Carbon Storage in Basalt - Essay Example

For stabilization of the GHG, concentration in the atmosphere to be at a low level requires the reduction of emission into the atmosphere. Although this explanation was devised, some studies have shown the feasibility of stabilizing the GHG at a desired low level, which implies that little information is available on the strategies that could reduce the global temperature through the stabilization of GHG. Earlier studies discussed the mitigation options to lower levels of concentration of GHG through emission reduction by carbon capture and storage (CCS) (Sally Orr, 303).

After nearly four years, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) new-fangled Part 810 guidelines are finally in place. The need for grandfather endowment in the new regulation means that numerous corporations will need to be decisive—in the formula of written export submissions and/or written notifications—to uphold amenability with their expert export obligations. This regulation was apprised in 1986, and the international civil industry market has expanded in recent times. The DOE faces numerous technological challenges to deal with such emission disputes in the United States. The department should plan accordingly the termini and undertakings that are largely accredited or subject to definite authorizations.

Fossil fuels are the greatest contribution to the world’s source of energy. The burning of fossil fuels is the major contributor to electricity, heating, and transportation. However, the burning of fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide (CO2), which is also a major contributor to the GHG that is affecting the planet. CO2 makes up 79% of Canada’s total emissions (PWGSC, 2009). CCS is a mitigation approach in which its primary focus is reducing the CO2 emission from the burning of fossil fuels. The CCS could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of fossil fuels ultimately leading to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) that are emitted into the atmosphere affecting the ozone layer. CCS would reduce CO2 emissions by 14-19%. The long-term storage of carbon dioxide and the cost of the storage poses a huge issue for many large fossil fuel-burning companies, such as Alberta, Canada's well-known energy company, and Shell Canada Ltd. (Shell Ltd., 2012). Their company was the first to launch a carbon capture project (Quest) on Canadian oil in early September 2012. Three basic approaches to CCS are available: post-combustion capture, pre-combustion capture, and oxyfuel (EPA 8). This survey will briefly discuss the three different methods of CCS.

There are only set amounts of areas in the world that can be used as a storage houses for captured CO2. Suitable basins for CO2 storage contain thick abundant sediments, saline formidable rocks, and a cap-like (low porosity) cover rock in a simple structure background (IPCC, 2005). The effectiveness of storing away CO2 depends on the physical and geochemical trapping mechanism. According to Gunter et al. (25), CO2 injected into the ground (geological storage) would have a storage rate of more than 99% over 1000 years in well geological reservoirs. The estimated storage time would be reasonable since the earth’s natural gas has been trapped underground for millions of years.

Geohazards are the main concern with CCS technology. Leakage is the primary problem with CCS especially those that are uncontrollable. Leakage by the ‘cap’ rock, the seal has significant problems in the storage time and capacity of the injected CO2. With a leak in the cap, CO2 is more prone to release into the atmosphere contradicting the purpose of CCS to avoid CO2 emission into the atmosphere. In Alberta, there are about 400,000 wells. Thousands of those wells experience some leakage, which could either eventually escape into the atmosphere or make its way into vital resources. The Canadian Department of Emissions should separate these activities into three overall classes: those that are exempted, “generally sanctioned,” as well as those activities that are “specially authorized”. The most perceptible change to these regulations is replacing a list of explicitly authorized emissions with those of largely authorized ones.