Suitability of the Alberta Subsurface for Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Geological Media

Abstract

In order to meet the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol, Alberta must significantly decrease its carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) emissions into the atmosphere. Major CO{sub 2} producers in Alberta are the power-generation industry, fossil fuel producers, industrial fuel users, the petrochemical industry, the upstream oil and gas industry, and cement and lime plants. Geographically, the major CO{sub 2} sources in Alberta are found near Fort McMurray, in the Lloydminster area, in the Edmonton area, and in the Calgary foothills. A decrease in CO{sub 2} emissions can be achieved first and foremost by improving energy efficiency, conservation, and switching to renewable forms of energy. Carbon dioxide capture in geological deposits and sequestration is probably the most viable solution for Alberta in the long term. This paper presented the results of a study which assessed the suitability of Alberta's subsurface for carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) sequestration in geological media. There are 5 ways that CO{sub 2} can be sequestered in geological media. It can be done by using enhanced oil recovery operations, displacement of methane in coal beds, storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, sequestration in deep saline aquifers, and storage in salt caverns. For optimum sequestration, Alberta's subsurface must meet a series of criteria including: (1) tectonic setting, (2) regional-scale geology and lithology, (3) geothermal regime, (4), hydrostratigraphy and flow of formation waters, (5) pressure regime, and (6) location of major hydrocarbon reservoirs, uneconomic coal seams and salt beds. The study demonstrated that there are six regions in Alberta with various degrees of suitability and means for CO{sub 2} sequestration in geological media. The study showed that all but the oil-sands plants in northeastern Alberta have several options available for CO{sub 2} sequestration in geological media. 50 refs., 52 figs.