What is geologic sequestration?
Geologic sequestration involves injecting CO2 into underground reservoirs that have the ability to securely contain it. Geologic CO2 storage R&D focuses on five types of geologic formations: oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline formations, unmineable coal seams, oil- and gas-rich organic shales, and basalts. Oil and gas reservoirs are layers of porous rock formations that have trapped crude oil or natural gas for millions of years. An impermeable, overlying rock formation forms a seal that traps the oil and gas; the same mechanism would apply to CO2 storage. As a value-added benefit, CO2 injected into these reservoirs can facilitate recovery of oil and gas resources left behind by earlier recovery efforts. CO2 can increase oil recovery from a depleting reservoir by an additional 10-20 percent of the original oil in place. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) – Oil companies currently inject over 30 million tons of carbon dioxide per year in depleting oil formations to enhance the production of c
