Geological Carbon Sequestration Options in the Illinois Basin

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a potential technical strategy for managing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with global climate change. The successful demonstration through projects of varying type, scale, and geologic setting is essential to move toward commercial CCS. Demonstration projects face technical and non-technical challenges during planning, permitting, site characterization, infrastructure development, monitoring, operation, and post-closure.  Technical challenges are addressed by applying known methodologies to new projects in diverse, but geologically suitable locations.  Socio-economic challenges are addressed in part through public engagement, outreach, and education.  Community engagement benefits from integration with specific projects and project related activities.

One such project, the Illinois Basin – Decatur Project (IBDP), is a large-scale CCS demonstration project of the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium, led by the Illinois State Geological Survey. Multiple milestones led IBDP project management to capitalize on opportunities for engagement with local and regional stakeholders. The project was funded under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership program in December 2008. In Fall 2011, IBDP began injection of 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over three years at a rate of 1,000 tonnes per day. The CO₂ is derived from the ethanol production facilities at the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) plant in Decatur, Illinois, USA. Drilling the injection well in 2009 confirmed site suitability. A 3D seismic survey, a geophysical monitoring well, and a pressure and fluid sampling (verification) well followed in 2010. Perforation and completion of the verification well and two rounds of fluid sampling were completed by September 2011. Additionally, a 1,100 tonne per day compression/dehydration facility and delivery pipeline were developed to deliver supercritical CO₂ to the wellhead.

Communication and public engagement are fully integrated into IBDP project management. Outreach, education, and permitting activities require integration of technical information from multiple project disciplines, project team members, and external sources. The integration process starts by understanding technical activities, translating challenging information into more approachable forms, and providing knowledge sharing functions by which project details are made available to multiple audiences. Permitting activities directly integrate technical details in reports and by communicating details to regulators and other stakeholders. Using the Illinois Basin-Decatur Project (IBDP) as an example, a project update, public engagement and communication activities, and lessons learned will be discussed.