Microseismic Monitoring and Geomechanical Modelling of CO2 - bris

Utsira rock properties vary significantly between the two locations - and at Tordis it is the high mud
volumes in the rock that have lead to the instabilities. In short, Tordis was a poor site for Statoil
to choose for injection, selected with, as both Greenpeace and Statoil agree, ‘insufficient geological
understanding and weak modelling analyses’ 13 .
In contrast, the Utsira at Sleipner has almost zero mud, and so makes an excellent site for injection.
At Sleipner these properties were rigorously tested prior to CO 2 injection (as they are, and will be, at
all potential CCS sites), and this is why storage has continued successfully for over 12 years, with 12
million tonnes safely secured in the target reservoir. The Greenpeace report goes on to misrepresent
a peer-reviewed scientific paper about Sleipner 14 claiming that ‘A more disturbing possibility is that
much less CO 2 is being stored in the formation than estimated, meaning that CO 2 is leaking at an
unknown rate’ 15 , when the article in question makes no claim of this kind. It would appear that some
environmental groups are choosing not only to ignore the numerous analyses that show how renewable
energy alone cannot solve our climate issues, but also choosing to ignore or misrepresent the scientific
research that is demonstrating the safety of geological carbon storage.
Environmental groups such as Greenpeace will continue to play an important role in the 21st
Century as mankind attempts to deal with anthropogenic climate change. Their track record in
mobilising support, challenging those who would put self-interest before the environment, and inspiring
the wider public is second to none. However, when the economic development of India and China is
considered, CCS becomes a necessity. Furthermore, ongoing CCS operations and scientific research
continue to demonstrate the viability of this technique. The environmental opposition to CCS is
derived from a gut mistrust of power generation and oil companies. As Carl Sagan once said:
I try not to think with my gut. If I’m serious about understanding the world, thinking
with anything besides my brain, as tempting as that might be, is likely to get me into
trouble.
Now is no time, and climate change is no problem, to be left to our guts to solve. CCS must be
deployed, not instead of, but alongside renewable energy if mankind is to generate electricity without
generating CO 2 .
13 Bjureby et al. 2009, p5
14 Bickle et al., 2007
15 Greenpeace Briefing, 2009, p4
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