The geodisc program research into geological sequestration of CO2 in Australia

The GEODISC research program, funded by the Australian Government and some of the nation's gas producers, is designed to address all of the key technical, commercial and environmental issues associated with geological sequestration Of CO2 in Australia. The program will establish the most viable locations for CO2 injection, determine the key areas of technical, social and economic risk, and help define a pilot injection program to address the most critical areas of uncertainty. In Australia, some large point-source emitters Of CO2 are LNG plants and it is projected that emissions from these will increase as Australia develops more fields for LNG, some of which have higher CO2 content than currently producing fields. Whilst the focus is on the application Of CO2 disposal to the gas industry, its outcomes will have implications for other industries such as power generation and minerals processing. GEODISC commenced in mid-1999 and is predicted to take 4 years to complete. Preliminary conclusions from regional work undertaken to date will be presented in this paper. Other papers at this conference by Ennis-King and Paterson, and Allinson and Nguyen, will present summaries of some reservoir engineering and economic modelling activities undertaken as part of GEODISC.