Geological, Ocean, and Mineral CO 2 Sequestration Options: A Technical Review

Of the six greenhouse gases (GHG) covered by the Kyoto protocol, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is the greatest contributor to Canada's total GHG emissions. Fossil fuel combustion is the main source of anthropogenic CO 2 , and it currently supplies over 85% of the global energy demand. Worldwide, an effort for reduction of CO 2 emissions aims at increased efficiency of fossil energy usage, development of energy sources with lower carbon content and increased reliability on alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and nuclear. However, to meet the objectives of the Kyoto agreement, CO 2 sequestration methods may be needed. In this review, the methods that we will cover are storage in oil and gas reservoirs, in deep coal seams, in deep saline aquifers, in deep ocean, in salt caverns, and mineral carbonation. Each of these methods has its weaknesses and strengths. RESUME Des six types de gaz a effet de serre (GES) dont il est question dans le traite de Kyoto, le gaz carbonique (CO 2 ) est celui qui contribue le plus au emissions totales de GES au Canada. La combustion de carburants fossiles qui repond presentement a 85 % des besoins d'energie de notre monde, constitue la principal source de CO 2 anthropogenique. L'effort mondial de reduction des emissions de CO 2 vise a augmenter l'efficacite de l'utilisation des energies fossiles, a developper des sources d'energie contenant moins de carbone et a augmenter l'apport d'autres sources d'energie comme le vent, le soleil, l'energie geothermique et l'energie nucleaire. Cependant, pour atteindre les objectifs du traite de Kyoto, on devra peut-etre recourir a des methodes de sequestration du CO 2 . Dans la presente etude retrospective, les methodes considerees sont les suivantes : le stockage dans des reservoirs de petroleet de gaz, dans des couches de charbon en profondeur, dans des aquiferes salins profonds, dans le fond des oceans, dans des cavernes de gisements de sel, ainsi que par carbonatation de mineraux. Chacune de ces methodes presentent des avantages et des inconvenients.

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