Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships Validation Phase

Validation Phase

The Validation Phase of the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (RCSP) Initiative began in 2005, leading to the successful completion of 19 small-scale field projects in a variety of storage complex (8 in oil and gas fields, 5 in unmineable coal seams, 5 in saline formations, 1 in basalt). The projects provided information on reservoir and seal properties of regionally significant formations, testing, and initial validation of modeling and monitoring technologies. The projects also helped establish familiarity with carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage technologies among many stakeholder groups. More than 1 million metric tons (MMT) of CO₂ cumulatively was stored via these RCSP Validation Phase field projects.

Number on Map	Project Name	RCSP	Project Type	Injection Formations (Reservoir)	CO₂Injected (metric tons) April 2012
1	Walulla Basalt Pilot Study	BSCSP	Basalt	Interflow Zones, Grande Ronde Basalt	1,000*
2	Loudon Single Well Huff N Puff Project	MGSC	Huff N Puff EOR	Cypress and Mississippi Weiler Sandstone	39
3	Mumford Hills Project	MGSC	Enhanced Oil Recovery	Clore Sandstone	6,300
4	Sugar Creek Project	MGSC	Enhanced Oil Recovery	Jackson Sandstone	6,560
5	Tanquary Well Project	MGSC	Enhanced Coalbed Methane Recovery	Springfield Coal	91
6	Appalachian Basin Geologic Test at the R.E. Power Plant: Fegenco Fell	MRCSP	Saline Storage	Clinton Sandstone Salina Formation Oriskany Sand Stone	50
7	Duke Energy – East Bend Well Site	MRCSP	Saline Storage	Mt. Simon	910
8	Michigan Basin Geologic Test	MRCSP	Saline Storage	Bass Island Dolomite	60,000
9	Zama Acid Gas EOR, CO₂Storage, and Monitoring Project	PCOR	Enhanced Oil Recovery	Middle Devonian Keg River Formation	133,550 acid gas
10	Lignite CCS Project	PCOR	ECBM	Lignite Seams in Ft. Union Formation	80
11	Northwest McGregor EOR Huff N Puff Project	PCOR	Huff N Puff EOR	Mission Canyon Limestone	400
12	Gulf Coast Stacked Storage Project	SECARB	Enhanced Oil Recovery	Tuscaloosa Formation	627,744
13	Plant Daniel Project	SECARB	Saline Storage	Massive Sand, Lower Tuscaloosa	2,740
14	Central Appalachian Basin Coal Test	SECARB	Enhanced Coalbed Methane Recovery	Pocahontas and Lee Formation	907
15	Black Warrior Project	SECARB	Enhanced Coalbed Methane Recovery	Pottsville Formation (coal zones)	252
16	Aneth EOR Sequestration Test	SWP	Enhanced Oil Recovery	Desert Creek and Ismay Formation	292,000
17	SACROC CO₂ Injection Project	SWP	Enhanced Oil Recovery	Horseshoe Atoll and Pennsylvanian Reef/Bank Play	157,000
18	Pump Canyon CO₂-ECBM/Sequestration Demonstration	SWP	Enhanced Coalbed Methane Recovery	Fruitland Coal Formation	16,700
19	Arizona Utilities CO₂ Storage Pilot	WESTCARB	Saline Storage	Martin and Naco Formations	-

The RCSP small-scale Validation Phase field test efforts were designed to demonstrate that regional storage formations have the capability to store CO₂ and provide the foundation for larger volume, commercial-scale projects.

Experience and knowledge gained from field laboratories is key in development of the Carbon Storage Program's Best Practices Manuals (BPMs), with the original BPMs being based on Validation Phase efforts. The BPMs are intended to disseminate knowledge gained through the RCSP field efforts and to establish effective methods, reliable approaches, and consistent standards for carrying out successful geologic storage projects.