On the one hand, focus of this session is on technologies to quantify CO2 leakage from natural sites/analogues and methods applied for risk assessment of leakage from sites targeted for geological storage.

The study of natural analogues is crucial to understanding the long-term impact of CO2 storage. Such long-term effects cannot be addressed by laboratory experiments (NASCENT, http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nascent/objectives.html).

The risks due to leakage from storage of CO2 in geological reservoirs fall into two broad categories: global risks and local risks. Global risks involve the release of CO2 that may contribute significantly to climate change if some fraction leaks from the storage formation to the atmosphere. In addition, if CO2 leaks out of a storage formation, local hazards may exist for humans, ecosystems and groundwater. These are the local risks (IPCC 2005).

Contributions presenting results from studies on natural analogues as well as targeted CO2 storage sites are invited.

On the other hand focus of the session is to gather and share information and knowledge gained from real CO2 storage locations so far. The range to be presented will be from small research sites via larger pilot sites to largest industrial sites.