About CCUS Projects

Operations Phase

Operations / Storing CO2 Underground

Once LDCE confirms the operational plans and well construction meets regulatory requirements, it will grant the Class VI permit so operators can begin storing CO2.

  • Process: CO2 is pumped more than a mile down the well into the storage layer where it mixes with the brine that exists within the pores of the storage layer. This brine is so salty it cannot be treated for human use.
  • Natural pressure: At about a mile deep, the brine moves through the pores of the storage layer because it is naturally under about 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure.
  • Added pressure: Injecting CO2 only raises the reservoir pressure slightly — about 1–8 percent near the well and 1–3 percent, further away across the storage zone.
  • Locked in: The cap rock, which is hundreds of feet thick, keeps both the brine and CO2 sealed underground because it is impermeable and typically can withstand nearly twice the pressure, about 4,500 psi of pressure.

Once underground, although some of the CO2 remains mobile, either settling lower in the pore space or floating up under the cap rock, a large portion of the CO2 will actually dissolve into the brine. Over time, some of this dissolved CO2 will react with the minerals in the rock and solidify.

Ongoing Regulatory Oversight

Operators remain subject to long-term regulatory requirements.

  • Continuous Monitoring & Reporting
    • Injection monitoring - Daily tracking of injection rates, volumes placed into storage, and wellhead pressures
    • Inside-the-well pressure monitoring - Continuously measuring the pressure inside the space between the tubing and casing to detect leaks
    • Groundwater monitoring - Regularly sampling the underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) to confirm no contamination
    • Plume and pressure front tracking - Using models and seismic studies to determine how the CO2 is moving underground
    • Quarterly and semi-annual reports - Submitting detailed data to LDCE on injection operations, monitoring results and any unexpected findings
  • Mechanical Integrity Testing
    • Conduct periodic pressure tests within the well to ensure well casing, tubing and packers are performing as designed
    • Use logs, which are tools that are lowered down the well, that are capable of seeing if there is any corrosion to the steel pipe or movement of fluids behind the pipe
    • Immediately repair or shut down wells if mechanical integrity is compromised
  • Area of Review (AOR) Evaluations
    • Regularly re-calculate the size of the AOR, the projected extent of the storage area, based on updated injection and monitoring data
    • Re-evaluate old wells within the AOR for potential leakage risks and plug or repair as needed
  • Corrosion & Materials Integrity Testing
    • Operate and maintain corrosion control systems
    • Monitor for signs of casing or tubing corrosion; replace or repair components as necessary
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning
    • Maintain an up-to-date emergency response plan approved by LDCE
    • Immediately notify regulators of any leak and respond appropriately
  • Financial Responsibility Assurance
    • Maintain approved financial resources and insurance to cover:
      • Ongoing monitoring costs
      • Corrective action
      • Shutdown and plugging of the injection well
      • Post-injection site care

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact our team directly using the link below or by calling us at 888-804-4788.

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