AP23490423 "Comprehensive study of the Ili sedimentary basin in order to identify geological formations of aquifers for underground CO2 storage"

Relevance

Reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Almaty and the Almaty region is critically important not only from the perspective of creating carbon-neutral energy sources, but also taking into account the impact on public health. More than 70% of electricity production in Kazakhstan is carried out using coal-fired power plants, which significantly contributes to total emissions and air pollution. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases among the population.

Purpose

The aim of the project is to identify and assess the aquifers of Almaty and the Almaty region (Ili sedimentary basin) for technically feasible and economically cost-effective geological CO₂ storage.

Expected and achieved results

Ten key criteria for effective CO₂ storage in aquifers have been developed. These include requirements for porosity (at least 10-20%), permeability (from 100 to 1000 mD for the reservoir and less than 1 mD for the cap rock), and the presence of structural or stratigraphic traps with low permeability layers. Additionally, the storage depth should exceed 800 meters to minimize leakage risks, and the minimum reservoir thickness should be at least 10-15 meters to ensure sufficient storage capacity. These criteria will help identify optimal zones for safe and efficient CO₂ disposal in Almaty and the Almaty region, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions and improving the ecological situation.

Research team members with their identifiers (Scopus Author ID, Researcher ID, ORCID, if available) and links to relevant profiles