CO2CRC communication manager Tony Steeper at the injection well at Nirranda South, which was open for inspection at the weekend.
ABOUT 50 visitors from as far away as Japan took the opportunity to inspect an Australian-first carbon capture and storage research station at Nirranda South on Saturday.
The CO2CRC Otway project, which has been operating since 2008, has stored more than 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide two kilometres underground in a depleted gas basin. Site tours gave visitors the chance to see the injection wells and monitoring equipment and talk to CO2CRC staff, including international scientists, about the work.
Research at the Otway project helps develop methods and tools to ensure the carbon storage process is safe and effective to reduce emissions from major sources such as power stations.
Its findings will be used in establishing commercial carbon capture facilities associated with the huge Gorgon natural gasfield in Western Australia.
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