Status of U.S. Geologic Carbon Sequestration Research and Technology

Abstract

Mr. Beecy is Director, Office of Environmental Systems, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy. He is responsible for program planning of R&D on technologies to resolve environmental concerns and to address mitigation of climate change concerns, including DOE's Carbon Sequestration Program. Mr. Beecy also serves as the United States Representative to the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency's Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme. Mr. Kuuskraa is the President of Advanced Resources International Inc., a firm that specializes on the geology, engineering, and economics of natural gas and oil supply. He has authored over 100 technical papers and reports on energy supply and economics. He recently participated in the President's Energy and Trade Missions to China, India, and South Africa. Carbon sequestration is a relatively new field of science and technology. However, interest in it has been growing rapidly over the past several years. In 1998, the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy (DOE/FE) and Office of Science (DOE/OS) set forth their joint “road map” for carbon sequestration as an option for addressing climate change concerns. The road map identifies several alternatives for sequestering carbon including enhancing natural carbon sinks, capturing CO2 and storing it in geologic formations or the deep ocean, and converting CO2 to benign solid materials or fuels through biological or chemical processes. The DOE's Office of Fossil Energy, in partnership with industry, the International Energy Agency's Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme, and others, has under way a Carbon Sequestration Research and Development Program that addresses a broad range of sequestration options. In parallel and closely coordinated, the Office of Science has launched their Carbon Management Science Program. This paper focuses on program activities in the area of CO2 capture and storage in geologic formations. It summarizes the progress to date on DOE/FE …