FAQs

CO₂ Geological Storage

Is CO₂ injection and geological storage safe and how long will the CO₂ remain in the ground?

Due to the scale and scope of the IEA GHG Weyburn CO₂ Monitoring and Storage Project, the researchers were able to conclude that geological formations such as the Weyburn reservoir are highly suitable for CO₂ storage. Using advanced numerical simulations, they concluded that, after 5000 years, 100% of the CO₂ is stored underground. Of this, 73.2% remains in the Midale reservoir, where it was injected, 18.2% is released into the geosphere below the reservoir, 8.6% ends up in the Midale reservoir outside of the initial EOR area, and 0.02% goes to the geosphere above. No CO₂ enters the overlying potable aquifer.  The simulations were limited to 5000 years beyond the end of EOR.