Carbon capture and storage (CCS) constitutes a pivotal tool in the pursuit of net-zero emissions by 2050, working in harmonious conjunction with renewable energy, reforestation, and efficiency initiatives.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) constitutes a pivotal tool in the pursuit of net-zero emissions by 2050, working in harmonious conjunction with renewable energy, reforestation, and efficiency initiatives. By intercepting CO₂ emissions and addressing them proactively, CCS effectively mitigates the environmental footprint. Its adaptability traverses various sectors, encompassing not only cement and steel but also contributing significantly to hydrogen production. The secure storage of CO₂, which marks the culmination of the CCS process, has an enduring legacy of safety and efficiency spanning decades. Leveraging the substantial subsurface reservoirs of our planet, carbon storage presents a pragmatic and intuitive solution for effective CO₂ mitigation on a global scale.
Geological storage injects captured CO₂ into underground rock formations, over 1 km deep, permanently removing it from the atmosphere. These formations feature pores for CO₂ storage, permeability for injection and movement, and permanence with cap rocks to ensure containment.
After capture, CO₂ is compressed and injected into porous storage formations through a well. It migrates upward, getting trapped under impermeable cap rock. Over time, it dissolves in saline water (solution trapping), gets trapped in pores (residual trapping), and reacts to form solid minerals (mineral trapping), achieving permanent storage.
EnEarth will leverage the extensive experience acquired from over four decades hydrocarbon production in this reservoir
Fossil fuels were trapped underground like CO₂ storage formations. Over 200 million tonnes of CO₂ are stored successfully underground, including 26 million tonnes in Norway since 1996. Decades of experience show CO₂ storage’s safety and feasibility, supported by experts.Monitoring tech ensures CO₂ containment, and established methods handle leaks, though rare. No significant CO2 leak from CCS operations has happened.
The 2024 CO₂ Storage Resource Catalogue, led by OGCI with global partners, assessed 1,272 potential CO₂ storage sites in 54 countries using Society of Petroleum Engineers’ SRMS methodology. It identified over 14 gigatonnes of assessed storage resources, from early estimates to commercially ready sites, offering the most recent standardised global dataset available. Global CO₂ emissions are estimated to have reached 40 gigatonnes in 2025.
