To support the development of regional infrastructure for carbon capture and storage (CCS), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) created a network of seven Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs).
The RCSP Initiative began in 2003 with characterization of each region’s potential to store carbon dioxide (CO2) in different geologic formations. Characterization activities in the Carbon Storage Program originally started as Phase I of the RCSP Initiative (the "Characterization Phase") and included cataloging regional CO2 sources, characterizing CCS prospects, and prioritizing opportunities for future CO2 injection field projects. In 2005, validation of the most promising regional storage opportunities was initiated through a series of small-scale field laboratory projects (Validation Phase). The Validation Phase led to the successful completion of 19 small-scale field projects in a variety of storage complexes (8 in oil and gas fields, 5 in unmineable coal seams, 5 in saline formations, 1 in basalt), providing information on reservoir and seal properties of regionally significant formations, testing, and initial validation of modeling and monitoring technologies. In 2008, the RCSP focus turned to large-scale field laboratories in saline formations and oil and gas fields with a target of injecting at least 1 million metric tons (MMT) per project in the Development Phase of the RCSP Initiative. Numerous applied research technologies have been integrated into these projects and the results have been essential in further technology development of CCS.
Results obtained from the RCSP efforts provide the foundation for validating that CCS technologies can be commercially deployed and monitored throughout the United States. While providing important technical knowledge and operational experience for future 50+ MMT-scale projects, RCSP field projects have also been essential for identifying additional subsurface reservoir and operational issues which still need to be addressed. These and future large-scale projects will be necessary to validate storage projects integrated with carbon capture technologies from various CO2 sources and geologic storage in the diverse geologic settings found in multiple basins throughout the United States.
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Technology Pathway | Challenges | Current Research Efforts |
Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Initiative |
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Note: A storage complex consists of: (1) one or more storage reservoirs, with permeability and porosity that allow injection and storage of CO2; and (2) one or more low-permeability seals, which enclose the reservoir(s) and serve as barriers to migration of CO2 out of the reservoir. Geologic setting refers to the rock type, structural characteristics, and rock and fluid properties arising from the depositional environment and post-depositional processes at a potential storage site.
Key accomplishments of the RCSP Initiative include:
Technology Component Portfolio Interactive Map
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is supporting a diverse portfolio of projects, which can be viewed in the Tableau Dashboard below. This map is entirely interactive; adjusting the toolbar on the left allows you to narrow your selection, pan, or zoom in/out. The map can be sorted by Technology Area; clicking on a location allows you to learn more about each individual project.
Adjusting the Icon Spread Factor allows you to simultaneously view projects with the same locations. NOTE: Some of the projects, while they share a location, appear staggered to allow the viewer to show multiple projects at the same location. In those instances, as well those in which the location is marked as "Regional," the location is estimated.
Please note that the interactive map is best viewed using the Internet Explorer or Edge internet browsers.