Researching Candidate Sites for a Carbon Storage Complex in the Central Appalachian Basin, USA

The Central Appalachian Basin-Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) (CAB-CS) Integrated Prefeasibility Project identified several selected areas in eastern Ohio where the Cambrian-Ordovician age sandstones and carbonates show the most promising reservoir potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS). These selected areas are collocated near depleted oil and gas fields where oil recovery could be improved with enhanced oil recovery. This region has many large carbon dioxide (CO2) point sources that represent a diverse array of industries, including coal-fired power plants, natural gas processing, refineries, chemical plants, and natural gas power. In a carbon-constrained future, one of the most promising ways to make coal a viable fuel option for power generation or industrial processes is to capture and geologically store CO2 emissions. The project is a pre-feasibility study to mitigate the emissions from 1.67 million metric tons of CO2 per year by developing a storage complex capable of storing 50 million metric tons. The project team analyzed six source-sink scenarios in the CAB-CS study area with analysis of capture and transport; defined infrastructure needs for a CCS project; and conducted an economic, liability, and social assessment. Major accomplishments include experience in investigating CCS projects in the area (learning by doing), adding to National Energy Technology Laboratory best practices tools and tool sets, and building the elements of the CCS road map for the region.