Carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture and sequestration is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) before it enters the atmosphere, transporting it, and storing it (carbon sequestration) for centuries or millennia. The injection of CO2 into geological formations has been undertaken for several decades for various purposes, including enhanced oil recovery, but the long-term storage of CO2 is a relatively new concept. Beyond the alleviation of climate change, CCS is a relatively expensive process yielding a product with an intrinsic low value i.e. CO2.

Storage of the CO2 is envisaged either in deep geological formations, or in the form of mineral carbonates. Generally speaking, the target geological formations are Palaeozoic or older, with several successful projects focused on potential Cambrian reservoirs. The depth of such reservoirs helps to keep the injected gas in a dense phase. We will examine Shell's Quest project which uses the Basal Cambrian Sandstone as a reservoir in core, before focusing on its lateral equivalent the Gog Quartzite. Outcrops in the Kicking Horse Pass will be used to highlight some of the requirements for a successful CCS system. We will also look at Precambrian limestone beds of Waterton National Park as potential carbonate reservoirs.

Other aspects of CCS systems are that the reservoir must be regionally extensive. This will allow the injected gas to percolate laterally over a time period measured in decades without the risk of breaching. Such clastic reservoirs are usually limited to low stand fluvial deposits and shoreface deposits. Deltaics and turbidites are unlikely to be extensive enough for this purpose. We will examine sand sheets from both fluvial and shallow marine settings, while flagging up why Cretaceous reservoirs are unlikely to work as CCS targets. Ancient carbonate platforms are also a really extensive targets at depth. 

Cambrian and older reservoirs are likely to be fractured as they will very likely have been subjected to tectonic stresses at some point in their geological history. Hence another critical requirement is an impervious cap rock. This may consist of shales or ideally evaporites; it is hoped field examples of both will be available for study and filming for this field trip. Thick intervals of fine grained sediments are ideal as caprocks particularly when less fractured and faulted. Th impact of structural deformation and faulting on the efficacy of fractured reservoirs as CCS targets will also be addressed through faults seen in outcrop.

In addition to the outcrops indicated above, this online field trip will also involve discussions of storage in saline aquifers and coal seams and examples of working CCS projects from around the globe. We will also examine the implications of leasing pore space. By the end of the field trip, you should have a clear idea of what is needed to build a successful carbon capture and sequestration project as well as seeing some unique geology from across the province.

 For full agenda, visit CSUR Website.

Location: Zoom Webinar 
Date/Time Information: Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022 (from 10:00 to 11:15am MDT)

For more Information and Registration visit CSUR Website