CO₂ Storage Capacity Estimates

One of the first steps to a carbon capture and storage project is to find a suitable site for storing CO₂.

We have been assessing suitable storage sites at both local and regional scales in Alberta, China and India. Our approach often focuses on opportunities that pair CO₂ storage with enhanced resource recovery (EOR, ECBM), helping to increase the economic viability of these projects.

Expert advice

We have specific expertise in the fields of:

• geology
• hydrogeology
• geochemistry
• reservoir simulation

We also have a strong network of international research collaborators. With our extensive knowledge and worldwide reach, we stand as an international leader in the emerging field of CO₂ storage.

Alberta's CO₂ storage potential

Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures embarked on this research because of the strong potential for this technology holds for Alberta.

We find the best locations for long-term storage of CO₂ in sedimentary basins that have stored petroleum resources for millions of years. Alberta has an abundance of these types of formations:

• Depleted oil and gas reservoirs in Alberta can store approximately 2,800 million metric tonnes (Mt) of CO₂
• Alberta's coalbed methane formations may be able to store 5,000 Mt of CO₂
• Deep saline aquifers have the potential to store more than 10,000 Mt of CO₂

In comparison, Alberta emitted 223 Mt of CO₂ equivalent in 2003. Over half of Alberta's CO₂ emissions come from large industry sources. Many of Alberta's best sites for CO₂ storage are located near large sources of CO₂ emissions.