PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/01/12 -- The North American Carbon Storage Atlas was unveiled today at the 11th Annual Conference on Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration in Pittsburgh. The atlas identifies all the geological reservoirs in Canada, Mexico and the United States where greenhouse gas emissions can be stored when carbon capture and storage technologies are used by industrial facilities.

The development of the atlas involved the three countries identifying, gathering and sharing data on major carbon dioxide (CO2) sources. The completed atlas identifies potential CO2 storage reservoirs and estimates for storing CO2 in those reservoirs, using compatible methodologies. The atlas will be particularly useful for storing CO2 in cross-border reservoirs. There are at least 500 years and up to 5,000 years of CO2geological storage space available in reservoirs in North America, based on current emissions rates.

"This valuable tool will promote a comprehensive understanding of the potential for carbon capture and storage in North America," said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "Carbon capture and storage is a leading technology with the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial facilities over the medium to long term."

"By identifying North American geological formations with large CO2 storage potential, this new atlas provides the kind of fundamental information that, combined with technology innovation, can help fossil-fuelled facilities continue their essential energy role while reducing carbon pollution," said Steven Chu, United States Secretary of Energy.

The carbon storage atlas project has been a key activity under the bilateral Canada-U.S. Clean Energy Dialogue and the trilateral work program under the North American Leaders' Summit.

The project also includes an online version of the atlas (www.nacsap.org) and an online map viewer, which will provide interactive display and analysis of the emission and storage data.

The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media: North American Carbon Storage Atlas

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media