Science Inventory

Description:

Geological sequestration (GS) is generally recognized as the injection and long-term (e.g., hundreds to thousands of years) trapping of gaseous, liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) in subsurface media – primarily saline formations, depleted or nearly depleted oil and gas reservoirs, and deep “unmineable” coal seams. Carbon capture and storage from stationary sources of CO2 such as refineries and coal-fired electric, ethanol, cement, and fertilizer plants would allow continued use of fossil fuels, especially coal, in a manner that greatly reduces CO2 emissions until safe and affordable alternative energy sources are developed or deployed on a large scale in the coming decades. Without large-scale commercial deployment of CCS, atmospheric levels of CO2 will continue to rise. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing minimum Federal requirements for GS of CO2 under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This rule will outline minimum requirements for geological characterization, Area of Review determination, injection well construction, operation, mechanical integrity testing, monitoring, well plugging, post-injection site care, and site closure. Technical aspects of these issues will be discussed in this presentation in addition to research being conducted by EPA to support implementation of this technology.

Purpose/Objective:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing minimum Federal requirements for GS of CO2 under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This rule will outline minimum requirements for geological characterization, Area of Review determination, injection well construction, operation, mechanical integrity testing, monitoring, well plugging, post-injection site care, and site closure.

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