Performance Requirements for Geological Storage of CO₂

Robert P. Hepple and Sally M. Benson

Contact: Robert P. Hepple, 510/486-5989, rphepple@lbl.gov

Research Objectives

The probability that long-term geologic storage or sequestration of CO₂ will become an important climate change mitigation strategy depends on a number of factors, namely (1) public acceptance, (2) the cost of geologic storage compared to other climate change mitigation options, and (3) the availability, capacity, and location of suitable sites. Whether or not a site is suitable will be determined by establishing that it can meet a set of performance requirements for safe and effective geologic storage. Establishing effective requirements must start with an evaluation of how much CO₂ might be stored, and how long the CO₂ must remain underground, to meet goals for controlling atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. These requirements then provide a context for addressing the issue of what is an "acceptable" surface seepage rate.