The Offshore Contractors' Association (OCA) is set to focus its attentions on exploring the advantages and disadvantages of carbon dioxide capture and storage schemes.
As part of a concerted effort to address the contribution the contracting industry can play in reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere and sea, members of the OCA's environmental committee will hear from a researcher at Oceanlab about the affects carbon storage programmes could have on marine life.
OCA Chief Executive, Bill Murray said: "Carbon capture and storage is becoming a key industry issue and it's essential that we understand the role our members can play. We are very keen to speak to companies who are working in this area and understand the ways that the industry can limit its adverse affect on the environment."
Members will listen to a talk from Dr Dan Mayor, a Post Doctoral Researcher at Oceanlab (University of Aberdeen) who has been involved with research examining the effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on marine life. He believes that further research into the effects of CO2 on keystone marine organisms is vital before large-scale projects to store CO2 in either the seabed or deepwater are given the go ahead.
Dr Mayor commented: "Various methods have been proposed for storing CO2 in the marine environment, including pumping it down disused hydrocarbon wells and injecting it into the deep ocean. Carbon dioxide readily dissolves in seawater, forming a weak acid. A recent report from the Royal Society highlighted that very little is known about the effects of ocean acidification on important sea life such as fish larvae and their food."
"We still can't guarantee that CO2 injected beneath the seabed won't escape into the overlying water, and plans to store CO2 in deepwater at 1,000 metres or more have the potential to produce plumes of CO2-rich seawater that slowly rise towards the surface. It is probable that these measures are an effective and safe way of disposing of CO2, but I would like to see further research into the environmental safety of these schemes before they go ahead."
The talk will take place on Monday 21 May 2007 and is open to OCA member companies only.