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Developments since 2005 in understanding potential environmentalimpacts of CO2leakage from geological storage
2015
A review of research into potential impacts of CO2 leakage to the seabed or into the atmosphere from geological storage in the 10 years since the IPCC Special Report on CCS
storageD.G. Jones, S.E. Beaubien, J.C. Blackford, E.M. Foekema, J. Lions, C. De Vittor,J.M. West, S. Widdicombe, C. Hauton, A.M. Queirós
This paper reviews research into the potential environmental impacts of leakage from geological storageof CO2since the publication of the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage in 2005.Possible impacts are considered on onshore (including drinking water aquifers) and offshore ecosystems.The review does not consider direct impacts on man or other land animals from elevated atmospheric CO2 levels. Improvements in our understanding of the potential impacts have come directly from CO2storage research but have also benefitted from studies of ocean acidification and other impacts on aquifers andonshore near surface ecosystems. Research has included observations at natural CO2sites, laboratory and field experiments and modelling. Studies to date suggest that the impacts from many lower level fault- or well-related leakage scenarios are likely to be limited spatially and temporarily and recovery may be rapid. The effects are often ameliorated by mixing and dispersion of the leakage and by buffering and other reactions; potentially harmful elements have rarely breached drinking water guidelines. Larger releases, with potentially higher impact, would be possible from open wells or major pipeline leaks but these are of lower probability and should be easier and quicker to detect and remediate.