Technology to bury 100 tons of CO2 underground every day

Oman startup 44.01 is developing a new process that could permanently trap CO2 underground, removing large amounts of the planet-warming gas from the atmosphere, Interesting Engineering 44.01, named after the molecular weight of CO2, has proven its technology in Oman and hopes to expand globally, the company said on July 15.

The startup mixes CO2 with water before pumping it down a 1km-deep borehole. From there, the mixture seeps into cracks in peridotite, a naturally fractured rock. The rock sequesters CO2 through a process called carbon mineralization, in which certain minerals react with CO2 to form solid carbonates. This means the carbon is trapped underground and cannot escape back into the atmosphere.

Peridotite is usually found deep underground, but in Oman, the deposits are closer to the surface. They allow scientists to observe the carbon-sequestering abilities of peridotite. 44.01’s technology speeds up the sequestration process by injecting CO2-laden water into the cracks of the peridotite. “Instead of decades like in nature, we do it in months,” says Talal Hasan, the startup’s founder and CEO.

44.01 aims to commercialize its technology in Oman and the UAE before expanding globally. The company has completed pilot projects in both countries. Initial tests show that the new technology can currently sequester around 50-60 tonnes of CO2 per day. Once commercialized, 44.01 aims to sequester 100 tonnes of CO2 per borehole per day.

While carbon capture and sequestration technology could play a significant role in mitigating the effects of climate change, many scientists warn that it should not be viewed as a real solution. Instead, countries need to drastically reduce their use of fossil fuels, which are the source of emissions. The amount of CO2 that would need to be removed from the atmosphere would be enormous, requiring a massive global effort, even if the fossil fuel industry stopped emitting CO2 into the atmosphere today.