Carbon Capture and Storage

Environmental
:   
Transition
April 27, 2023

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes or power plants and storing them underground in geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, or deep geological formations. While CCS has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it also presents some challenges, including the need for suitable geological formations for CO2 storage.

The presence of faults and salt domes in a region can complicate CCS efforts by creating pathways for CO2 to escape back to the surface or contaminate groundwater resources. Therefore, careful site selection and monitoring are crucial to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of CCS projects.

In regions with a network of faults and salt domes, like the Gulf Coast of the United States, there are concerns about the geological suitability of CCS. However, not all geological formations are created equal, and some formations may be more suitable for CO2 storage than others. It is possible that some areas with a network of faults and salt domes could still be suitable for CCS, provided that the site selection process is rigorous and the storage site is carefully monitored for any signs of leakage.

That being said, it is important to carefully consider the geological suitability of a site for CCS, and to evaluate the potential risks and benefits of CCS in the context of the specific geological conditions of the region.

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