Potential evaluation of the rocks from the Paraná Sedimentary Basin for CO2 geological storage: a case study of the Jorge Lacerda Thermoelectric Complex, Santa Catarina

• Grant number: 19/07995-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): May 12, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal researcher: Colombo Celso Gaeta Tassinari
• Grantee: Maria Rogieri Pelissari
• Home Institution: Instituto de Energia e Ambiente (IEE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The CO2 atmospheric concentration has reached historically unprecedented levels associated with an increase in anthropogenic emissions, mainly from the use of fossil fuels in the last 100 years. Among them, the production of mineral coal related to the energy generation in thermoelectric power plants is one of the most important in the emission of greenhouse gases. Knowing the current global trend of attempting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology has proven to be an interesting tool for this. It consists of the capture of industrial CO2, compression, transport and injection into reservoirs in geological units, for permanent storage. Thus, the CCS mechanism would be an effective alternative the global reduction in CO2 atmospheric emissions. However, it is essential to have full knowledge about the characteristics of the reservoir rocks to be used for storage, to ensure that the CO2 will remain in the reservoir for a long time, so as to have a safe use of this alternative without offering other types of social and environmental risks. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate, from available geological information and new mineralogical and organic geochemical analysis, the potential for CO2 storage of the rocks belong to the Paraná Sedimentary Basin, to store the greenhouse gases emitted by the Jorge Lacerda Thermoelectric Complex, the largest in Brazil and Latin America, located in the southeast of the state of Santa Catarina, where are also concentrated a large urban centers and industrial areas considered important emitters of CO2. (AU)