Potential CO₂ Sequestration as CO₂ Hydrate in Cold Regions in Northeast and Northwest China

Reduction of the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is a worldwide problem that needs to be solved urgently. Storing CO2 as CO2 hydrate in subsurface reservoirs in cold regions can be an effective way to reduce atmospheric CO2 content. In this study, we utilize the geological data for three cold regions in Northeast and Northwest China to analyze the probable thickness, area, and porosity of the CO2 hydrate stability zone. Out of 12 cold locations, eight are located in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), three in Northwest China (NW), and one in Mohe Basin (MB). Using conservative estimates of the effective thickness, area, and porosity, we calculate the reservoir volume of the CO2 hydrate stability zones for each location. The results show that the 12 cold locations have a total CO2 storage capacity of 2052 Gt. Of this, QTP has the highest CO2 storage capacity of 518 Gt.