CO2 - better in than out?

The Gorgon Gas Project in Western Australia releases about 9.3 million tonnes of CO2 into the air every year - the unfortunate consequence of it's natural gas extraction and processing. But, it's hoping to pump about two-thirds of that 1.6 miles (2.5kms) into the ground. This would make it one of the few, and easily the biggest, underground carbon storage systems in the world.

The Australian government is pledging AU$60 million into the AU$850 million dollar project.

The approach of pumping carbon dioxide into the ground is a relatively new concept, but several companies have undertaken cost/risk/benefit studies. Although the jury is still out, underground CO2 storage (carbon sequestration) has been, in general, endorsed by the scientific community.