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Geological storage of CO2
The geological storage of CO2 could be used to tackle climate change. There are a number of technical and regulatory challenges involved. In particular, it must be shown that storage presents no risks to the local environment.
Three kinds of location are being considered for the long-term storage of CO2:
- former hydrocarbon reservoirs, whether oil or gas,
- deep saline aquifers,
- unexploited coal seams.
IFP is working on all three of these options. Its researchers are using cutting-edge technologies from oil sector to perfect industrial software for modelling and monitoring storage facilities.
Towards controlling underground CO2 storage
IFP is developing a software package called COORES. This software models the behavior of injected CO2, and also the possible migration routes that the CO2 could follow underground, taking account of the geological structure of the storage and geochemical interactions between the CO2and any mineral structures encountered. The result of this modeling is coupled with a geomechanical model of the underground environment in order to estimate the risks of reactivation or the creation of faults in the overburden rocks.
Monitoring of a CO2 storage site will make it possible to track the evolution of injected CO2 and detect any migration of CO2 towards drinking water aquifers or the surface. The work carried out at IFP aims to improve existing techniques, such as seismics, but also to develop new measurement methods, such as surface or in situ geochemistry. Another aspect of the work conducted at IFP is combining various measurements and also associating these measurements with models representative of the underground environment in order to lower detection thresholds.
IFP is also developing methodologies to assess the risks related to a storage site. CO2 migration scenarios are set up, the potential speeds are calculated, the importance of the main parameters governing these rates is specified, and the probabilities of occurrence of these migrations are estimated. All these results will make it possible to rate a site for CO2 storage, to highlight its potential weaknesses and prepare monitoring or remediation plans before the start of injection.
IFP coordinates or participates in a number of projects with the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the European Union. These projects bring together universities, research centers and industrial players. The aim is to acquire the knowledge required, and develop the tools and methodologies necessary to overcome the various problems associated with storage: injectivity, sealing capacity, operational monitoring and socio-economic concerns, etc.
Promoting European know-how in geological CO2 storage
IFP is associated with the following projects supported by the European Union:
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CO2ReMoVe, which is aimed to establish methodologies and best practices for the modelling and monitoring of future CO2 geological storages,
- InCA-CO2, a strategic programme supported by the European Commission. It is designed to position European expertise in CO2 capture and storage at an international level.
Participation in geological CO2 storage pilot sites
In order to validate its tools, software and methodologies developed either internally or jointly with other partners, IFP participates in numerous pilot projects. Its involvement consists in comparing the results of modeling with what is actually observed at these sites.
It is necessary to first of all construct geological and reservoir models and enter the data concerning the site into these by sample analysis, measurement of wells or seismic study results.
It is then necessary to return to the site regularly during CO2 injection to take new measurements, which are compared with the models to verify that injected CO2 is still contained.
+ Industrial development > IFP's offer in the field of CO2
+ Our commitment to research > Our collaborations > IFP and Europe > European CO2 projects in which IFP participates
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Further information
Capturing and storing CO2 to combat the greenhouse effect
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