Geological storage of captured carbon dioxide as a large‐scale carbon mitigation option

• Published in: Water resources research 2017-05, Vol.53 (5), p.3527-3533
• Main Author: Celia, Michael A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Carbon capture and storage; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; carbon mitigation; Carbon sequestration; CCS and risk assessment; Earth; Earth science; Earth sciences; Ecological risk assessment; Electric power plants; Emissions; Emissions control; Environmental risk; Formations; Fossil fuels; Fuels; geologic carbon storage; Geology; Industrial plant emissions; Injection; Language; low‐carbon energy systems; Migration; Migrations; Mitigation; multiphase flow in porous media; Pollution sources; Power plants; Rock; Rocks; Stationary sources; Technology
• ISSN: 0043-1397; 1944-7973
• DOI: 10.1002/2017WR020841

Carbon capture and storage (CCS), involves capture of CO2 emissions from power plants and other large stationary sources and subsequent injection of the captured CO2 into deep geological formations. This is the only technology currently available that allows continued use of fossil fuels while simultaneously reducing emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere. Although the subsurface injection and subsequent migration of large amounts of CO2 involve a number of challenges, many decades of research in the earth sciences, focused on fluid movement in porous rocks, provides a strong foundation on which to analyze the system. These analyses indicate that environmental risks associated with large CO2 injections appear to be manageable. Plain Language Summary Carbon capture and storage, or CCS, involves capture of CO2 emissions from power plants and other large stationary sources and subsequent injection of the captured CO2 into deep underground formations. This is the only technology currently available that allows continued use of fossil fuels while simultaneously reducing emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere. Although the underground injection of large amounts of CO2 has several remaining challenges, many decades of research in the earth sciences, focused on fluid movement in porous rocks, provides a strong foundation on which to analyze the system. These analyses indicate that environmental risks associated with large CO2 injections appear to be manageable. Key Points Geological storage of captured CO2 can play an important role in the transition to a low‐carbon energy system Many decades of research in the earth sciences have been critical to understand the key processes involved in geological carbon storage Environmental risks associated with large‐scale implementation appear to be manageable