CO2 storage potential of deep saline aquifers: The case of Italy

CO2 Capture and Storage techniques (CCS), along with improvements in energy efficiency and a wider use of renewable resources, can represent a key instrument for the reduction of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Deep saline aquifers offer the largest storage potential of all the geological CO2 storage options and are widely distributed throughout the Earth. This study proposes that CO2 geological storage is a viable option in Italy and provides the first systematic evaluation of the potential reservoirs in the country. An estimation of the potential CO2 storage capacity of the selected Italian deep saline aquifers is presented. Most of the 14 identified areas lie in the major Italian sedimentary basins, i.e. the Apennine foredeep and the Adriatic foreland, which are characterized by thick accumulations of sediments. The potential reservoirs mainly comprise permeable terrigenous deep saline formations, whose capacity ranges from 30 to more than 1300 Mt. Based on very conservative estimates these areas would be able to contain the entire volume of CO2 emitted in Italy for at least the next fifty years. Although these evaluations have not been considered as definitive, this study highlights the great potential of such formations in terms of application of the CCS techniques, even in very complex tectonic settings such as those found in Italy. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.