This 2-year project had the aim of providing a holistic integrated site investigation tool enabling stakeholders (e.g. regulators) to assess the long-term potential risks of geological CO2 storage on terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

 

The partners defined and developed a system model (in collaboration with Quintessa Ltd., U.K.), which was applied to the Latera natural laboratory (see also JRAP-02).

 

The evaluation of the effects of CO2 leakage on terrestrial ecosystems was carried out at the natural leaking site of Latera (Italy), the Laacher See (Germany), and the Asgard site (U.K.), where CO2 is injected into the ground at controlled conditions. In all these sites, the flow of CO2 and other gases in the subsurface varies with depth and geology. While the influence of increasing CO2 concentrations on geochemical reactions appeared to be complex, the bulk mineralogical composition of the soils remained unchanged. Botanical studies both in Latera and at Asgard showed that increasing CO2 concentrations affected the species composition and the flora. At the injection points at Asgard the numbers of microbes were low and not active; on the contrary, at similar CO2 concentrations at Latera, active microbes were detected suggesting the presence of adapted populations.

 

 

Four in-situ test facilities were developed to evaluate the effects of sea bottom CO2 leakage. The results from different research groups and experiments were, however, in some cases not consistent, so more experiments are needed to better assess the responses of marine ecosystems.

 

The impacts of CO2 leakages on local populations were analysed at Ciampino, Italy, where natural gas emissions occur. The study showed that living in an area of natural CO2 emanations did not imply any particular risk for the population, as long as the potential CO2 risks are adequately taken into account in everyday life.

 

 

For more information please contact: Julia M West at the British Geological Survey