Natural gas midstream company Spectra Energy is proceeding with the next stage of the feasibility work associated with the company’s Fort Nelson carbon capture and sequestration project by commencing detailed geological assessments.
According to the company, the assessment will require drilling 2.5km into multiple sub-surface geological formations to extract core samples and perform tests of the physical properties of the saline formation into which CO2 may be sequestered.
The core samples will be sent to a laboratory for various tests and in-depth analyses. The results, together with reservoir modeling work, are expected later in 2009 and will provide critical information regarding the geological feasibility of a world-scale project, said Spectra Energy.
A concurrent review of the technical, regulatory and economic feasibility of the carbon capture and sequestration project also is underway. At the conclusion of the feasibility phase, a determination will be made regarding whether and when to proceed to a full-scale project.
Doug Bloom, president of Spectra Energy Transmission West, said: This work represents an important milestone in the Fort Nelson carbon capture and storage feasibility project.
Since our existing Fort Nelson gas plant already separates CO2 during processing, the carbon capture part of the CCS challenge has been addressed. Therefore, our focus now is on field work to confirm the suitability of the geological formations in the area to support large-scale sequestration of CO2.
