The Deep Triassic CO2 storage (D-TRICS) project, funded by INNO-CCUS, seeks to expand Denmark’s geological CO2 storage potential by investigating deeper-lying Triassic sandstone aquifers beneath the Gassum Formation. The central hypothesis is that these underexplored units (primarily the Lower and Middle Triassic Skagerrak Formation) offer significant, currently untapped storage capacity. By diversifying beyond the Gassum Formation, which is already targeted by most current CCS licenses and used for geothermal energy, D-TRICS aims to reduce the risk of pressure-related conflicts and enable broader, more sustainable deployment of CCS technologies.
To test this hypothesis, D-TRICS will revise the legacy stratigraphic models that currently guide subsurface assessments. The project will generate new geological and biostratigraphic frameworks, map gross sandstone thicknesses, and construct detailed tectonic, structural, and depositional models. These will be integrated into reservoir simulations to evaluate the storage performance of deep Triassic units under different injection scenarios. A socio-ecological assessment framework will also be developed to ensure future CCS operations are technically sound, environmentally sustainable, and publicly acceptable. The project includes dedicated PhD and postdoctoral research, as well as structured knowledge-sharing with stakeholders through annual workshops and an open sharing of generated knowledge through scientific publication.
D-TRICS is expected to significantly improve the understanding of Denmark’s deep subsurface and help greatly expanding national CO2 storage capacity. The project will support current license operators by reducing geological uncertainty, aid in identifying new CCS acreage, and inform national planning to avoid reservoir interference with geothermal operations. Its outputs (geological models, reservoir simulations, stratigraphic charts, and policy recommendations) will be directly applicable to site development across Denmark, including regions near major emission sources in areas previously considered unfeasible for storage. D-TRICS will contribute to achieving Denmark’s 2050 climate goals and reinforce our position as a CCS leader in Northern Europe.
