Geologic carbon sequestration may involve injection of large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into primarily deep saline aquifers for storage purposes or, where feasible, into oil and gas reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery objectives. The literature and experience from industrial analogs indicates that well-bores (active or inactive/abandoned) may represent the most likely route for leakage of injected CO 2 from the storage reservoirs. Therefore, sound CO 2 injection well design and well integrity, operation and monitoring are of critical importance in such projects. This paper presents design considerations for (1) the construction of CO 2 injection wells including down-hole tubular (casing/tubing/packer) and cements, (2) methods to verify that the wells have mechanical integrity (both internal and external) and monitoring approaches applicable to CO 2 geo-sequestration in the U.S. and a short discussion of the risks posed by abandoned wells within a storage field and the safety aspect of CO 2 wells.

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