为了帮助缓解未来的气候挑战，碳捕获与储存（CCS）方案提出捕获人类产生的二氧化碳并将其注入地下深层的多孔岩石从而长期贮存，而一项研究报告说，成功地实施这样一个方案将需要根据地下储存库的独特历史和环境从而对每一座地下储存库进行仔细的评估。为了让碳捕获与储存（CCS）能够发挥作用，必须让二氧化碳在地下储存数千年时间，而一些地球学家认为，这个注入的过程可能为地下的储存库加压，足以打开断层让二氧化碳逃出。为了考量这一问题，James P. Verdon及其同事研究了3个商业规模的碳捕获与储存（CCS）地点的“地质力学变形”。在这些地点每年向地下注入100万吨二氧化碳，它们分别是挪威北海的Sleipner气田、加拿大中部的Weyburn气田以及阿尔及利亚的InSalah气田。这组作者把重点放在了对密封完整性的威胁上，他们发现这3个地点每个都表现出了不同的反应，这凸显了要在气体注入之前进行系统化的地质力学评估的需要。这组作者说，此外，未来的大规模碳捕获与储存（CCS）将需要进行全面和持续的监测，从而确保地下储存地点保持密封。（生物谷 Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐的英文摘要
PNAS 10.1073/pnas.1302156110
James P. Verdon, J.-Michael Kendall, Anna L. Stork, R. Andy Chadwick, Don J. White, and Rob C. Bissell
Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO2 storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah
Geological storage of CO2 that has been captured at large, point source emitters represents a key potential method for reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. However, this technology will only be viable if it can be guaranteed that injected CO2 will remain trapped in the subsurface for thousands of years or more. A significant issue for storage security is the geomechanical response of the reservoir. Concerns have been raised that geomechanical deformation induced by CO2 injection will create or reactivate fracture networks in the sealing caprocks, providing a pathway for CO2 leakage. In this paper, we examine three large-scale sites where CO2 is injected at rates of ∼1 megatonne/y or more: Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah. We compare and contrast the observed geomechanical behavior of each site, with particular focus on the risks to storage security posed by geomechanical deformation. At Sleipner, the large, high-permeability storage aquifer has experienced little pore pressure increase over 15 y of injection, implying little possibility of geomechanical deformation. At Weyburn, 45 y of oil production has depleted pore pressures before increases associated with CO2 injection. The long history of the field has led to complicated, sometimes nonintuitive geomechanical deformation. At In Salah, injection into the water leg of a gas reservoir has increased pore pressures, leading to uplift and substantial microseismic activity. The differences in the geomechanical responses of these sites emphasize the need for systematic geomechanical appraisal before injection in any potential storage site.
