Advances in Carbon Dioxide Storage Projects: Assessment and Perspectives
Baolin Yang, Chun Shao, Xinling Hu, Mbega Ramadhani Ngata, Mohammed Dahiru Aminu
Abstract
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a climate change mitigation method in which anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is captured from large point sources and stored in geological formations, in the ocean, or through mineral carbonation. CO 2 can be injected and stored for a variety of reasons, including permanent disposal or enhanced oil recovery in certain oil fields. The main objective of this paper is to assess the advances made in CO 2 storage projects globally. This study reviews the major companies/businesses that are involved in CCS deployment. The study also presents the alternative for the sequestration of CO 2 into the geological formations through existing major projects. It explains their progress, structural and faulting configuration, CO 2 transportation and injection, potential CO 2 source(s), estimation of the storage capacity, etc. This study also highlights the monitoring programs that are used in different operating projects and the status of active projects. The study suggests that CCS faces further deployment challenges due to the heterogeneity and complexity of rock formations, high cost of deployment, possibility of formation damage during injection and potential for migration and leakage of CO 2 . Additionally, inappropriate strategy for CO 2 injection may lead to wellbore integrity problems, formation of hydrates, and inadequate pressure control. More research─particularly, geological evaluation before injection and storage─is apparently needed.