Field Test of CO2 sequestration into the Frio Formation, Texas, U.S.A. – Component of the GEO-SEQ project

Project Type

CO2 Geological Storage R&D Project

Project Category

CO2 Storage in Aquifers

Project Status

Active

Project Overview

Demonstrating the process of CO2 storage in a brine formation in Texas, where large scale CCS may be needed to offset CO2 releases.

Project Aim(s)

This test had four main goals:
1) demonstrate that CO2 can be injected into a saline formation without adverse health, safety or environmental effects,
2) determine the subsurface location and distribution of the CO2 cloud,
3) demonstrate understanding of conceptual models,
4) develop the experience necessary for success of future large-scale CO2 injection experiments

Partners/Participants

Bureaus of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin
Texas American Resources Company
Sandia Technologies
Transpecto
Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
National Energy Technology Laboraratory
BP
Schlumberger

Funding Source(s)

United States Department Of Energy (U.S. DOE)

Overall Project Costs

Part of a larger project

Project Timescale

Short-duration

Expected Key Deliverables

Demonstrate the feasibility of geologic sequestration in saline aquifers. Experience in permitting, characterising, modelling, injection, monitoring and validation of geological sequestration.

Project Links

Further information on the FRIO project can be found at:
Bureau of Economic Geology
http://www.beg.utexas.edu/
http://www.gulfcoastcarbon.org

Related Projects

GEO-SEQ Project:
http://co2captureandstorage.info/project_specific.php?project_id=80

Gulf Coast Carbon Center. A regional centre for education and technical information transfer on the potential for scale-up to use develop EOR in the region as an early, economically viable method of greenhouse gas emissions reduction for this industrial corridor.

Project Summary

The project includes a planning phase, pre-injection field activities, injection experiments, post-project syntheses, reporting, technology transfer and stakeholder involvement.

Planning phase characterisation and modelling are currently under way. Permitting and pre-injection field activities, including well workovers, recompletions, hydrologic characterisation of the injection interval and baseline pre-injection monitoring began at the end of 2002. The injection of CO2 was for 100 days, followed by a year of monitoring and assessment.


CSLF Endorsed Project. The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) is an international climate change initiative that is focused on development of improved cost-effective technologies for the separation and capture of carbon dioxide for its transport and long-term safe storage.

The CSLF has endorsed 30 international CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) projects as of October 2009.
More information can be found on the CSLF website

Date Last Updated

Contact Person 1

Name

Susan D. Hovorka

E-Mail

susan.hovorka@beg.utexas.edu