Carbon Capture and Storage opportunity within Block XIB
The company’s Block XIB field hosts a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) opportunity with the potential to support a major net-zero CO₂ industrial hub.
A successful CO₂ mineralisation injection test, the first completed in the Eastern European region, highlights the possibility for a CO₂ storage capacity that would rank – at both reservoir and basin scales – amongst the highest in Europe. Reservoir scale storage is estimated at 256 million metric tonnes, equivalent to offsetting emissions from 55 million cars, and basin scale at up to 8.7 gigatonnes, equivalent to offsetting emissions from Turkey for 20 years.
The pilot indicated the site’s viability for the mineral trapping method, whereby CO₂ is injected with water and mineralises as solid carbonates. The technique is in commercial use in Iceland, where 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ have so far been injected into basaltic rock.
Independent analysis of the test by Oilfield Production Consultants (OPC), a consultancy recognised internationally for its expertise and experience in this field, indicated complete mineralisation of the injected CO₂ into stable carbonate minerals within one to three months, a process that takes more than a thousand years in sedimentary systems.
The pilot confirmed the CO₂ was securely stored in solid mineral form, with no evidence of gas phase migration or leakage, and identified reservoir characteristics favourable for rapid and permanent carbon mineralisation, including reactive volcaniclastic rocks and zeolite minerals.
Under-pressurised reservoir conditions promise to significantly reduce the energy and costs required for injection. Existing wells may be repurposed for injection and monitoring. The location is close to large industrial carbon dioxide emitters and established surface infrastructure, simplifying logistics and midstream requirements.
Building on the test, the company is progressing to a focused feasibility phase, which will assess regulatory alignment, scalability, and potential commercial pathways for CCS with established Block Energy partners.
Further information
Please see the presentation CO2 Storage & Low-Carbon Gas Opportunities in Georgia (PDF) in our Circulars, Presentations & Reports section for further information.
| Low (Mt CO2) | Mid (Mt CO2) | High (Mt CO2) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patardzeuli CO2 Mineralisation Capacity | 42.0 | 112.0 | 182.0 |
| Samgori CO2 Mineralisation Capacity | 15.0 | 39.5 | 64.0 |
| Pat-Sam CO2 Mineralisation Capacity | 57.0 | 151.5 | 246.0 |
- Large-scale CO2 sequestration and storage project identified within the Patardzueli and Samgori Middle Eocene reservoir
- Significant potential to develop a net-zero industrial hub within central Georgia providing low-cost permanent CO2 storage
- Pilot test indicated complete mineralisation of injected CO2 into stable carbonate minerals within one to three months
- Fractured volcanic tuff represents ideal rock type to allow for CO2 storage through mineralisation, with permanent fixation achieved in less than a year (compared to 1,000 years in sedimentary systems)
- Storage through injection of CO2 dissolved in water creating pore space negative chemical reactions within the reservoir
- Commercial project in Iceland already operating using this technology
- Independently validated storage estimates
- Various commercialisation routes including the Georgia-Switzerland EU Emissions Trading System agreement