Proposal Concept Status of research
The increase in ocean alkalinity resulting from the
removal of HCl causes atmospheric CO
2
to dissolve
into the ocean where it will be stored primarily as
HCO
3-
. (House et al., 2007);
• These are the only marine geo-engineering proposals
that would remove CO
2
from the atmosphere without
causing an increase of ocean acidification.
Geological carbon stor- Injection of CO
2
into deep geological formations such • In operation since 1996. Measures and guidance
age as saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs be- (e.g. to reduce the risk from leakages) were adopted
low the sea floor by international bodies (IMO/London Convention,
OSPAR). Studies have being conducted to research
and model long term consequences and how secure
such storage would be (e.g. Gilfillan et al., 2009,
Statoil Sleipner Project)
Dissolution injection CO
2
is transported by ship or pipeline offshore and then • Both concepts been subject to years of theoretical
of CO
2
into the water injected into the water column at great depth (>1000m research/modeling and some small scale field ex-
column or deeper) where the CO
2
dissolves and remains iso- periments, but have yet been deployed or fully tested
CO
2
injection onto the lated from the atmosphere for centuries. (UNESCO- (UNESCO-IOC/SCOR, 2007). Research indicates
sea floor IOC/SCOR, 2007); that there would be a gradual release of injected CO
2
CO
2
is placed directly onto the sea floor at depths great- back to the atmosphere over a timescale of hundreds
er than 3000m, where the CO
2
would form long-lasting of years to millennia (depending on depth and local
‘lakes’ with low dissolution rates. site conditions);
• There is no known mechanism for preventing cata-
strophic acute release of injected CO
2
(UNESCO-
IOC/SCOR, 2007), there are significant environmen-
tal risks and impacts associated with these proposed
methods of storage (IPCC, 2005; Sedlacek et al.,
2009). Injection of CO
2
into the water column or on
the sea bed affects marine organisms nearby and
ocean chemistry (e.g. by increasing acidity). In the
light of the potential for severe environmental im-
pact, the placement of carbon dioxide streams in the
water column or on the sea bed has been prohibited
in 2007 via the amendment of the London Conven-
tion Protocol and in a legally binding decision agreed
under OSPAR (OSPAR, 2007).
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