Investigating Seaward-Dipping Reflectors for CO₂ Sequestration on the Vøring Plateau: Preliminary Results from Cruise MSM140

The long-term storage of gigaton-scale volumes of CO₂ in basaltic formations is widely discussed as a promising strategy for mitigating anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Offshore basalt deposits are of particular interest as they are distant to urban areas and other resources. In Europe the Vøring Plateau offshore Norway represents a large igneous province called the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP) formed during the breakup of the North Atlantic approximately 56-58 Ma ago. Our research focuses on the lava flows associated with the seaward-dipping reflectors (Planke et al., 2000).

Two sites, previously investigated during ODP and IODP expeditions, on the Vøring Plateau were studied using ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) and 2D multichannel seismic (MCS) data during cruise MSM140 aboard R/V Maria S. Merian, as part of the multinational PERBAS project. OBS arrays were deployed in a cross-shaped geometry on the seafloor above ODP Site 104–642 and IODP Sites 396–U1571/72. OBS data record both reflected and refracted seismic waves, providing complementary subsurface information to conventional MCS data. In addition, analysis of P-waves and converted S-waves enables detailed velocity modeling and improved characterization of lava flow properties.

Preliminary interpretation of the OBS data and forward modeling allows the identification and narrowing down of a subsurface layer package that appears suitable for potential future CO₂ injection.