Validation Phase Field Tests Project Descriptions Big Sky Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) Plains CO2 Reduction Carbon Sequestration Partnership Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Southwest Regional Partnership for Carbon Sequestration West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership National Carbon Sequestration Database and Geographical Information System (NATCARB) Field Test Map & Data The Validation Phase of the regional partnerships initiative focuses on validating the most promising regional opportunities to deploy sequestration technologies. In announcing the Validation Phase in June of 2005, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman stated, "By moving carbon sequestration technology from the laboratory to the field, we are another step closer to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the important role coal plays in America's energy mix.” The Validation Phase builds upon Characterization Phase accomplishments and begins field testing sequestration technologies in areas designated as favorable for carbon storage.
Geologic Sequestration Tests (25 injection tests) Testing storage in oil and gas fields , coal seams, and saline formations Validate injectivity, capacity, and containment  Monitoring, mitigation, and verification (MM&V) technologies (reservoir modeling) Permit requirements Public outreach and perception Investigate well bore construction methods
Terrestrial Tests (11 field tests) Tree-plantings No-till farming Wetlands restoration Land management  (grasslands, grazing lands) Fire management Forest preservation MM&V technologies Accounting protocols for trading markets (CCX)

Other activities will include refining regional characterizations, public outreach and education, and regulatory compliance issues for the respective field projects. Knowledge gained from these validation procedures and tests can be used to develop commercially viable technologies that will be integral to a carbon management strategy.  The results of the field tests will prove that the regional capacity and injectivity exists for commercialization.

October 2009 will mark the end of the Validation Phase with the completion of the geologic and terrestrial sequestration field tests. These Validation Phase field tests are designed to demonstrate that regional sinks have the capability to store thousands of years of the nation’s potential CO₂ emissions and will form the basis for large volume tests in the Deployment Phase.