How One Oil-Rich Province Could Help Canada Capture a Low-Carbon Future
"It's not the oil and gas that is a concern, it's the carbon emissions."
By Jack Graham
TORONTO, May 7 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — At a research site in rural Alberta, carbon dioxide is injected deep into the ground. Using remote sensors, scientists monitor its movement to ensure the planet-heating gas does not migrate upwards.
"Basically, think of ultrasound on bodies — we're doing ultrasound on the earth," said Don Lawton, director of the Containment and Monitoring Institute and a geophysics professor at the University of Calgary.
The research findings are shared with oil and gas companies exploring ways to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) during production before the greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere, and storing it underground or using it for other purposes.