Searching for CO₂ Storage Sites Beneath the Sea... KIGAM Establishes 9-Step Evaluation Framework [Reading Science]

Integrated Evaluation from Site Identification to Injection Readiness...
Three Promising Areas Found in the Gunsan Basin


Precision Survey with Tamhae 3 to Be Followed by National Marine CCS Potential Map by 2035

A systematic framework has been developed to identify suitable subsurface locations beneath the sea for storing captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) and to assess the readiness for actual injection. This approach evaluates not only the amount of CO₂ that can be stored, but also considers geological risks, data reliability, and the likelihood that a project can be implemented, assessing each of these factors step by step.

Derivation of CO₂ storage potential areas in the East Sea Gunsan Basin and the Dongso Sub-basin. Provided by Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) announced on October 7 that researchers at its Carbon Storage Research Center have established a "9-Step Integrated Evaluation Framework (SBEF) Based on Storage Readiness Level (SRL)", which comprehensively assesses the entire process from CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) site discovery to development and injection readiness.

CCS is a technology that captures CO₂ emissions from power plants or industrial facilities and injects them deep underground into geological formations for long-term storage. As CCS projects utilizing subsea geological formations have reached the commercialization stage overseas, it has become increasingly important in Korea to find large-scale storage sites and verify their safety.

Beyond Storage Capacity: Assessing Actual Injection Feasibility

The evaluation system developed by the research team integrates the previously separate processes of site selection, assessment of storage capacity, geological risk analysis, and development readiness evaluation into one unified workflow.

At the initial stage, candidate sites are identified based on their geological conditions, CO₂ storage capacity, and risk factors. The next step involves creating geological models and analyzing how CO₂ would behave within the formation upon actual injection. The process also calls for the stepwise evaluation of permitting, facility preparation, and operational feasibility. The research team explained that this approach not only assesses the storage capacity of each candidate site, but also clarifies what data and verifications are needed to proceed to actual storage development.

The quantity and reliability of data collected through seismic surveys and drilling are also considered in the assessment. The framework is implemented in Excel to allow direct comparison of different candidate sites using consistent criteria, and it is also compatible with the international CO₂ Storage Resource Management System (SRMS).

When the research team applied this framework to eight marine candidate areas in Korea, four sites passed the initial screening criteria.

Notably, by analyzing 2D seismic data collected by the geophysical survey research vessel Tamhae 2 and previously obtained drilling data, the research team identified three potential CO₂ storage areas (SA1–SA3) in the eastern part of the Gunsan Basin in the West Sea. Among these, SA1 was found to have widely distributed sandstone layers favorable for CO₂ storage and relatively stable geological structures.

The physical survey research vessel Tamhae 3 currently conducting marine elastic wave exploration in domestic waters. Courtesy of Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources

Precision Exploration with Tamhae 3... Nationwide Mapping Targeted for 2035

KIGAM plans to use the next-generation geophysical research vessel Tamhae 3 to conduct more detailed investigations of these candidate sites. Tamhae 3 acquired approximately 290 km² of 3D seismic data in the SA1 area in 2024, which is being analyzed in conjunction with exploratory drilling results to concretize the storage feasibility of the site.

By expanding both wide-area 2D and precision 3D seismic surveys conducted with Tamhae 3 to other domestic marine areas, new candidate storage sites will be identified. Based on this, the goal is to build a "National Marine CCS Potential Map" by 2035, showing regions within Korea's marine territories with CO₂ storage potential and estimated storage capacities.

The research team is also applying the newly developed evaluation system to CCS candidate areas in Malaysia and Indonesia to verify storage feasibility there.

Kim Kyungjin, a researcher at the Carbon Storage Research Center of KIGAM, stated, "The key aspect of this evaluation framework is that it not only answers 'how much can be stored,' but also clearly shows for each candidate site 'what further verifications are required prior to actual injection.' By linking detailed exploration using Tamhae 3 with stepwise assessments, we will be able to more specifically identify the regions within Korean waters suitable for CO₂ storage and estimate their potential capacity."

This research on building the CCS integrated evaluation framework was published online last month in the international academic journal for the energy field, the International Journal of Energy Research. The study analyzing CO₂ storage potential in the Gunsan Basin of the West Sea was featured in the January 2026 issue of Marine and Petroleum Geology, an international journal specializing in marine geology and petroleum geology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.