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Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide
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Geologic sequestration (GS) is the process of injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) from a source, such as a coal-fired electric generating power plant, through a well into the deep subsurface. With proper site selection and management, geologic sequestration could play a major role in reducing emissions of CO2.
This page provides information on the EPA Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water’s work to ensure the protection of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs).
- On this page
Background
Geologic sequestration of CO2 through well injection meets the definition of “underground injection” in section 1421(d)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). EPA has authority for underground injection of under the SDWA Underground Injection Control (UIC) program.EPA and states, territories, and tribes that have primacy for UIC programs (“Primacy States”) act as co-regulators to protect USDWs from any potential endangerment from underground injection of CO2.
Underground injection of CO2 for purposes such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and enhanced gas recovery (EGR) is a long-standing practice. CO2 injection specifically for geologic sequestration involves different technical issues and potentially much larger volumes of CO2 and larger scale projects than in the past.
Research efforts to evaluate the technical aspects of CO2 geologic sequestration are underway.EPA Regions and Primacy States currently permit injection wells associated with these research and development projects as Class V wells. Permit applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure the protection of USDWs. EPA released Class V Experimental Technology Well Guidance for Pilot Geologic Sequestration Projects in March, 2007. This guidance is intended to address only the experimental pilot projects anticipated to be brought online in advance of full-scale operations over the next several years. Regulations now in development will address future full-scale projects.
EPA announced in October 2007 that the Agency plannned to propose regulations to ensure consistency in permitting full-scale geologic sequestration projects in the summer of 2008. Several public stakeholder workshops were held to inform the regulatory development process.
Regulatory Development
Proposed rule for Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells
In July 2008, EPA published the Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells Proposed Rule for public review and comment.
- Federal Register Notice: Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells Proposed Rule HTML | PDF Version (51pp, 1K)
- Fact sheet on the proposed rule PDF (3pp, 59K)
EPA 816-F-08-032, July 2008 - July 15, 2008 Press Release: EPA Lays Groundwork for Promising Technologies to Help Mitigate Climate Change
- Proposal support documents
- Approaches to Geologic Sequestration Site Stewardship After Site Closure PDF(27pp, 193K)
EPA 816-B-08-002, July 2008 - Geologic CO2 Sequestration Technology and Cost Analysis PDF (67pp, 574K)
EPA 816-B-08-009, July 2008 - Vulnerability Evaluation Framework for Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide PDF (85pp, 2M)
EPA 430-R-08-009, July 2008
- Approaches to Geologic Sequestration Site Stewardship After Site Closure PDF(27pp, 193K)
- Fact sheet on the proposed rule PDF (3pp, 59K)
Public Comment Period Closed
The public comment period is closed as of December 24, 2008
Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells; Notice of Data Availability and Request for Comment
In August 2009, EPA published the Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells; Notice of Data Availability and Request for Comment for public review and comment.
- Federal Register Notice
- Fact sheet on the NODA PDF (2pp, 28K)
EPA 816-F-09-005, August 2009 - Public Comment Period
- There is a 45 day public comment period for providing submissions to the online docket about the NODA. Information on the online public docket is available below.
Public Hearings
EPA will hold a public hearing to solicit public comment on this Notice of Data Availability (NODA) and Request for Comment.
- September 17, 2009: Chicago, IL at the EPA Region 5 Office
EPA held two public hearings to solicit public comment on the proposed regulations for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide.
- September 30, 2008: Chicago, IL at the EPA Region 5 Office
- October 2, 2008: Denver, CO at the Colorado Convention Center
- The Federal Register Notice for the hearings is accessible at:
- Proposed Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells; Notice of Public Hearings
HTML Version | PDF Version (12 pp, 58K, About PDF) - The presentation delivered at each hearing is available at the link below. It reviews UIC and GS background, the proposed requirements, the schedule, and the importance of public comments:
Webcasts on Financial Responsibility Instruments for Geologic Sequestration (GS) Wells
In April and May 2009, EPA sponsored a series of public webinars on financial responsibility for carbon dioxide geologic sequestration (GS) wells. The goal of the series was to encourage information sharing on potential financial mechanisms that well owners and operators could use to meet the financial responsibility requirements for GS projects. EPA plans to use the information gathered through the webinar series to inform its decisions as it develops guidance related to financial responsibility for GS wells. The webinars addressed the following topics:
- Trust Funds, Letters of Credit, and Surety Bonds with Standby Trust Agreements (held on April 28);
- Insurance (held on May 20);
- Self-Insurance: Financial Test and Corporate Guarantee (held on May 26).
Collectively, about 100 people attended the webinars. The participants represented a range of organizations with interest in and unique perspectives on financial responsibility for GS, including staff members of EPA regions, corporations, consulting, and financial services, state/municipal governments, energy/environmental nonprofits, electricity providers (e.g., energy companies and utilities), and academia.
