Preparations underway for Carbon Storage Facility in Gulf Coast Region
The Gulf Coast region, known for its rich oil and gas resources, is poised to take a significant step towards combating climate change. A new study, published in the journal Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, explores the potential for a carbon storage economy in the region.
The research, funded by the Department of Energy, was conducted by the Bureau of Economic Geology, a research unit of the UT Jackson School of Geosciences. The study's co-authors, Alex Bump, Susan Hovorka, and Ramón H. Treviño, all part of the Gulf Coast Carbon Center, delve into the suitability of the Gulf Coast's subsurface geology for permanently storing carbon dioxide (CO2).
The study also examines policy incentives for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), a technology that keeps CO2 out of the atmosphere by capturing emissions and storing them deep underground. CCS can help fight climate change by lowering industrial emissions now while renewable energy sources are being developed.
Texas, with the highest level of emissions of any state, and Louisiana, second in the Gulf Coast region, offer ample opportunities for CCS. Enhanced oil recovery, using carbon storage and capture for extracting more oil from depleted reservoirs, has been in use for decades and has produced an existing network of pipelines for transporting CO2 along the Gulf Coast.
Major companies and institutions active in CCS in the Gulf of Mexico include Eni Mexico, which has extended a letter of intent with Tabasco, indicating involvement in related projects. Other companies can be identified through public sources such as company press releases and financial news platforms like MarketScreener.
The Texas Railroad Commission, which has regulatory authority over oil and gas wells, has been granted the same authority over CO2 injection wells, thanks to HB 1284, signed into law in June by Gov. Greg Abbott. This move is expected to further boost the region's CCS efforts.
The state-owned lands in Texas extend to 10.35 miles offshore instead of the usual 3.45 miles due to a historical law, providing a vast area for CO2 storage. The Texas General Land Office has announced it is accepting lease proposals for CO2 storage sites in state land offshore of Jefferson County.
Falling oil and gas prices and an increasing 45Q federal tax credit are making CCS for its own sake more attractive. Charles McConnell, former Assistant Secretary of Energy, stated that storage in and of itself can be viable now.
The existing CO2 infrastructure could be leveraged and expanded to boost carbon storage outside of enhanced oil recovery. The paper describes this potential expansion, offering a promising outlook for the Gulf Coast's CCS future.
Advancing CCS is something that can be done now, according to Meckel. With the right policy incentives and industry participation, the Gulf Coast could become a leading player in the global fight against climate change.
For those interested in further reading, the paper's DOI is 10.1002/ghg.2082. The Gulf Coast's CCS journey is just beginning, and it's an exciting time to be a part of it.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
