Deep CO₂ Storage
Opportunities in Alberta

The Alberta Government recently provided an update on the tenure application approach for small-scale and remote (SSR) carbon sequestration. To help emitters understand their local geologic carbon storage options, Canadian Discovery (CDL) has prepared a series of CO₂ Storage Opportunity Maps for some of the more viable carbon storage complexes in the province. The current series of maps include:

• The Belloy Aquifer, which is a regionally extensive dolomitic sandstone in northwest Alberta, is a host to the proposed Grande Prairie Net Zero Gateway carbon storage hub and is a proven fluid disposal zone.
• The Rundle Group porous carbonates form extensive linear subcrop trends in western Alberta as well as structural traps in southern Alberta offering a variety of potential storage options.
• The Wabamun Formation in central Alberta comprises a thick porous dolomite, is a proven water disposal zone, and is a target for the Ram River and Brazeau carbon sequestration projects.
• The Winterburn Group includes regionally extensive porous dolomite in Nisku reefs in central Alberta and shallow shelf dolomites in southern Alberta. The Blueridge Member porous dolomite is widespread in central Alberta.
• The Woodbend Group includes the Cooking Lake and Leduc Aquifers that, in combination, cover a large swath of the province with proven disposal capability.
• The Beaverhill Lake Group includes the Swan Hills Reefs, Slave Point Fringing Reefs, and laterally extensive Waterways shallow shelf dolomite in southern Alberta.
• The Elk Point Group has highly porous and permeable Contact Rapids, Granite Wash and Keg River sandstones in west-central Alberta near Grand Prairie. Keg River/Winnipegosis carbonates have localized porous zones with proven acid gas injection capability.
• The Middle Cambrian stacked aquifers located in West-Central Alberta that include the Lynx, Sullivan, Waterfowl, Eldon and Mount Whyte formations.
• The regionally extensive Basal Cambrian Sandstone Aquifer that hosts several CCS Evaluation Permits and the Shell Quest Project.

These maps can be downloaded by clicking on the simplified depiction of the CO₂ Storage Opportunities in Alberta. Additional CO₂ Storage Opportunity Maps, including the Rundle Group will be added in the coming weeks.

The Alberta SSR application approach is intended for proponents where current carbon sequestration hubs are not a viable option. Some examples that may be eligible for a SSR tenure application include facilities where transportation of carbon dioxide may add significant costs, or where a nearby hub is not yet ready to accept carbon dioxide, or at facilities already disposing waste gases on-site.

If your project is planning a SSR application, CDL can help.  Our team can provide conceptual engineering of carbon capture, transportation, and injection. CDL’s deep subsurface knowledge, hydrogeologic and reservoir characterization expertise is now complemented by risk analysis, reservoir engineering and regulatory approvals; we stand ready to support your CCS strategies.