Our carbon dioxide injection technology is a testament to our commitment to address climate change.
Gorgon will position Australia as a world-leader in commercial-scale carbon dioxide injection technology – the innovation we use could be adopted in schemes around the world and assist in offsetting the environmental impact of energy projects.
In simple terms, the technology will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the injection and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) underground.
The CO2 injection location is on the central eastern coast of Barrow Island near the gas processing plant. This site was selected to maximise the migration distance from major geological faults and limit ground disturbance.
The injection wells will be directionally drilled from discrete surface locations to minimise the area of land required for the well sites, surface facilities, pipelines and access roads. Monitoring wells will provide a sample point within the injection area.
Once the CO2 is injected into the subsurface, it will continue to move through the host reservoir, driven by the injection pressure and natural buoyancy until it becomes trapped.
There are four mechanisms that can trap injected CO2 within the host reservoir:
- Solution trapping
- Residual gas trapping
- Mineralogical trapping
- Large-scale geometric trapping
A range of monitoring activities are planned, including:
- Routine observation and recording of injection rates and surface pressures at the injection wells
- Surveillance to detect the unlikely event of CO2 migrating to the surface
- Measurement via well and/or seismic surveys to track the migration of the CO2 plume in the subsurface
The use of seismic surveys and well pressure data will provide information required to update the reservoir models used to predict the behaviour of the injected CO2.
A Reservoir Management Plan will be developed to integrate the monitoring activities, reservoir modelling and the management of injection operations.
For more information on greenhouse related issues please refer to Chapter 13 of the Gorgon Project Environmental Review Management Plan (ERMP).