In the context of mitigating the impending global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, which of the following can be the potential sites for carbon sequestration ?
- 1.Abandoned and uneconomic coal seams
- 2.Depleted oil and gas reservoirs
- 3.Subterranean deep saline formations
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer: D. Statement 1 is correct: unmineable coal seams can store CO2, which binds to the coal and can release methane for use. Statement 2 is correct: depleted oil and gas fields have proven rock traps that held fluids for millions of years. Statement 3 is correct: deep saline aquifers have the largest storage capacity of all. So 1, 2 and 3.
Watch for: Watch for doubting coal seams; they are a recognised geological storage option.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because deep saline formations are also storage sites.
- B. Wrong because coal seams and oil and gas reservoirs are also used.
- C. Wrong because depleted oil and gas reservoirs are prime sites.
Source to check: IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (2005), Chapter 5 'Underground geological storage' (ipcc.ch)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.