Options for sequestration of CO2 from major stationary point sources, British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

CO2 emissions from British Columbia (BC) inventoried stationary point sources total approximately 17 Mt/yr. It is impossible for BC to sequester all these emissions. A more realistic approach to reducing BC's CO2 emissions is to target several of the major, high-concentration point sources, or clusters of point sources and combines a CO2 sequestration effort with increased usage of renewable energy resources, more public transportation, and increased usage of hybrid vehicles. The CO2 sequestration methods potentially applicable to the selected large point sources of CO2 in BC are: injection into depleted and water-saturated gas reservoirs, deep saline aquifers in northeastern BC, and deep coal beds in northeastern and southeastern BC and parts of Vancouver Island, and mineral carbonation in southwestern and central BC. Actual quantification of the amount of CO2 that can potentially be stored in individual sinks is not addressed and will require much further research. The method of sequestering acid gas into deep saline aquifers is most advanced and therefore the first sequestration projects in BC will most likely be based on this technology. However, rapid technological advances may change this view and other CO2 sequestration methods may become applicable.