Safe storage and effective monitoring of CO_2 in depleted gas fields

摘要

Although increasing atmospheric CO_2 levels will cause climate changes that pose serious risks to humanity, fossil fuels will evidently continue to be used for decades (1). Large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) will be needed to meet this challenge (2). Despite the success of several industrial CCS projects, this technology (particularly storage) is controversial and seen as risky by some of the public. Open and transparent demonstration storage projects are critical both because they test scientific understanding and expectations, and also place processes, procedures, and regulations within the space of public discussion. The Otway Project successfully demonstrated midscale storage within a depleted gas field. Our measurement of its storage efficiency provides important physical confirmation of theoretical estimates that depleted gas fields could safely and effectively store many decades worth of CO_2 from the world's largest point sources.