A preliminary basin scale evaluation framework of potential sedimentary basins in Malaysia for carbon dioxide sequestration

Abstract

This paper presents workflow and method to preliminarily evaluate the potential storage sites suitability for carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in sedimentary basins of Malaysia. There are 14 sedimentary basins all around Malaysia that has been identified as potential CO2 storage. This study concentrates on the assessment of major sedimentary basins in Malaysia both onshore and offshore where potential geological formations which carbon dioxide could be stored exist below 800 m and where suitable sealing formations are present. Those potential sites are screened and ranked in terms of their suitability for CO2 storage. The screening and ranking of potential sedimentary basins for CO2 storage is conducted quantitatively by assigning scores and weight to each of screening criteria and analysed based on parametric normalization. The screening criteria were modified from previous study to suit the geology setting of Malaysia. The data is compiled using Excel-based evaluation tools to rank the potential storage sites for carbon dioxide sequestration in Malaysia. Malay basin is ranked as the most potential basins for offshore CO2 storage hence it deserves extra attentions in the next phase of basin scale assessment The results from screening and ranking exercise later should be used in detailed basin scale assessment in future works.