Preparations Underway for Carbon Storage Facility along the Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast region, known for its industrial might, is now at the forefront of a new economic venture - carbon storage. A study led by the University of Texas at Austin, published in Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, has highlighted the potential for a carbon storage economy along the Gulf Coast.

The study, co-authored by Alex Bump, Susan Hovorka, Ramón H. Treviño, and others from the Gulf Coast Carbon Center, provides a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and policy incentives for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Texas and Louisiana. The development of this new system involves a consortium of companies and institutions, with Shell leading the project management and engineering, ExxonMobil focusing on operations and logistics, and various governmental agencies handling regulatory oversight and funding coordination.

The subsurface geology offshore of the Gulf Coast is particularly suitable for permanently storing CO2. This, coupled with the fact that Texas state-owned lands extend to 10.35 miles offshore instead of the usual 3.45 miles due to a historical law, makes the region a promising location for CCS.

The technology can help flatten CO2 emissions as lower-carbon energy alternatives mature in the market. Falling oil and gas prices and an increasing 45Q federal tax credit are making carbon storage for its own sake more attractive. In fact, according to Charles McConnell, former Assistant Secretary of Energy, storage in and of itself can be viable now.

The Department of Energy funded the research for this study, and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed HB 1284 into law, granting the Texas Railroad Commission the same regulatory authority over CO2 injection wells as it has over oil and gas wells. This move further solidifies the region's commitment to CCS.

The Texas General Land Office has also announced it is accepting lease proposals for CO2 storage sites in state land offshore of Jefferson County. The Gulf Coast region, with its high concentration of industry and unique offshore geology, makes it a particularly good spot to build up a carbon storage economy.

With Texas having the highest level of emissions of any state, and Louisiana second in the Gulf Coast region, CCS can help stop a portion of emissions right at the source. This technology, which keeps CO2 out of the atmosphere by capturing emissions and storing them deep underground, can help fight climate change by lowering industrial emissions now while renewable energy sources are being developed. Advancing CCS is something that can be done now, according to Meckel.

The development of a new carbon storage system along the Gulf Coast is a significant step towards mitigating the effects of climate change. The study, with the DOI 10.1002/ghg.2082, provides a solid foundation for further research and implementation of CCS technology in the region.