Moonie CO2-EOR

The Moonie Oil Field PL1 CO₂ Initial Injection Project proposes an industrial-scale trial involving the injection of up to 120,000 tonnes of liquid CO₂ per year over a period of eight years. The injection will take place at the depleted Moonie Oil Field using the existing M-27 well, with CO₂ sourced from nearby industrial facilities such as the Millmerran power station. A network of existing production and monitoring wells will be used to track subsurface behavior and verify long-term storage integrity. Geological and geochemical modeling indicates that this relatively small injection volume—just 0.09% of larger-scale capacity models—poses negligible risk to groundwater or the surrounding environment. The reservoir targeted for injection is the Precipice Sandstone, which is sealed by a thick, impermeable shale layer that has retained hydrocarbons for nearly 90 million years. This natural geologic seal provides strong containment integrity. Once injected, the CO₂ is expected to dissolve and react with minerals in the formation, forming carbonates that help immobilize the gas and buffer any changes in pH, further enhancing permanent storage.