ISO 27914:2017

a) establishes requirements and recommendations for the geological storage of CO₂ streams, the purpose of which is to promote commercial, safe, long-term containment of carbon dioxide in a way that minimizes risk to the environment, natural resources, and human health,

b) is applicable for both onshore and offshore geological storage within permeable and porous geological strata including hydrocarbon reservoirs where a CO₂ stream is not being injected for the purpose of hydrocarbon production or for storage in association with CO₂-EOR,

c) includes activities associated with site screening and selection, characterization, design and development, operation of storage sites, and preparation for site closure,

d) recognizes that site selection and management are unique for each project and that intrinsic technical risk and uncertainty will be dealt with on a site-specific basis,

e) acknowledges that permitting and approval by regulatory authorities will be required throughout the project life cycle, including the closure period, although the permitting process is not included in ISO 27914:2017,

f) provides requirements and recommendations for the development of management systems, community and other stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, risk management and risk communication,

g) does not apply to, modify, interpret, or supersede any national or international regulations, treaties, protocols or instruments otherwise applicable to the activities addressed in ISO 27914:2017, and

h) does not apply to or modify any property rights or interests in the surface or the subsurface (including mineral rights), or any pre-existing commercial contract or arrangement relating to such property.

The life cycle of a CO₂ geological storage project covers all aspects, periods, and stages of the project, from those that lead to the start of the project (including site screening, selection, characterization, assessment, engineering, permitting, and construction), through the start of injection and proceeding through subsequent operations until cessation of injection and culminating in the post-injection period, which includes a closure period. Figure 1 illustrates the limits of ISO 27914:2017.