Assessment of Geological CO2 Storage Potential in Oil-Producing Countries of the American Continent

Abstract

Climate change is a global challenge driven by the continuous increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel use. Oil-producing countries in the Americas contribute significantly to these emissions through energy production, industry, and transportation, making emission mitigation a regional priority for these countries. In this context, geological CO2 storage represents a feasible option to support climate mitigation efforts. This study evaluated the CO2 storage potential of geological formations across the American continent, focusing on depleted oil and gas reservoirs, active fields suitable for CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR), and deep saline aquifers. The objective of this study was to estimate the storage capacity and assess its contribution to international climate commitments. The methodology integrates emissions data from the Our World in Data platform with geological information from the International Energy Agency (IEA) CCUS Projects Database and scientific literature from five countries. Reservoirs were screened using the IEAGHG technical criteria, and their storage capacity was estimated using volumetric approximation. Finally, the results were incorporated into a web application for interactive analysis. Three potential storage clusters were identified in North America, the Colombian Caribbean, and the South Atlantic, with estimated capacities of 753.19, 682.73, and 940.03 Mt of CO2, respectively. In conclusion, these geological capacities represent a removal potential of 3.13% for the Americas, highlighting that geological storage alone is insufficient to offset cumulative emissions and must be complemented by additional mitigation strategies and expanded CCUS deployment.