Seismic monitoring at the Sleipner underground CO2 storage site (North Sea)
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Published:January 01, 2004
Abstract
The growing emissions of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, are seen worldwide as one of the major causes of climate change. International treaties like the Kyoto Protocol are supposed to contribute to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Underground sequestration has the potential to play an important role in keeping large volumes of CO2 from escaping into the atmosphere in the short term. The first case of industrial scale CO2 storage in the world (close to one million tonnes per year since 1996) is taking place at the Sleipner underground CO2 storage site in the...
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Contents
Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main compound identified as affecting the stability of the Earth’s climate. A significant reduction in the volume of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere is a key mechanism for mitigating climate change. Geological storage of CO2, or the injection and long-term stabilization of large volumes of CO2 in the subsurface in saline aquifers, in existing hydrocarbon reservoirs or in unmineable coal seams, is one of the more technologically advanced options available. A number of studies have been carried out and are reported here. They are aimed at understanding the safety, physical and chemical behaviour and long-term fate of CO2 when stored in geological formations. Until efficient, alternative energy options can be developed, geological storage of CO2, the subject of this volume, provides a mechanism to reduce carbon emissions significantly whilst continuing to meet the global demand for energy.