Title: An approach to assess risks of carbon geological storage technology

Authors: Maísa Matos Paraguassú; George Câmara; Paulo Sérgio Rocha; José Célio Silveira Andrade

Addresses: UFBA, Industrial Engineering Program, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Aristides Novis, No. 2, 40.210-630, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil ' UFBA, Industrial Engineering Program, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Aristides Novis, No. 2, 40.210-630, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil ' UNIFACS, Salvador University – Laureate International Universities, Alameda das Espatódias, 915, 41.820-460, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil ' UFBA, Faculty of Business Administration, Federal University of Bahia, Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon, s/n, 41.100-903, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract: Carbon geological storage (CGS) projects are designed to securely store carbon dioxide (CO₂) for thousands of years. Because of this, there are several studies to evaluate the potential risks of long-term storage of CO₂ in geological formations. This paper presents a new method for the qualitative risk assessment of CGS: the risk assessment of stored CO₂ (RA-CO₂) method. It consists of the systematic and structured identification of CO₂ release risk scenarios arising from: seal, well, and fault and fracture zones. The uncertainties associated to each mapped risk scenario and the risks are qualitatively evaluated using the RA-CO₂ method. The characteristics of the RA-CO₂ method enable a comprehensive understanding of the underground evolution and future behaviour of the CO₂ in various time scales and their influence on safety. For future studies, the validation of the proposed RA-CO₂ method using a real case study is recommended.

Keywords: risk assessment; CO2; carbon leakage; carbon geological storage; CGS; carbon storage; carbon dioxide; carbon release risks; seal risks; well risks; fault zones; fracture zones; uncertainty; safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2015.067419

International Journal of Global Warming, 2015 Vol.7 No.1, pp.89 - 109

Received: 27 Jul 2013
Accepted: 05 Nov 2013
Published online: 11 Feb 2015 *

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