Geologic Carbon Sequestration Program

Geologic Carbon Sequestration Program Education & Outreach

Getting Started

Please contact Curt Oldenburg (510-486-7419) for more information about geological storage of CO2.

Download our presentation: Overview of LBNL's Carbon Sequestration Research; and our GCS Program Overview Flyer

Watch our video:  GCS: Mitigating Climate Change by Injecting CO2 Underground (From LBNL Summer Lecture Series, 2009)

Visit the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum for links to other sequestration community resources.

What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?

Geological storage is a four-step process:

  1. first, a pure or nearly pure stream of CO2 is captured from flue gas or other process stream;
  2. next it is compressed to about 100 atmospheres;
  3. it is then transported by pipeline to the injection site;
  4. and finally, it is injected deep underground into a geological formation such as an oil and gas reservoir where it can be safely stored for thousands of years or longer.

Overview of Geological Storage Options

Storage Options

  • Depleted oil and gas reservoirs
  • Enhanced oil and gas recovery
  • Deep saline formations
  • Enhanced coal bed methane recovery
  • Deep unmineable coal seams

IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide — Capture and Storage: Storage in Deep Underground Geological Formations