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The Future of Coal: Assessing risk and ensuring safe storage of CO2 in the subsurface

The Future of Coal: Assessing risk and ensuring safe storage of CO2 in the subsurface 2009 Mid-America Regulatory Conference Moving toward Advanced Technologies & a Greener Economy Traverse City, Michigan June 15, 2009. Malcolm Wilson University of Regina Acting CEO, IPAC-CO2

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The Future of Coal: Assessing risk and ensuring safe storage of CO2 in the subsurface

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  1. The Future of Coal: Assessing risk and ensuring safe storage of CO2 in the subsurface 2009 Mid-America Regulatory Conference Moving toward Advanced Technologies & a Greener Economy Traverse City, Michigan June 15, 2009 Malcolm Wilson University of Regina Acting CEO, IPAC-CO2 Director, Office of Energy and Environment

  2. Options for storing CO2 underground

  3. What keeps CO2 underground? • CO2 physically trapped beneath multiple seals (caprock) • CO2 dissolves in water • CO2 is trapped by capillary forces • CO2 converts to solid minerals

  4. CO2 storage experience • Snohvit project (2007) and Sleipner project (1996), Norway • In Salah project, Algeria (2004) • IEA GHG Weyburn-Midale CO2Monitoring and Storage Project in Weyburn, Saskatchewan (2000)

  5. Steps for developing risk assessment activities • System Definition • Hazard identification • Scenario definition • Risk calculation • Mitigation actions • Cost effectiveness assessment

  6. Indoor Air Concentration of CO2 Conceptual Model • Assumptions • Leakage directly from borehole (point source) to lower level of dwelling through cracks in foundation • No mass transport resistance or attenuation during transport from borehole to dwelling CO2 SOIL LAYER Abandoned borehole, seals degraded Volume of dwelling: 250 m3 Ventilation rate for dwelling: ~3.1 air exchanges per day [Shaw, 1987; Canadian Building Digest CBD-245] Courtesy Monitor Scientific

  7. Public Issues • Lack of public awareness • Regulatory backstop • Lack of understanding • Fear of unknown – will there be leakage into something? • Nuclear issues – similar questions and methodologies

  8. What is IPAC-CO2? • An independent, international network that provides and advances global expertise to benchmark, evaluate and advise on the risks and performance of geological storage of carbon dioxide.

  9. Capacity Building: Develop expertise in a number of CCS areas through research and practical demonstration projects Ensure experience is captured and communicated Technology Development Improve storage subsurface assessment models Simplify models for industry and government use Populate models with the best data and results from leading CCS projects and programs around the world Information and Services Develop standards/guidelines Assess CCS project risk and advise on appropriate risk management Answer technical and other questions in a balanced and objective manner to enable CCS projects to proceed Engage with and educate various stakeholders and public on CCS to increase acceptance Network internationally to ensure learnings from other researchers are built upon and/or utilized IPAC-CO2 Goals

  10. IPAC and IndustryHow can IPAC interface with Industry? IPAC-CO2 will: Inform industry on standards and policy Initiate research to fill knowledge gaps (paid for) Peer review project RA/PAs Exchange knowledge Train/advise national regulators and developers Mediate in conflict Act as expert witness Design accreditation process and criteria Provide policy relevant outputs IPAC-CO2 will not: Make policy recommendations Do any proprietary work (I.e. commercial RA operations) Provide routine consultancy Represent a company Engage in any work that could lead to a conflict of interest

  11. Contact Information For more information, please contact: Malcolm WilsonKoorosh Asghari malcolm.wilson@uregina.ca koorosh.asghari@uregina.ca +1 306 337 2287/2296 +1 306 585 4612 info@ipac-co2.com Website Links www.uregina.ca/oee/ www.ipac-co2.com www.ptrc.ca www.co2-research.ca

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