Aquistore, the CCS combine capture and storage demonstration project in south-east Saskatchewan, recently summarised five years of successful research.The site receives CO2 from the adjacent coal-fired Boundary Dam power-plant. Some of this CO2 is supplied to the local oil and gas operators for enhanced oil recovery.Periodically CO2 is sent to the Aquistore site for direct injection into the reservoir within Deadwood Formation which lies directly above the Precambrian Basement at a depth of ~3.4 km.During the five years since injection began nearly 300,000 tonnes have been stored.


Since injection began in 2015 there have been a succession of four seismic surveys to detect and track the development of the CO2 plume.Researchers have also been able to track the presence of CO2 using down-hole logs which clearly show that it has been securely retained within the reservoir.The effect of intermittent injection of CO2 has also been monitored which shows that CO2 preferentially migrates into a specific zone.


Seismic monitoring at the site has not only demonstrated that the CO2 plume is contained within the reservoir, but that its lateral spread is generally consistent with direct detection of CO2 in the observation well.Significantly 3D modelling has confirmed the capability of 4D seismic to monitor deep CO2 distribution; and no induced seismicity has been observed over the first 5 years of operation.


Aquistore is generating a wealth of useful scientific results which will aid development of combined capture and storage sites worldwide.There is no evidence of induced seismicity or any other adverse environmental impact.It has also demonstrated that ~300,000 tonnes of CO2 has been securely stored – equivalent to removing the impact of CO2 emissions from ~75,000 cars over one year.


IEAGHG has had the pleasure of visiting the Aquistore site three times with our CCS Summer Schools (which the International CCS Knowledge Centre and SaskPower have hosted and PTRC have sponsored) as well as having presentations on aspects of it at our Network meetings.


For further information on this exciting and successful project please visit PTRC's YouTube page for the webinar.