ECO2
Sub-seabed CO2 Storage: Impact on Marine Ecosystems
Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is considered as a key technology for the reduction
of CO2 emissions from industrial facilities. Consequently, the European Commission
promotes the implementation of CCS in Europe at industrial scale by supporting selected
demonstration projects, several of which aim to store CO2 below the seabed. Currently, little
is known about the short- and long-term impacts of sub-seabed CO2 storage on marine
ecosystems, consequently, ECO2 aims to establish a framework of best environmental
practices for sub-seabed CO2 injection and storage. |
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ECO2 investigated the sedimentary cover at
active and potential CO2 storage sites (Sleipner,
Snøhvit, B3 field) using novel geophysical baseline
studies, monitoring and modelling techniques
to better understand the mechanisms of
CO2 migration. It assessed the effects of leakage
of CO2 through the sediment at storage sites
and natural analogues and quantified the fluxes
across the seabed and into the water column by
means of sophisticated monitoring techniques
and investigated the impact on benthic organisms,
through experiments. All fieldwork data is
stored in the project database. The main targets | of 2011 to 2013 research expeditions were the
Utsira CO2 storage formation (Sleipner) in the
Norwegian North Sea where Statoil stores CO2
since 1996 and the natural CO2 seepage site
Panarea in the Mediterranean Sea. At Sleipner
an intensive shallow-focused monitoring programme
has been conducted to assess the sedimentary
cover and the chemical composition, its
fluxes and the techniques to trace any irregularity.
Whereas at Panarea the CO2 migration and
the behaviour of gas bubbles within the water
as well as the effect on the benthic ecosystem
was studied for different spatial and temporal |
flux rates. The environmental risks associated
with CCS and how these risks may impact on
the financial, legal, and political considerations
surrounding the future geological storage
were elaborated. The public perception group
investigated trust and context as two influencing
factors. ECO2 presents itself and its public
results (e.g. cruise reports, a CCS glossary etc.)
on a webpage (eco2-project.eu) and further
informs stakeholders and interested individuals
about new findings and the project progress
via press releases, articles and e.g. lunch briefings
at the European Parliament. The results
and final product of ECO2 will be of scientific
and political value to all stakeholders within the
European Member States and beyond regarding
CCS, ocean acidification, climate change and
other related issues. |
ECO2 evaluates the likelihood of leakage from
sub-seabed CO2 storage sites, the possible
impacts on marine ecosystems and the associated
economic and legal issues. Project partners
are using cutting-edge monitoring technology
and novel approaches, including autonomous
underwater vehicles (AUV) with synthetic aperture
sonar to detect shallow-focussed irregularities
in the integrity of the sedimentary
cover of storage sites, and membrane inlet
mass spectrometry (MIMS) to trace potential
leakage. Sophisticated computer models interlink
the natural scientific and economic results
and interpretations. The majority of research
expeditions, gathering the essential core data
of the project, are funded by national sponsorship.
The project follows a multi-disciplinary and
comparative approach investigating active and
potential storage sites as well as natural CO2
seep sites. |
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