- Summary of Webcasts on Financial Responsibility Instruments for Geologic Sequestration Wells (PDF 56 pp, 382 K)
EPA 815-D-09-001
Stakeholder workshops
- February 26-27, 2008: Second Public Workshop to Discuss Management of Underground Injection of Carbon Dioxide for Geologic Sequestration Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, Washington DC
EPA held a second public workshop to discuss the development of proposed regulations for the underground injection of carbon dioxide for geologic sequestration under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The workshop was attended by more than 250 stakeholders representing a broad range of interests including government, industry, public interest groups, and the general public. - December 3-4, 2007: Public Workshop to Discuss Management of Underground Injection of Carbon Dioxide for Geologic Sequestration Under the Safe Drinking Water Act; Washington, DC
EPA held a public workshop to discuss the development of proposed regulations for the underground injection of carbon dioxide for geologic sequestration under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The workshop was attended by more than 200 stakeholders representing a broad range of interests including government, industry, public interest groups, and the general public.- Federal Register Notice of Meeting
- Presentations PDF (32pp, 2M)
- Summary PDF (39pp, 478K)
Class V Experimental Technology Well Guidance for Pilot Geologic Sequestration Projects
Pilot geologic sequestration projects around the country are assessing the efficacy of CO2 injection for the purpose of geologic sequestration. They will provide information about how CO2 behaves in the sub-surface and proper well construction and operational procedures.
EPA has provided UIC Program Guidance to assist state and EPA regional UIC programs in processing permit applications for these projects. This Guidance applies only to near-term geologic sequestration pilot projects prior to full-scale deployment. Regulations now in development will address full-scale projects.
- Using the Class V Experimental Technology Well Classification for Pilot Geologic Sequestration Projects, March 2007 PDF (23pp, 455K)
- Questions and Answers on the Final Guidance
- EPA's Role in DOE's Carbon Dioxide Geologic Sequestration Activities, July 5, 2006 PDF (2pp, 538K)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnerships webpage.
Technical workshops on Geological Sequestration
Since 2005 EPA has been sponsoring or co-sponsoring workshops to explore the technical aspects of CO2 geologic sequestration and to share ideas with stakeholders and experts.
- January 16, 2008: CO2Geosequestration MMV(Measurement, Monitoring, and Verification) Workshop, New Orleans
- Agenda: CO2 Geosequestration MMV (Measurement, Monitoring, and Verification) Workshop PDF (2pp, 302K)
- Summary: CO2 Geosequestration MMV (Measurement, Monitoring, and Verification) Workshop PDF (23pp, 96K)
- Presentations: CO2 Geosequestration MMV (Measurement, Monitoring, and Verification) Workshop PDF (89pp, 5M)
- July 10-11, 2007: Geological Setting and Area of Review Considerations for CO2 Geologic Sequestration. Washington, DC
- Agenda: Geological Setting and Area of Review Considerations for CO2 Geologic Sequestration PDF (2pp, 2K)
- Summary: Geological Setting and Area of Review Considerations for CO2 Geologic Sequestration PDF (1pp, 20K)
- Presentations: Geological Setting and Area of Review Considerations for CO2 Geologic Sequestration PDF (180pp, 13M)
- March 14, 2007: EPA Technical Workshop on Well Construction and Mechanical Integrity Testing .Albuquerque, NM
- Agenda: EPA Technical Workshop on Well Construction and Mechanical Integrity Testing PDF (1pp, 23K)
- Summary:EPA Technical Workshop on Well Construction and Mechanical Integrity Testing PDF (18pp, 130K)
- Presentations: EPA Technical Workshop on Well Construction and Mechanical Integrity Testing PDF (76pp, 4M)
- January 24, 2007: State Regulators Workshop on Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide.San Antonio, TX
- Agenda: State Regulators Workshop on Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide PDF (1pp, 15K)
- Summary: State Regulators Workshop on Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide PDF (13pp, 11K)
- March 20-22, 2006: Site Characterization for CO2 Geological Storage. Berkeley, CA
- Agenda: International Symposium on Site Characterization for CO2 Geological Storage PDF (11pp, 155K)
- Summary: International Symposium on Site Characterization for CO2 Geological Storage PDF (1pp, 20K)
- September 28-29, 2005, Risk Assessment for Geologic CO2 Storage.; Portland, OR
- Agenda: EPA Workshop on Risk Assessment for Geologic CO2 Storage PDF (3pp, 196K)
- Summary: EPA Workshop on Risk Assessment for Geologic CO2 Storage PDF (1pp, 11K)
- April 6-7, 2005: Modeling and Reservoir Simulation for Geologic Carbon Storage. Houston, TX
Links
Additional information on climate change and sequestration can be found at EPA’s Global Warming and the Department of Energy web sites.