Carbon capture and storage – a safe and reliable monitoring and verification plan developed using oil and gas industry core skill sets

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a necessary technology essential for meeting global emissions targets and limiting the impact of climate change – all identified pathways to global net-zero 2050 emissions targets require significant scale-up and deployment of CCS. The Moomba CCS project is an example of the type of projects that will reduce emissions and enable decarbonisation technology such as Direct Air Capture (DAC). The first phase of the project will utilise depleted hydrocarbon fields in the Cooper Basin, South Australia, to safely capture and permanently store 1.7 Mtpa CO2 that is currently vented. This paper will highlight the oil and gas industry’s unique skill sets that make it ideally placed to measure, monitor and verify the permanent storage of CO2 in geological formations. A monitoring and verification plan (M&V plan) has been developed based on SEO and ISO standards that encompasses four key elements: injection telemetry, reservoir surveillance, well integrity and environmental assurance. The plan was developed using a methodical approach to identify key risks, evaluate consequences, take preventative actions and put mitigating controls in place. Core oil and gas industry skill sets were utilised for the evaluation such as geomechanical and geochemical analysis, seal analysis, fault interpretation and reservoir modelling of CO2 migration. A program of surveillance activities will be undertaken to monitor and verify CO2 containment within the storage complex on an ongoing basis for the life of the project, and the M&V plan sets out a response plan and actions that will be taken in the case of deviation from expected performance.