DOE Research Projects to Examine Promising Geologic Formations for CO2 Storage

Washington, D.C. — The Department of Energy today announced 11 projects valued at $75.5 million aimed at increasing scientific understanding about the potential of promising geologic formations to safely and permanently store carbon dioxide (CO2).

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Funding for the projects includes $49.75 million from the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and will result in substantial employment opportunities for local and regional organizations over the next three years while providing hands-on scientific experience for individuals looking to be employed in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry. The research will be managed by the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and includes projects in Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Texas, South Carolina, California, Alabama, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming.

CCS essentially involves isolating and capturing CO2 from fossil fuel emissions, and injecting it in geologic formations for permanent, safe storage. The projects selected today will examine the usefulness of potential geologic storage sites; augment existing data through coordination with a public database; and participate in technical working groups on best practices for site characterization and approving storage site selection. The information gained from these projects will further DOE’s effort to develop a national assessment of CO2 storage capacity in deep geologic formations. Additionally, the results of this research will be accessible to the public and industry looking to understand future opportunities for building U.S. commercial sequestration projects.

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For more information, contact: Mike Jacobs, FE Office of Communications, 202-586-0507, michael.jacobs@hq.doe.gov