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Alberta has committed $1.24 billion through 2025 to two commercial-scale carbon capture and storage projects.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that comes from burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, through activities like driving a car or creating electricity. For large stationary sources of CO2, like an oil refinery, use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) can help prevent these emissions from entering the atmosphere. Captured CO2 is injected into carefully selected sites deep underground for safe, permanent storage.
Alberta has committed $1.24 billion through 2025 to two commercial-scale carbon capture and storage projects. Both projects will help reduce the CO2 emissions from the oil sands and fertilizer sectors and reduce GHG emissions by 2.76 million tonnes each year. This is equivalent to the yearly emissions of 600,000 vehicles. Both projects must submit annual reports to the knowledge sharing program ensuring public access to the technical information and project learnings.
Separate records are available by year for both the Quest and Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) projects.
CO2 is separated and collected from emissions produced by industrial activity, then compressed and transported to a storage site and injected into carefully selected, secure underground geological formations that can safely and permanently store the gas. An illustration of this can be found in the CCS fact sheet . After injection activity ends at the site, the site is tightly sealed and monitored to ensure there are no safety or health risks to the public or to the environment.
Statoil developed the first commercial-scale CCS project in the world in 1996 just off the coast of Norway. Oil and gas producers have decades of experience injecting CO2 into oil fields for enhanced oil recovery.
Monitoring and measurement are the surveillance activities necessary for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of a CO2 storage project. Verification refers to the comparison of measured and predicted performance.
Storage sites are analysed and monitored:
Types of monitoring and measurement:
Guidelines for items to be addressed in a monitoring, measurement and verification plan for a CCS project can be found in the Monitoring, Measurement and Verification Principles and Objectives document.
Many aspects of carbon capture and storage projects are covered by Alberta’s existing oil and gas regulations, but the following acts and regulations promote the safe and effective use of carbon capture and storage technology:
A Regulatory Framework Assessment took place from 2011 to 2013, in which more than 100 global experts on carbon capture and storage, including representatives from industry, environmental groups, scholars, and government worked on a review of existing regulations. The final report of the findings includes over 70 conclusions and recommendations that continue to inform the ongoing development of the carbon capture and storage regulatory framework in Alberta to ensure the safest and most environmentally responsible regulatory environment for carbon capture and storage.
Moving forward, government is preparing to issue carbon sequestration rights through a competitive process, enabling the development of carbon storage hubs. More details are available at the links below.
Carbon Sequestration Request for Proposals
Information Letter - Carbon Sequestration Tenure Management (PDF, 54 KB)
Information on the Alberta Energy Regulator application processes
Connect with Carbon Capture and Storage:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: [email protected]
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