Crust:: CO2 reuse through underground storage

The Dutch government has initiated a very ambitious plan targeted towards CO2 reduction through underground storage (= CRUST). This paper emphasises the first step, namely the realisation of a demonstration project. With regard to CO2 reduction within the Netherlands, the Energy Policy of the Dutch Government is based on three tracks: saving energy, including energy efficiency measures - the introduction of renewable energy as a substitution for fossil fuels, and the introduction of the so-called Clean Fossil Fuels. It is obvious that all three tracks will be needed to achieve the Set CO2 reduction target. The use of Clean Fossil Fuels is seen as a transition to a future energy system based on sustainable energy. As changes will take time to implement, it is a fact of life that for the coming decades, fossil fuels will be our main energy source. Existing energy conversion technologies, but also new conversion technologies, provide only small possibilities for the reuse of CO2. Therefore, at this time, storage seems to be the best way (i.e. fastest, cheapest and the technology with the highest potential) of taking CO2 out of the environment. The Dutch government has decided to start an underground CO2 storage project (minimum of 3 million tons Of CO2) in the Netherlands with the potential of reusing the stored CO2. Considering the high population density and Dutch public awareness, the theme is not only to solve the technical aspects, but also to consider social aspects such as the acceptance of the storage in an urban region. After an extensive consultation with the 'stakeholders' including the oil and gas industry, industry has been asked to formulate their boundary conditions to make the demonstration feasible through a feasibility study. Fifty percent of their costs will be subsidised by the "CO2 Reduction Plan" of the Dutch government. These feasibility studies have to be finished by the end of 2002. After these studies, the investment and construction phases will be entered into as soon as possible. Depending on the type of project, realisation is anticipated between 2003 and 2005. Besides working closely together with the industries performing the feasibility studies, our activities are now in setting up a legal and financial framework for the demo. In addition, an advisory group has been formed to help with the social aspects. The participants will come from industry, so-called Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and politics. A roadmap with an analysis of all safety and monitoring features has now been formulated and will be finished mid 2002. The Dutch government has asked the "CO2 Project Office" (a liaison of Novem and Senter, both governmental organisations) to help with the realisation of this demonstration project.