The FEP Database System and Generic CO2 Geological Storage FEP Database have been updated through a maintenance project supported by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Click here to read more ...

The Generic CO2 Geological Storage FEP Database has been substantially updated since it was first produced in 2004, including many more up-to-date references, hyperlinks and images. The FEP Database System has also been updated and now enables influences between FEPs to be explored using additional hyperlinks and Process Influence Diagrams (PIDs), as illustrated below.

Example PID diagram

Please contact co2@quintessa.org for more information about the updates and new functionality. Quintessa gratefully acknowledges funding from the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for the maintenance of the FEP Database System and Generic CO2 Geological Storage FEP Database.

The final report has been published for the European Union 5th framework research project CO2STORE, which develops research into the potential for large-scale storage of CO2 in underground saline aquifer formations. The report describes several case studies, which include safety and risk assessments based on FEP analysis. Click here to read more ...

The final report has been published for the European Union 5th framework research project CO2STORE, which develops research into the potential for large-scale storage of CO2 in underground saline aquifer formations. The report describes several case studies, which include safety and risk assessments based on FEP analysis.

Kalundborg Case Study

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) have undertaken risk assessment studies for potential carbon storage projects near to the city of Kalundborg using the generic FEP database. The risk assessment involved analysis of all relevant FEPs and identification of the most important FEPs: geological features relating to the reservoir and cap rock, long term fate of injected CO2 and impact on society and humans. Risks that could put the project on hold or eventually lead to exclusion of the potential storage site have also been considered, with several of these are relating to project costs: geological risks, low level leaks, monitoring, injectivity and well leak. Finally possible conflicts of use with geothermal energy, gas storage, hydrocarbon and drinking water have been investigated and are not expected to provide potential problems. A full report on the Kalundborg case study is available here.

Location of Potential CO2 Storage Sites near Kalundborg

Image from the final CO2STORE report

Schweinrich Case Study

The Dutch research organisation TNO undertook a safety assessment for potential CO2 sequestration in the Schweinrich structure in Genrmany. The assessment involved the development of four scenarios based on a detailed analysis of FEPs that drew on the generic database. The four scenarios covered reference containment, plus additional 'what if' scenarios that represented leaking seals, wells and faults. Simplified probabilistic calculations of CO2 saturations in the saturated zone were then undertaken for each scenario.

St George's Channel Basin Case Study

The British Geological Survey (BGS) participated with a case study that considered the potential sequestration into a saline aquifer in the St George's Channel Basin in the Irish Sea. The study included an outline risk assessment based on the generic FEP database, which highlighted the following key risks:

• Flow simulations indicate that a significant amount of the sequestered CO2 could migrate to a known fault in 60 years. The effectiveness of the fault seal is not known and therefore represents a critical uncertainty.
• CO2 trapped at the top of the reservoir is likely to cause a significant departure from the hydrostatic pressure gradient. This might adversely affect the integrity of the cap rock through fracturing and/or dissolution.
• The reservoir sands are probably of fluvial origin and might therefore exhibit significant spatial variation. A heterogeneous reservoir would make it difficult to target injection wells and utilise the maximum storage capacity of the target structure.
• The strata above the reservoir are expected to be poorly consolidated. It may therefore be difficult to get a robust cement bond between well casing and the surrounding rock. This could allow CO2 to escape from wells previously drilled in the storage structure. It might also allow CO2 to escape from the injection wells

Final report

The final report of the CO2STORE is available here.

The usefulness of FEP lists to systems-based approaches to building confidence in carbon capture and storage projects was discussed at the 'Workshop on Confidence Building in the Long-Term Effectiveness of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage', which was organised by the IEA and held in Tokyo, Japan, 24 and 25 January, 2007. Click here to read more ...

The usefulness of FEP lists to systems-based approaches to building confidence in carbon capture and storage projects was discussed at the 'Workshop on Confidence Building in the Long-Term Effectiveness of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage', which was organised by the IEA and held in Tokyo, Japan, 24 and 25 January, 2007. A presentation by Dave Savage (Quintessa Ltd.) cited the generic FEP database and highlighted its potential use in:

• aiding the development of scenarios;
• improving thoroughness and comprehensiveness of assessments;
• providing an audit trail for system-level models;
• aiding comparisons of assessments of different sites; and
• providing a knowledge base for storage studies.

The proceedings and a summary report of the workshop are available here.

GEOTEHNOLOGIEN is undertaking a project to establish a common performance assessment methodology for geological CO2 storage options that will be applicable to typical sites located in Germany. The methodology involves the use of a FEP database to develop reference scenarios for performance assessment, which draws on the generic FEP database. Click here to read more ...

GEOTEHNOLOGIEN is undertaking a project (CO2-UGS-RISK) to establish a common performance assessment methodology for geological CO2 storage options that will be applicable to typical sites located in Germany. The methodology involves the use of a FEP database to develop reference scenarios for performance assessment, which draws on the generic FEP database. In addition to establishing and demonstrating an assessment methodology applicable to Germany, the project also aims to identify unresolved scientific and technical questions regarding geological storage of CO2 as an input to research and development priorities.

The work is being undertaken in collaboration with DBI-Gastechnologisches Institut (DBI-GTI) and Technische Universität Braunschweig CAB, and an associated presentation is available here.

The Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) in Japan have developed a CO2 FEP database, building on the generic FEP database by providing a Japanese context to the list. RITE have then used the database to define site-specific and scenario-specific FEP lists. The work was presented at the International Workshop on CO2 Geological Storage, held in Tokyo on the 20th and 21st February 2006 and is described in a paper by Tomoda and Akimoto (RITE), which is available here.

The generic FEP database for the geological storage of carbon dioxide includes FEPs chosen for their relevance to the long-term safety and performance of the storage system after injection of carbon dioxide has been completed and the injection boreholes have been sealed. Click here to read more ...

The generic FEP database for the geological storage of carbon dioxide has been developed, with the chosen FEPs being included for their relevance to the long-term safety and performance of the storage system after injection of carbon dioxide has been completed and the injection boreholes have been sealed. Some FEPs associated with the injection phase are nevertheless considered where these can affect long-term performance. The OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency FEP database for radioactive waste provided the inspiration for this generic CO2 database, although the aims and content of the database have been developed significantly from the original NEA model.
The database includes around 200 FEPs in a hierarchical structure, with individual FEPs grouped into eight categories. Each FEP has a text description and an associated discussion of its relevance to long-term performance and safety. Key references from the published literature are included to enable retrieval of more detailed information for each FEP. The database is internet-enabled incorporating hyperlinks to other relevant sources of information (reports, websites, maps, photographs, videos, etc.), and is searchable in a variety of ways; it has the potential to provide a 'knowledge base' for the geological storage of carbon dioxide.

Acknowledgements

The development of this database was funded as part of the Weyburn CO2 Geological Storage R&D Project, 2000-2004. Quintessa gratefully acknowledges funding for the Weyburn project from the European Commission and the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and would like to thank the British Geological Survey for their help and support throughout the project and the IEA for providing additional funds to present the website as part of their CO2 capture and storage initiative.