Sub-surface geospatial intelligence in carbon capture, utilization and storage: A machine learning approach for offshore storage site selection

This study introduces an innovative data-driven and machine-learning framework designed to accurately predict site scores in the site screening study for specific offshore CO2 storage sites. The framework seamlessly integrates diverse sub-surface geospatial data sources with human aided expert-weighted criteria, thereby providing a high-resolution screening tool. Tailored to accommodate varying data accessibility and the significance of criteria, this approach considers both technical and non-technical factors. Its purpose is to facilitate the identification of priority locations for projects associated with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Through aggregating and analyzing geospatial datasets, the study employs machine learning algorithms and an expert-weighted model to identify suitable geologic CCUS regions. This process adheres to stringent safety, risk control, and environmental guidelines, addressing situations where human analysis may fail to recognize patterns and provide detailed insights in suitable site screening techniques. The primary emphasis of this research is to bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and practical application, facilitating informed decision-making in the implementation of CCUS projects. Rigorous assessments encompassing geological, oceanographic, and eco-sensitivity metrics contribute valuable insights for policymakers and industry leaders. To ensure the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of the established offshore CO2 storage facilities, the proposed machine learning approach undergoes benchmarking. This comprehensive evaluation includes the utilization of machine learning algorithms such as Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), Multilayer Extreme Learning Machine (MLELM), and Deep Neural Network (DNN) for predicting more suitable site scores. Among these algorithms, the DNN algorithm emerges as the most effective in site score prediction. The strengths of the DNN algorithm encompass nonlinear modeling, feature learning, scale invariance, handling high-dimensional data, end-to-end learning, transfer learning, representation learning, and parallel processing. The evaluation results of the DNN algorithm demonstrate high accuracy in the testing subset, with values of AAPD (Average Absolute Percentage Difference) = 1.486%, WAAPD (Weighted Average Absolute Percentage Difference) = 0.0149%, VAF (Variance Accounted For) = 0.9937, RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) = 0.9279, RSR (Root Sum of Squares Residuals) = 0.0068, and R2 (Coefficient of Determination) = 0.9937.