Data Study Group final report: British Geological Survey - identifying potential for carbon capture and storage in rock

The injection and sequestration of CO2 in deep geological repositories is a promising strategy for reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Deep storage of hydrogen could act as a ‘battery’ for storing energy long term. Both technologies are supporting efforts to achieve the targets established by the UK Government’s Net Zero energy strategy. Deep repository injection is a costly and complex undertaking; therefore, a careful, advanced assessment of the suitability of a candidate rock formation for injection and storage is essential and urgently needed. The suitability of a candidate rock formation depends on several properties of its sedimentology microstructure, and conventional analysis methods are time-intensive and costly on a per-sample basis. The development of an automated and reliable characterisation process would be highly beneficial in determining the suitability of rock formations for injection and storage.