Geophysical Monitoring of Small Scale CO2-injection into a Deep Saline Aquifer - the Ketzin Pilot Site

The first European onshore CO2 storage site has been set up at Ketzin (Germany). It is operated as a small scale pilot site, with a special focus on the validation of various geophysical, geochemical and microbial monitoring technologies. The site has been developed within the EU funded project CO2SINK, coordinated by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and supported by numerous national and EU initiatives. Injection started in June 2008. Since then, between 1.000 and 2.000 tons of CO2 per month have been injected into sandstone layers of the Triassic Stuttgart Formation at a depth of 620 m to 650 m. The total amount of injected CO2 was 45.000 tons in February 2011. Injection is planned to continue until up to 100.000 tons will have been injected into the Stuttgart Formation. Currently, food grade CO2 is being injected at Ketzin, however, the technical and contractual preparations are underway to inject a limited amount of CO2 from a sequestration pilot facility.