Abstract
Carbon capture, transport and storage (CCS) is considered a key
technology to provide secure, low-carbon energy supply and industrial
processes to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the
adverse effects of climatic change. Geological storage of carbon dioxide
(CO2), captured during hydrocarbon production at the Sleipner Field, in
strata beneath the Norwegian sector of the North Sea has been in
operation since 1996. Projects to store CO2 captured at power plants in
strata underlying the North Sea are currently in design. Storage of the
CO2 is planned in depleted hydrocarbon fields or regionally extensive
sandstones containing brine (saline aquifer sandstones). The vast
majority of the UK potential storage resource is within brine-saturated
sandstone formations. The sandstone formations are each hundreds to
thousands of square kilometres in extent and underlie all sectors of the
North Sea. The immense potential to store CO2 in these rocks can only be
fully achieved by the operation of more than one injection site within
each formation. Here we report an investigation into the operation of
more than one injection site within a storage formation using a UK North
Sea case study of the Captain Sandstone and the included Goldeneye
Field, which is part of the mature hydrocarbon province offshore
Scotland. Research by the CO2MultiStore project was targeted to
increase understanding and confidence in the operation of two sites
within the Captain Sandstone. Methods were implemented to reduce the
effort and resources needed to characterise the sandstone, and increase
understanding of its stability and performance during operation of more
than one injection site. Generic learning was captured throughout the
research relevant to the characterisation of extensive storage
sandstones, management of the planned injection operations and
monitoring of CO2 injection at two (or more) sites within any connected
sandstone formation. The storage of CO2 can be optimised by the
operation of more than one injection site in a geological formation by
taking a regional-scale approach to site assessment. The study concludes
that at least 360 million tonnes of CO2 captured over the coming 35
years could be permanently stored using two injection sites in the
Captain Sandstone. Confidence in the planned operation of two or more
injection sites in a storage formation is greatly increased by the use
of existing information, knowledge and data acquired during hydrocarbon
exploitation. Widespread pressure changes should be expected by the
injection of CO2 at more than one site. Assessment, management and
monitoring of pressure changes on a regional scale will optimise the
storage capacity, ensure security of storage and prevent adverse effects
to existing storage and hydrocarbon operations. The vast offshore
potential across all sectors of the North Sea could be made accessible
and practical for storage of CO2 captured at European sources by the
operation of two or more sites in a storage formation by following the
approach taken in CO2MultiStore.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - Apr 2016 |
Event | 13th European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2016 - Vienna, Austria Duration: 17 Apr 2016 → 22 Apr 2016 |
Conference
Conference | 13th European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2016 |
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Country/Territory | Austria |
City | Vienna |
Period | 17/04/16 → 22/04/16 |