Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium – Characterization Phase
Project # 242

Primary Performing Organization
University of Illinois, Illinois State
Geological Survey

The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) is one of the seven Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships created by DOE in 2003 as part of a national plan to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The Characterization Phase is the first of this three phase program. The partnerships working together during this first phase will develop a technology framework for the subsequent validation and deployment phases. The goal of this individual project is to identify the most cost effective, technically feasible, and publicly acceptable options for underground geologic carbon sequestration in a region composed of Illinois, southwest Indiana, and western Kentucky (the Illinois Basin). See Map (from fact sheet).

[Map]

In addition to making a contribution to a better understanding of carbon sequestration in saline reservoirs, depleted oil reservoirs, and deep coal seams, the principal objectives of this project are as follows:

• Developing a database and studying carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and transport in the Illinois Basin.
• Focusing on storage potential in each of the promising formations discovered over a period of 13 to 15 months.
• Linking integrated options for capture, storage and transportation with environmental and regulatory frameworks to describe the methods and outcomes for the region.

This project will benefit the U.S. by providing a definitive evaluation of the sources and potential storage sites for CO₂ in the Illinois Basin and integrating that information with comparable data from other regional partnerships to form a database covering the entire nation.

Contact:
Project Manager: Charles Byner, charles.byner@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• MGSC Partnership Phase 1 Fact Sheet