PNNL

Abstract

Development of the FutureGen geologic storage site in Morgan County Illinois is part of a larger project to design, build, and operate a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) system capable of capturing, treating, and storing the CO2 off-gas from an oxy-combustion coal-fueled power plant located in Meredosia, Illinois. The geological storage site is designed to capture approximately 1.1 million metric tons (Mt) of CO2 each year. To support the selection and design of the site, a comprehensive characterization effort was conducted that included seismic, surveys, detailed sampling and testing of a stratigraphic well including coring, geophysical wireline logging, hydrologic testing and geomechanical testing. The characterization results combined with pertinent research literature were used to build a conceptual model of the site, which in turn informed the development of computer models. Collectively this work supported both the design work and the permitting under the Environmental Protection Agency’s class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit process which was developed specifically for CO2 injection. The detailed design of the injection wells and associated monitoring network were completed in early 2014 and in August 2014 the site received the first issued set of class VI UIC permits for the planned injection wells.