Lyell Collection
Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Laenen, B.
Right arrow Articles by Dusar, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2004; v. 233; p. 193-210;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2004.233.01.13
© 2004 Geological Society of London

Carbon dioxide sequestration in the Campine Basin and the adjacent Roer Valley Graben (North Belgium): an inventory

B. Laenen1, P. Van Tongeren1, R. Dreesen1 & M. Dusar2

1 Energy Department, Vito, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium ben.laenen{at}vito.be
2 Belgian Geological Survey, Jennerstraat 13, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

The Campine Basin offers a variety of potential CO2 storage sites. Within the Roer Valley Graben area Triassic Buntsandstein rocks have an estimated CO2 storage capacity of several hundred million tons. Mesozoic shales and younger sediments provide adequate sealing. Westphalian D sandstones may possess storage opportunities in the southern graben area, and the karstified/dolomitized parts of the Dinantian carbonates in the western sub-basin have an estimated CO2 storage capacity of 130 x 106 tons. In places, the Dinantian reservoirs may be combined with carbonate reservoirs in the underlying Devonian strata. Sealing is provided by Namurian shales and Westphalian coals and shales. Along the western and southern edge of the basin the Dinantian reservoir is sealed by Cretaceous chalks and marls.

Besides aquifers, the available coal qualifies for CO2 storage. Six Six methane target areas contain a producible enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM), volume of 53–79 x 109m3. This provides a minimum CO2 sequestration potential of 400 x 106 tons. ECBM development factors include the sedimentological setting of the coal sequence as well as changes in porosity, permeability and stress conditions induced by former mining activities. The CO2 storage capacity in abandoned coalmines is limited. Nevertheless, CO2 storage in the abandoned mines may be an option when it is combined with coalmine methane extraction or ECBM production in neighbouring areas.