Trinity Research Doctorate (Sanctuary) Awards Winners 2025-26

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a critical mitigation strategy for achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5–2 °C by 2050. As global CCS deployment scales up, many current projects focus on injecting CO₂ into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs within sedimentary basins. However, opportunities in underexplored regions—particularly in tectonically active continental rift settings—remain largely untapped. This research investigates the carbon storage potential of the Albertine Rift, the northernmost segment of the western branch of the East African Rift System (EARS). This region constitutes the world’s largest active intracontinental rift zone and hosts two major sedimentary basins developed since the Miocene: The Lake Albert and Lake Edward basins. While the Albertine Rift has attracted significant attention over the past 25 years due to hydrocarbon exploration, its capacity for long-term geological CO₂ storage has not been systematically evaluated.

The Lake Albert Basin, a classic example of an extensional rift system, comprises two sub-basins divided by an intra-basinal structural high. The northern sub-basin is the site of the Tilenga oil development, while the southern sub-basin hosts the Kingfisher oil fields -together forming a significant hydrocarbon province with well-characterized stratigraphy and reservoir architecture. In contrast, the Lake Edward Basin, an asymmetric half-graben, remains largely unexplored for hydrocarbons and offers a distinct geological setting for CCS feasibility studies.

This PhD project provides a comprehensive assessment of the CCS potential within these sedimentary systems. The study emphasizes (1) reservoir characterization through detailed analysis of porosity and permeability in prospective storage formations, (2) the evaluation of cap rock integrity to ensure long-term containment, and (3) the influence of paleoclimate cycles (glacial–interglacial periods) on sediment deposition and reservoir quality. An integrated methodological framework combining sedimentological, geochemical, petroleum geology, and mineralogical data are applied to evaluate CO₂ storage capacity, positivity, injectivity, permeability and seal reliability. Additionally, the study contextualizes the role of CCS in regional climate policy frameworks and explores potential socio-economic impacts for local communities and cross-border stakeholders. Findings from this research may suggest that the Albertine Graben possesses substantial and underutilized geological capacity for safe and permanent carbon dioxide storage. 

This positions the region as a potential strategic CCS hub for Sub-Saharan Africa, with implications for both regional decarbonisation and sustainable development. Importantly, the outcomes of this PhD research align with international standards for carbon credit certification, making it highly eligible for carbon credit tax return schemes. By demonstrating verifiable CO₂ storage potential and contributing to long-term emissions reduction, this project supports mechanisms that can generate revenue through carbon markets. These financial instruments, in turn, offer a unique opportunity to channel tax returns and carbon credit investments into local community development initiatives. This includes capacity building, infrastructure, education, and livelihood support in areas surrounding CCS project sites—ensuring that climate action goes hand in hand with tangible socio-economic benefits for affected populations.