Issued on: November 17, 2008
DOE Announces Release of Second Carbon Sequestration Atlas
New Version Provides Additional Information on Carbon Dioxide Storage
Washington, DC — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the release of its second Carbon Sequestration Atlas of the United States and Canada, which documents more than 3,500 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage potential in oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams, and saline formations. Preliminary estimates suggest the availability of more than 1,100 years of CO2 storage for the United States and Canada in these geologic formations.
"In the year since it was first published, the carbon sequestration atlas has proven to be an invaluable tool to the entire sequestration community," said Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy James Slutz. "The second edition will bolster our efforts to find environmentally sound, cost-effective methods to sequester carbon dioxide."
The primary purpose of the second edition of the atlas is to update the CO2 storage portfolio, document differences in CO2 resource and CO2 capacity, and provide updated information on the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships' field activities. The updated version also provides an introduction to the sequestration process and summarizes DOE’s Carbon Sequestration Program. It presents updated information on the location of stationary CO2 emission sources, as well as the locations and storage potential of various geologic sequestration sites, and it provides information about the commercialization opportunities for carbon capture and storage technologies for each partnership.
The Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory created the initial atlas and developed it in consort with the regional carbon sequestration partnerships, as well as the National Carbon Sequestration Database and Geographical Information System (NATCARB). DOE’s Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership program is composed of seven partnerships covering seven distinct regions in the United States and Canada. Together, the partnerships include more than 350 organizations, 42 U.S. states, and four Canadian provinces.
DOE has published both print and interactive editions of the atlas. The interactive version is located at the NATCARB Web site and is frequently updated. The print version is available for viewing and downloading at the NETL website.
- End of Techline
|
