Carbon dioxide storage project reaches first milestone
Posted: 3 July 2008
The CO2CRC Otway Project has reached the first major milestone with the storage of 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide two kilometres underground in a depleted natural gas reservoir.
"We are closely monitoring the carbon dioxide through one of the world’s most comprehensive geosequestration monitoring programs and every indication is that the carbon dioxide is behaving just as researchers have predicted. The injection process is proceeding very well and we are now starting on our next 10,000 tonnes" said Dr Peter Cook, CO2CRC Chief Executive.
"Through our monitoring program, researchers track the behaviour of the carbon dioxide in the storage reservoir using very sophisticated geophysical and geochemical techniques.
"Soil, groundwater and atmospheric monitoring complement the subsurface activities. The use of such a wide variety of monitoring techniques gives us a high level of confidence that the compressed liquid carbon dioxide is stored safely and securely"
The CO2CRC Otway Project, Australia’s first demonstration of geosequestration, which is taking place in south-western Victoria, was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson and the Victorian Minister for Energy, Peter Batchelor on 2 April 2008
During the project, carbon dioxide, the world’s most common greenhouse gas after water vapour, is compressed to a fluid-like state, piped, injected and stored two kilometres underground in a depleted natural gas field, where the rocks had previously held natural gas for possibly millions of years.
One of the most important features of the project is the demonstration of new geosequestration subsurface monitoring techniques.
The CO2CRC Otway Project was recently recognised for its innovative science in a national awards program. It has attracted interest as a world-leading demonstration project from some of the world’s leading environment protection agencies.
Posted by Richard Price, Editor, EnergyME.com
Information supplied by companies or PR agencies who are responsible for content.
Send press releases to richard@energyme.com |
