Hatch is a member of a group of 19 energy industry participants seeking suitable locations for the long-term storage of carbon-dioxide in Alberta. Hatch is the only EPCM company in the group.
The Alberta Saline Aquifer Project (ASAP) is a broad-based, industry-supported initiative that participants will roll out in three phases. Phase 1 will involve identifying suitable locations for the long-term sequestration (storage) of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers. The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008.
Phase 2 will involve a demonstration project during which a pilot plant will be installed. Later phases will involve expanding the project to a large-scale, long-term commercial sequestration operation.
ASAP is the first project of its kind in Canada, and will play a major role in advancing industry and government knowledge of carbon-dioxide sequestration.
The federal and Alberta governments have made $500 million available for related research and development. ASAP Phase 1 will cost $750,000, of which the government will sponsor 50 percent.