CCS TEST GOES FORWARD

Prove CCS works safely, save the world!

Carbon Sequestration Field Test Begins In Illinois Basin
May 25, 2007 (The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium via Oil and Gas Online)

WHO
The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC), the Department of Energy (DOE)
varieties of CCS (click to enlarge)
WHAT
MGSC will conduct a “huff-and-puff” field test of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and geologic carbon dioxide sequestration by injecting CO2 into a producing oil well, letting it sit for 3-5 days, restarting well production and measuring changes in flow.

WHEN
- MGSC is one of 7 regional partnerships created by DOE in 2002
- The rural, flat agricultural site, an existing oil field for over 65 years, was chosen from 38 sites in June 2005.

WHERE
Loudon Field, Fayette County, Ill.

WHY
- Geologic sequestration of CO2 is one of the most promising ideas to curtail greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Deep underground porous rock capped by impermeable rock can trap the GHGs.
- EOR can also boost oil production if injection increases well pressure or reduces oil viscosity and increases flow.
- A previous 45 ton CO2 injection increased production fourfold but petered out. This test will also measure the geologic sequestration retention.

QUOTES
Wikipedia: “CCS applied to a modern conventional power plant could reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere by approximately 80-90% compared to a plant without CCS. Capturing and compressing CO2 requires much energy and would increase the fuel needs of a plant with CCS by about 10-40%. These and other system costs are estimated to increase the cost of energy from a power plant with CCS by 30-60% depending on the specific circumstances.”
Wikipedia: “A major concern with CCS is whether leakage of stored CO2 will compromise CCS as a climate change mitigation option. For well-selected, designed and managed geological storage sites, IPCC estimates that CO2 could be trapped for millions of years, and are likely to retain over 99% of the injected CO2 over 1000 years.”