GEOLOGICAL CARBON STORAGE

Geological Carbon Storage (GCS) presents a promising solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, especially in regions with intensive hydrocarbon activities such as the Niger Delta of Nigeria. This region, characterized by extensive oil and gas production, possesses a complex sedimentary basin structure with deep saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas reservoirs, and suitable cap rocks — all of which are essential for safe and long-term CO₂ storage. This study explores the geological potential of the Niger Delta for carbon storage by evaluating reservoir characteristics such as porosity, permeability, depth, and cap rock integrity. Depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs in the delta, which already have well-characterized geologic and production histories, offer immediate prospects for CO₂ injABection and monitoring. Moreover, saline aquifers within the region’s deep stratigraphic sequences provide additional storage capacity, although they require more extensive characterization. Challenges such as fault reactivation, induced seismicity, and monitoring complexities in densely populated and ecologically sensitive areas are acknowledged. The study also highlights the role of advanced tools like basin modeling, reservoir simulation, and machine learning in optimizing site selection and predicting long-term storage performance. Overall, the Niger Delta holds substantial promise for geological carbon storage as part of Nigeria’s broader climate change mitigation strategy, provided that technical, environmental, and regulatory challenges are addressed through integrated research and stakeholder engagement.