Wabamun Area CO₂ Sequestration Project (WASP)

A University of Calgary-led project funded by an NSERC Strategic Grant and AERI with additional funding from industry partners.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CO₂ sequestration?
What does "study" mean?
Why is the Wabamun area being studied?
Are there other areas being studied in Alberta?
How long is this study?
Will this study disrupt my day-to-day activities?
Where is the CO₂ coming from?
Is geological CO₂ sequestration safe?
What happens after the study is finished?

What is CO₂ sequestration?
Nature has many ways of sequestering CO₂ via natural processes such as carbon stored in forests and oceans. The volume of CO₂ being emitted by human activities has reached a point where human intentional sequestration is needed. The safest and most amenable way for large-scale CO₂ sequestration to be accomplished is to first capture CO₂ at large stationary sources like coal-fired power plants, then compress the resulting relatively high purity CO₂ stream, transport via pipelines, and inject the compressed CO₂ into one of a number of possible geological formations:

1. Deep saline reservoirs - CO₂ displaces brine and eventually dissolves in the brine and/or forms solid minerals that completely immobilize the CO₂;
2. Depleted gas and oil fields;
3. Enhanced oil recovery operations - CO₂ works as a solvent to free trapped oil that would otherwise not be produced via conventional oil field operations;
4. Enhanced gas recovery operations - CO₂ works to displace the remaining hydrocarbon gas out of these depleted gas fields;
5. Enhanced coal bed methane operations, CO₂ adsorbs onto the surface of coals to release the less adsorptive methane gas which then flows to production wells.

The WASP team is studying the first type of CO₂ sequestration listed above (#1). Deep saline reservoirs will contribute the largest storage capacity for CO₂ sequestration over the next few centuries as humanity moves away from using fossil fuels as its primary energy source.

(For more information please visit: CO₂ sequestration FAQ, Carbon Sequestration FAQ Information Portal, What is CO₂ Capture and Storage?)

What does "study" mean?
The WASP team is made up of a number of geoscientists along with economists and legal experts who are all dedicated to arriving at as complete an appraisal of storage capacity and assurance of the long-term containment of CO₂ as possible. These scientists are studying available subsurface data provided through wells that were drilled in the WASP study area (see map). Geophysical seismic data and aerial magnetic data are also being studied to provide a three-dimensional understanding of the nature of the sandstones, shales, salts, and carbonate formations underlying the study area. At the end of the study, a report will be written to inform industry, the public, and governments on the best way to develop future CCS projects in the area.

Why is the Wabamun area being studied?
The Wabamun area was selected due to the presence of several large stationary CO₂ emitters in this area with cumulative annual emissions in the order of 30 million tonnes (Mt) CO₂. The study area is about 60 km wide and extends to the south for about 90 km. The study area was also selected based on the following geological criteria:

1. The area is prospective for deep saline reservoirs with adequate permeability and porosity to contain CO₂ for the long term.
2. The area has adequate locations where CO₂ storage will not interfere with current or future oil and gas production potential.
3. The area is prospective for adequate cap rock that will serve as an impermeable seal for the injected CO2 preventing vertical migration to shallower formations.
4. The area has a lower frequency of prior existing well penetrations that could serves as leakage points. All of the existing abandoned wells in the study area will be reviewed to ensure that adequate attention is given to them, and recommendations made on any further action required to secure them in case actual CO₂ injection takes place near these wells.
5. The area has a lower degree of possible faulting and fracturing. The study will identify any possible faults and/or fractures that might breach the cap rock for any formations identified as having CO₂ sequestration potential. Formations that are identified as being compromised by faults and/or fractures will be eliminated for CO₂ sequestration potential through this study.

Are there other areas being studied in Alberta?
Yes, there are a number of private industry and government studies taking place in Alberta and Saskatchewan. An example is the recently announced Heartland Area Redwater Project(HARP) being lead by the Alberta Research Council. HARP is studying the potential to sequester a similar volume of CO₂ into the Redwater Reef north of Edmonton.

How long is this study?
The WASP study will be completed by the summer of 2009.

Will this study disrupt my day-to-day activities?
No. No actual field activities are planned. Once the study is complete it will be up to industry, the public, and governments to identify actual CO₂ sequestration projects that could take place. WASP's research results will inform these future projects.

Where is the CO₂ coming from?
No specific CO₂ sources have been identified, but it is anticipated that one or more of the coal-fired power plants in the Wabamun area will eventually provide the source of CO₂ for future CO₂ sequestration projects.

Is geological CO₂ sequestration safe?
As for all human activities, there are always risks involved. The WASP team is made up of highly competent and experienced team of subsurface geoscientists who will make use of all available data to ensure that the formations recommended for CO₂ sequestration have the necessary features to ensure they will serves as safe long-term containers for CO₂ storage. Moreover, there will be additional safe guards recommended for any ongoing CO₂ sequestration project. These are managed through a properly designed Monitoring, Measurement, and Verification (MMV) program that will involve ongoing measurement and monitoring for any proposed CO₂ sequestration projects in the future. The WASP team's final report will include recommendations on the type of monitoring that will be required for future CCS projects in the Wabamun area to ensure that, if any unexpected CO₂ movement takes place, it will be detected, monitored, and properly mitigated to ensure public safety is not compromised in any way.

What happens after the study is finished?
The WASP study will provide a wealth of information relating to CO₂ sequestration potential within the proposed study area. This will form an excellent starting point for CO₂ emitters in the Wabamun area to develop plans for an actual CO₂ sequestration project. It will then be the responsibility of industrial CO₂ emitters to develop plans for an actual CO₂ sequestration project to be optimally located in a manner that adequately meets the needs of all stakeholders.