STORAGE OFFOSSILFUEL-DERIVEDCARBONDIOXIDEBENEATH THESURFACE OF THEEARTH

Abstract

▪ Abstract Underground storage in porous and permeable reservoir rocks is a technically feasible way to dispose of industrial quantities of carbon dioxide such as are produced by a fossil fuel–fired power plant. All the necessary steps are commercially proven and in use today. Extensive, naturally occurring CO₂accumulations indicate that under favorable conditions CO₂can be retained in underground reservoirs for millions of years. Large-scale commercial underground CO₂sequestration has begun at the Sleipner West gas field in the North Sea. Some of the major issues to be addressed if this technology is to make an impact on CO₂emissions to the atmosphere are cost of CO₂capture, safety and security of storage, and public acceptability.