Carbon Sequestration & Utilization

Carbon sequestration is the storage of captured CO2 as a means to reduce greenhouse gases.

The CO₂ sequestration process includes separating CO₂ from other gasses during and after industrial chemical processing or power generation, compressing and transporting the CO₂, and then either using it for an industrial application (CCUS) or injecting it into a suitable geologic formation for permanent storage (CCS).

Estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show US energy-related CO₂ emissions of 4,807 million metric tons in 2023, down from over 5,147 in 2019.

According to the DOE, in 2022, ~46 million metric tons of CO₂ were captured and stored globally and expected to reach 254 million metric tons by 2030.

In the US, there are 15 active CCS projects, which capture ~ 22 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, with another 120 under development. Some CO₂ is also re-used by the oil and gas industry in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) – CO₂ recovered during oil and gas extraction is injected into wells to recover otherwise inaccessible stores of oil and gas, allowing them to produce longer.

Abandoned Wells: By the Numbers

A long history of oil and gas production across the US poses new challenges for emerging carbon sequestration projects. Wells abandoned prior to the establishment of modern plugging standards may lack zonal isolation entirely, potentially allowing a conduit for stored carbon to escape.

Louisiana recently became the third state (following North Dakota and Wyoming) approved by the EPA to regulate CO₂ injection wells. Louisiana had it’s first well drilled in 1901 and since then has accumulated over 180,000 abandoned wells While most of these wells either exist outside of the anticipated CO₂ plume of CCS projects in the state or are properly abandoned to ensure zonal isolation, a subset of ~13,000 wells were plugged before 1953 and lie within viable zones for carbon sequestration

Ensuring Integrity: Corrective Action

Regulations require companies to identify wells within the CO₂ injection project area and ensure wells are properly plugged to ensure zonal isolation. However, some experts are concerned that abandoned oil and gas wells could lead to potential storage failures as many locations with geologic features most suitable for CO₂ storage are also areas that were or are production sites.

Reliable methods to ensure zonal isolation are critical to prevent leaks and CO₂ escape from storage projects. BioSqueeze provides an array of innovative well integrity solutions for establishing zonal isolation including our Deep Penetrating Annular Surface (DPAS™) BioSqueeze®, a rigless solution that boasts an industry leading +90% success rate.