Estimating Geological CO Storage Security to Deliver on Climate Mitigation

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can help nations meet their Paris CO reduction commitments cost-effectively. However, lack of confidence in geologic CO storage security remains a barrier to CCS implementation. Here we present a numerical program that calculates CO storage security and leakage to the atmosphere over 10,000 years. This combines quantitative estimates of geological subsurface CO retention, and of surface CO leakage. We calculate that realistically well-regulated storage in regions with moderate well densities has a 50% probability that leakage remains below 0.0008% per year, with over 98% of the injected CO retained in the subsurface over 10,000 years. An unrealistic scenario, where CO storage is inadequately regulated, estimates that more than 78% will be retained over 10,000 years. Our modelling results suggest that geological storage of CO can be a secure climate change mitigation option, but we note that long-term behaviour of CO in the subsurface remains a key uncertainty.