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What is the purpose of the Ketzin pilot site?

Since 2004, we have been investigating the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep geological formations. The focus of our work lies in understanding the processes that take place during injection and the CO2 migration in the storage formation. The project work is integrated with national and European research programs.

What are the objectives of the research work at Ketzin?

There are four central objectives for the CO2MAN research project:

  • Monitoring the migration behavior of the injected CO2,
    • Determining the sensitivity of individual monitoring methods
    • Developing geophysical monitoring concepts for the CO2 storage
  • Characterizing and quantifying the CO2-induced interactions between fluids, stone and the microbial community in the storage system
  • Validating the tools for statistical modeling and dynamic simulation at the real-life storage site in Ketzin
  • Transferral of knowledge to the public and to interest groups, policy-makers and approval agencies

Who approved the research work at the Ketzin pilot site?

All of the approvals for the Ketzin pilot site were provided by the Landesamt für Bergbau, Geologie und Rohstoffe Brandenburg (Brandenburg State Office of Mining, Geology and Raw Materials, (LBGR) in Cottbus.

What research results have been achieved at the Ketzin pilot site so far?

  • The CO2 storage in Ketzin has been operating safely and reliably since the start of injection (June 2008).
  • The geophysical methods used allow us to localize very small volumes of CO2 within the reservoir. These sensitive measurement methods will therefore also work reliably at future sites with significantly larger CO2 volumes.
  • Computational simulations correspond very well to the monitoring results.

How do you ensure that no CO2 is released?

The CO2 storage process is accompanied by a detailed geophysical and geochemical program that monitors the reservoir at a depth of 650 m from the earth's surface. The monitoring methods used at the Ketzin pilot site are among the world's most extensive and innovative methods used in the field of CO2 storage.

How much longer will the research project at Ketzin last?

The current planning period for this research extends to 2018.

How much CO2 will be stored at Ketzin?

The injected volume at the Ketzin site will not exceed 100,000 tons, because Ketzin is and will remain a research storage facility.