Big Sky Regional Partnership – Validation Phase
Project # 41995

Primary Performing Organization
Montana State University

Big Sky is one of seven Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships created by DOE in 2003 as part of a national plan to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. During the first phase of this three-phase program (Characterization Phase, 2003-05) the Partnership developed a technology framework for the subsequent validation and deployment phases, and identified the most cost effective, technically feasible, and publicly acceptable options for geologic and terrestrial carbon sequestration in a region composed of Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, South Dakota, eastern Washington and Wyoming.

In the second, Validation Phase, the Big Sky Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership is building on the work conducted in the Characterization Phase with a focus on relatively small-scale geologic and terrestrial field tests that assess the relative efficiency of alternative sequestration options, prove the environmental efficacy and sustainability of sequestration, verify regional CO₂ sequestration capacities, and satisfy field test permitting and regulatory requirements. Data from these field tests will be integrated into a geographical information system (GIS) tool that will help industry and regional planners optimize energy development strategies. The highlight of the Phase II effort is a pilot-scale test to inject approximately 1,000 tons of supercritical CO₂ into a deep basalt formation (Grande Ronde Basalt) in western Walla Walla County, in eastern Washington State. The test will assess the mineralogical, geochemical, and hydrologic impact of injected CO₂ within a basalt formation, and incorporate site monitoring and verification activities.

Benefits of this project will include providing a comprehensive evaluation of the sources and potential sinks for CO₂ in the Northern Rockies and Great Plains Region and a previously-unavailable source of real-world information on the issues and practices surrounding injection of CO₂ into basalt formations. These data can be integrated with the data from other regional partnerships to provide a database covering the entire nation.