A preliminary assessment of geological CO[2] storage in Cambodia

Abstract

This study screens and rank Cambodian sedimentary basins in terms of their containment, capacity, and feasibility for the geological storage of CO[2]. The results of the screening and ranking procedure indicate that the Khmer Basin is the most suitable basin, followed by the Kampong Saom and Tonle Sap basins. A quantitative volumetric assessment-based evaluation of CO[2] storage capacity is performed on these three suitable basins. The evaluation yields a range in the national CO[2] storage capacity of 90 Mt (in structural traps) to 45 Gt (in hydrodynamic traps), representing low- and high-case estimates, respectively. The saline aquifers associated with this storage capacity should be considered prospective storage options as hydrodynamic traps because of containment and capacity issues associated with the structural traps. Eight major point sources of CO[2] are identified that have a combined output (estimated for 2008–2024) of 43.1 Mt annually and 82 billion m[3] in place, and the potentially prospective matched storage capacity is assumed. Overall, a combination of the initial suitabilities of the basins and estimates of prospective matched storage capacity shows that the Khmer, Kampong Saom, and Tonle Sap basins may provide a solution to the problem of reducing future atmospheric emissions. The present results should assist both exploration geologists and experts in carbon capture and storage to gain a better understanding of the CO[2]storage resources of Cambodia. However, the results should be regarded as preliminary because of the limited available data on which the assessments were based; future geological and geophysical data should improve the reliability of the estimates of carbon storage capacity reported here.