Schwarze Pumpe/Altmark case study (CSEGR)

Facts:

A joint case study was conducted between May 2005 and July 2008 to investigate the possibility of using the Altmark gas field in Germany for future large-scale CO2 storage. The gas field was licensed to Gaz de France subsidiary, Erdgas Erdöl GmbH. Partners in the project included Erdgas, Vattenfall, E.ON-Ruhrgas and Clausthal University of Technology.

The Altmark gas field is the second largest onshore gas field in Europe with an estimated storage capacity of around 500 million tonnes of CO2. It was therefore a prime candidate for CO2 sequestration from power plants in Germany. The case study attempted to test the practical and commercial feasibility of using the site, and has also provided knowledge for national institutes and authorities to plan ahead for later approvals of CCS projects.

The inter-disciplinary research pilot phase had planned to inject 100,000 tonnes of CO2 transported from Vattenfall's Schwarze Pumpe pilot plant by truck to the Altmark gas field. However, the process was halted due to problems in creating federal legislation for the storage of CO2. That legislation is, as of 2012, being progressed through the German parliament.

Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources project details

Project information, Vattenfall CCS newsletter, May 2011

Project details, Vattenfall CCS newsletter, December 2007