Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a naturally occurring molecule making up approximately 0.04% of the earth’s atmosphere. At atmospheric temperatures and pressures, CO₂ is a colorless and odorless gas that is non-flammable, stable, inert, and non-toxic.

CO₂ is a necessary component of the carbon cycle where plants and organisms utilize and recycle it. There are both natural CO₂ sources (such as plant and animal respiration, decomposition of organic matter, and volcanic eruptions) and man-made sources (such as the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas). CO₂ is also utilized in more common applications, such as soda pop, fire extinguishers, and water treatment. If CO₂ is produced, either naturally or through man-made sources, at a higher rate than is consumed naturally, the excess CO₂ accumulates in the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and increasing amounts in the atmosphere can lead to changes in our climate.

CCS is a method by which we can reduce the excess CO₂ in the atmosphere. It involves separating and capturing CO₂ emissions from point-sources (like industrial facilities), transporting the CO₂ to a storage site and injecting the CO₂ through wells drilled into deep underground saline formations for safe, permanent storage.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one way to reduce the amount of excess CO₂ emissions that enter the atmosphere. CCS is being utilized or considered in many industries, such as power production, steel mills, ammonia production, cement factories, and refining facilities, as a technology to reduce the impact of CO₂, other greenhouse gasses, and other emissions. Industrial emissions represent approx. 25% of total U.S. CO₂ emissions and currently have few viable decarbonization options other than CCS.

CCS is a well-known and understood carbon abatement process we can deploy on a large scale with today’s technologies. The emergence of incentives for safely and permanently capturing and sequestering CO₂ has helped to make the process commercially viable.

Naturally occurring CO₂ has been trapped in geologic formations for millions of years. In the oil and gas industry, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the technique of injecting CO₂ into reservoirs to mobilize trapped oil, has been successfully deployed for over 50 years across the United States. Additionally, natural gas (methane), crude oil, and other fluids have been safely stored underground in the U.S. for decades.

To ensure that CO₂ storage is safe, operators must research the geologic formations and provide evidence of the competence of the sealing caprock. Regulations and best practices administered by the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR) protect drinking water and ensure that CO₂ is permanently stored.

CO₂ has been injected and stored underground, in some form or another, in the U.S. for over 50 years. Since the 1970s, CO₂ injection has occurred in the oil & gas industry through a process called Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). In 2011, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) estimated over 50 million metric tons per year were injected through this well-understood process. Because permanent CO₂ storage was not commercially viable outside of EOR in the oil & gas industries until the recent creation of incentives, there were only a few dedicated storage projects across the world, with the first project starting in the 1990s.

The Gulf Coast is home to some of the country’s largest CO₂ emitting industrial facilities, representing a significant share of the region’s tax base and providing thousands of jobs.

The Gulf Coast also has vast amounts of underground capacity with competent caprock to safely store CO₂. Given the existing infrastructure, abundant and affordable feedstocks, and suitable geology, the Gulf Coast is well positioned to be a global leader in CCS.

The GeoDura Carbon Storage Hub will be located offshore from Cameron Parish, Louisiana, in a tract of state waters that is approximately 24,000 acres in size. Wells for the injection of CO₂ will be located 1-2 miles offshore.

Pipelines will be constructed to Johnson Bayou from nearby Lake Charles and Port Arthur industrial corridors to transport CO₂ captured from a variety of sources. Every effort will be made to co-locate this pipeline along existing 3rd party pipeline and electrical utility corridors, while minimizing impact on the surrounding community.

Once injection starts, real-time data monitoring allows the operator to update models and monitor key data, such as pressure. Adjustments to rates and injection zones are made based on data gathered through the rigorous monitoring program.

In the case of the GeoDura Carbon Storage Hub, storage formations are more than a mile deep, with caprocks of about 100-200 feet thick. Permanent CO₂ storage occurs in deep saline formations composed of sandstones situated below and sealed by thick, continuous shale caprocks. These caprocks are tested during the drilling process to ensure the CO₂ stays in the formations where it is injected, preventing its migration out of zone. GeoDura will monitor conditions above the caprock to ensure that injected CO₂ stays in zone and is stored securely underground.

The CO₂ will be permanently stored in between sand grains in the injection interval more than a mile below the surface. Underground, the CO₂ is trapped in place by a thick caprock. Over time, the CO₂ will dissolve in the brine and eventually it will mineralize and precipitate forming new rocks.

In Louisiana, CO₂ storage is rigorously regulated by the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR). The state’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) program regulates injection wells used to place fluid underground. The UIC Program is designed to protect Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDWs). The UIC program includes several well categories. The category for CO₂ injection with permanent storage is called Class VI.

The monitoring requirements for a CO₂ injection well start before injection begins by gathering baseline data and includes a variety of methods to monitor and protect public health and drinking water. There is a minimum set of monitoring requirements regulated by LDENR for CCS projects that include pressure monitoring, fluid sampling, CO₂ plume tracking, monitoring wells, and a variety of underground leak-detection methods. Additional monitoring methods may be put in place based on recommendations by industry experts. The Class VI regulations require ongoing testing, monitoring, reporting, and compliance verification during the pre-injection, injection, and post-injection periods to validate that the CO₂ remains in the intended formations.

Safety plans for CCS projects are comprehensive and designed to monitor and detect any potential leaks, ensuring the integrity of storage reservoirs and safeguarding the surrounding environments. These plans incorporate various measures, including seismic monitoring and modeling techniques, helping to identify potential risks before they can develop into a problem.

Funding from programs such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s CarbonSAFE Initiative that GeoDura is using offers advantages to communities by creating avenues for involvement in project execution, potential employment opportunities for residents, and extensive prospects for economic growth to enhance local economies. Additionally, carbon storage hubs like GeoDura attract new industry into communities as new low-carbon projects look for locations served by carbon storage. CCS brings money into the region, supporting the State of Louisiana by providing revenue to the Mineral and Energy Operations Fund, Parish Fund, and State General Fund.