UNDERSTANDING RISK FOR THE LONG TERM STORAGE OF CO_2 IN GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS

摘要

There are two issues to be resolved before capture and storage can progress from being a promising option to a mainstream GHG management technology. These are first, the development of a commercial structure that enables costs to be recovered. This is being addressed through technology development to reduce the cost of capture of CO_2, together with realisation of a value for reducing carbon emissions through carbon trading. The second key issue is public acceptance of the reliability and safety of this technology. Both of these are dependent to a greater or lesser extent upon the demonstration of a detailed understanding of the performance of storage systems and the development of a methodology for the mitigation of risk. A rigorous, structured and quantitative process for the assessment and mitigation of risk for storage of CO_2 in geological formations is being developed. This comprises tools to identify, quantify and mitigate risk. The first case histories using elements of this methodology are becoming available. The validation of these tools is currently under discussion.