information and experience collected from these storage projects as well as from naturally occurring CO₂ accumulations and enhanced oil recovery indicate that it is feasible to store CO₂ in deep geological formations as a way to mitigate CO₂ emissions.

Storage mechanisms

CO₂ remains trapped underground by a combination of physical and geochemical processes. Extensive research indicates that injection into deep geological formations at carefully selected sites can store CO₂ for very long periods of time.

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Storage options

Different storage options, both onshore and offshore, exist but all are located thousands of metres below the earth's surface. However, regardless of the option selected, an impermeable layer of rock, known as caprock, covers the reservoir thus preventing leakage upward or escape into the atmosphere.

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