Work Packages and Cross Cutting Themes

The proposed ECO2 work covers a wide range of approaches from basic marine research to ocean governance. The scientific core of ECO2 is formed by work packages WP1 – WP4. These work packages will apply natural science approaches to constrain the potential pathways and the likelihood of leakage from storage sites through the sedimentary overburden (WP1), to quantify emission rates at the seabed (WP2), to follow the dispersion and fate of gases being emitted into the water column (WP3), and to assess the impact of leakage on benthic organisms and marine ecosystems (WP4). Based on these studies, WP5 will assess the risks associated with sub-seabed storage from environmental, economic, and legal perspectives. WP6 will explore the public perception of sub-seabed storage, while WP7 will provide comprehensive data and project management. WP6 and WP7 will jointly inform the general public on the storage of CO2 below the seabed, while ECO2 results will be disseminated to stakeholders through WP5 and WP7.

The work packages are cross-cut with four themes, the so called cross cutting themes (CCTs) to support information flow and strengthen cooperation across the work packages. The CCTs will provide vital ECO2 products by integrating and evaluating the results of the individual work packages. Cross-cutting theme CCT1 will provide a comprehensive monitoring strategy for sub-seabed storage sites drawing on the contributions by WP1 – WP4; CCT2 will integrate and interface the various numerical models developed under WP1 – WP5; CCT3 will foster international cooperation with non-EU states actively involved in offshore CO2 storage research, and CCT4 will define guidelines for best environmental practices in the implementation and management of sub-seabed storage, drawing on the contributions from all other work packages and cross-cutting themes.