The Ministry must recognize…

The Ministry must recognize the potential impacts of the physical processes that limit the storage capacity of saline aquifers for CO2 sequestration. They will reduce the pore volume available for CO2 sequestration.

Therefore, it is necessary that any changes to the regulations do not inhibit using the depleted oil and gas reservoirs of SW Ontario for CO2 sequestration.

We recommend that two provisions – taxation of any enhanced production and wellhead regulation of CO2 emissions that might occur in a CCS operation – be included in the revision of the OGSR Act to allow the use of depleted oil and gas fields in SW Ontario for CO2 sequestration.

Maurice Dusseault, Professor of Geological Engineering, University of Waterloo
Dick Jackson, Adjunct Professor, University of Waterloo