How Does Carbon Capture and Storage Work?

Carbon Capture and Storage works by collecting CO2 emissions from industrial sources before they enter the atmosphere, and then permanently storing it underground, in a safe place.

CO2 is transported to geological storage (or utilisation) sites where it is injected into deep rock formations at least 800m underground. These formations include saline formations, oil or gas reservoirs, unmineable coal areas, organic-rich shales and basalt formations where its pressure and temperature increase gradually over time – keeping its supercritical state intact.

Structural trapping refers to the process in which rock layers and faults within and above a storage formation act as seals against CO2 from migrating laterally or vertically from its storage site, as shown by the diagram below.

CO2 storage technology has already been successfully deployed since 1972 by the US natural gas industry for enhanced oil recovery, showing its commercial viability. CCS could significantly lower CO2 emissions from many industrial processes like power generation, steel/cement production and fertiliser manufacture.