Overview of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Opportunities in Oman

Abstract

This work presents an overview of the surface and subsurface carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities, and their associated risks, in Oman. Oman's stratigraphy encompasses various rock sequences that can be harnessed for CCS purposes. The ultramafic rocks of the Samail Ophiolite have long been researched for their ability to permanently sequestrate CO 2 near the surface, whilst the well-studied subsurface sequences also offer storage opportunities for CO 2 , particularly in deeply buried clastic and carbonate saline aquifers. Structural and stratigraphic traps could hold potential for carbon disposal. Producing hydrocarbon fields can also be considered for CCS, either to enhance hydrocarbon production from existing reservoirs or by utilising deep traps for disposal. Oman's Late Proterozoic to Cambrian evaporites could be utilised to create large underground salt caverns for storing hydrogen and less-attractively CO 2 . The identified CCS opportunities are ranked based on different criteria. Using injected CO 2 to enhanced hydrocarbon recovery by providing additional reservoir pressure support, using depleted hydrocarbon fields for CO 2 storage, and the injection of CO 2 in deep clastic saline aquifers rank among the main opportunities for CCS in Oman.