Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)

Carbon capture and storage also know as carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration is being carefully researched as a way to safely and cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sequestration of anthropogenic carbon dioxide reduces CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere and other greenhouse gas. The Western Canada Sedimentary Basin offers opportunities for sequestration of CO₂ by each of the following means:

• improved recovery programs using CO₂ injection into oil and gas reservoirs
• displacement of methane in deep-buried coalbeds with CO₂
• CO₂ injection into deep saline aquifers
• CO₂ storage in salt caverns

Governments and industry are reviewing the technical merits of each alternative in different types of reservoirs and deposits with the aim of developing appropriate programs. Comprehensive cost estimates for each program category are being developed.

Research on CCS is ongoing; the Weyburn project is the site of a world-scale research initiative operated under the auspices of the Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG), which studies the sequestration of CO₂ in an oil reservoir. The goal for the final phase of this research initiative is to document best practices to guide future CO₂ storage projects.