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Physical and economic potential of geological CO 2 storage in saline aquifers

Publication ,  Journal Article
Eccles, JK; Pratson, L; Newell, RG; Jackson, RB
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology
March 15, 2009

Carbon sequestration in sandstone saline reservoirs holds great potential for mitigating climate change, but its storage potential and cost per ton of avoided CO 2 emissions are uncertain. We develop a general model to determine the maximum theoretical constraints on both storage potential and injection rate and use it to characterize the economic viability of geosequestration in sandstone saline aquifers. When applied to a representative set of aquifer characteristics, the model yields results that compare favorably with pilot projects currently underway. Over a range of reservoir properties, maximum effective storage peaks at an optimal depth of 1600 m, at which point 0.18-0.31 metric tons can be stored per cubic meter of bulk volume of reservoir. Maximum modeled injection rates predict minima for storage costs in a typical basin in the range of $2-7/ ton CO 2(2005 U.S. $) depending on depth and basin characteristics in our base-case scenario. Because the properties of natural reservoirs in the United States vary substantially, storage costs could in some cases be lower or higher by orders of magnitude. We conclude that available geosequestration capacity exhibits a wide range of technological and economic attractiveness. Like traditional projects in the extractive industries, geosequestration capacity should be exploited starting with the low-cost storage options first then moving gradually up the supply curve. © 2009 American Chemical Society.

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Published In

Environmental Science and Technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

March 15, 2009

Volume

43

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1962 / 1969

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Supply
  • Water
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Models, Economic
  • Models, Chemical
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Geological Phenomena
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Carbon Dioxide
 

Citation

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Eccles, J. K., Pratson, L., Newell, R. G., & Jackson, R. B. (2009). Physical and economic potential of geological CO 2 storage in saline aquifers. Environmental Science and Technology, 43(6), 1962–1969. https://doi.org/10.1021/es801572e
Eccles, J. K., L. Pratson, R. G. Newell, and R. B. Jackson. “Physical and economic potential of geological CO 2 storage in saline aquifers.” Environmental Science and Technology 43, no. 6 (March 15, 2009): 1962–69. https://doi.org/10.1021/es801572e.
Eccles JK, Pratson L, Newell RG, Jackson RB. Physical and economic potential of geological CO 2 storage in saline aquifers. Environmental Science and Technology. 2009 Mar 15;43(6):1962–9.
Eccles, J. K., et al. “Physical and economic potential of geological CO 2 storage in saline aquifers.” Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 43, no. 6, Mar. 2009, pp. 1962–69. Scopus, doi:10.1021/es801572e.
Eccles JK, Pratson L, Newell RG, Jackson RB. Physical and economic potential of geological CO 2 storage in saline aquifers. Environmental Science and Technology. 2009 Mar 15;43(6):1962–1969.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environmental Science and Technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

March 15, 2009

Volume

43

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1962 / 1969

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Supply
  • Water
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Models, Economic
  • Models, Chemical
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Geological Phenomena
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Carbon Dioxide