WMU Researchers to Develop Roadmap for CCUS in Michigan Basin
KALAMAZOO, MI – Western Michigan University (WMU) researchers have received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant will fund a study on the potential for storing captured carbon emissions in Michigan’s underground rock formations. The project aims to create a roadmap for carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) within the Michigan Basin’s geologic formations. These formations are believed to have the capacity to permanently store up to 70 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in five key reservoirs.
Michigan’s Portfolio of Options for CO2 Storage
According to Autumn Haagsma, assistant director of the Michigan Geological Survey at WMU, Michigan offers a “portfolio of options” for CO2 storage. These options include:
- Mount Simon Sandstone in the southern region
- Sylvania Sandstone in the central region
- Niagaran Reef or St. Peter Sandstone in the northern region
Exploring New Opportunities for Carbon Storage
CO2 has been injected into underground rock formations in Michigan for enhanced oil recovery. However, Haagsma noted that there are other opportunities to explore. These include permanent storage in saline reservoirs and new technologies that take advantage of the Upper Peninsula’s unique geology. In certain types of rock, CO2 can mineralize and turn solid when introduced.
Multidisciplinary Research Team to Guide Carbon Management Industry
The three-year project will involve a multidisciplinary team of university researchers and students. They will guide the development of a carbon management industry in Michigan. The collaborators will investigate various aspects of CO2 storage, including:
- Three-dimensional modeling for subsurface impacts
- Transportation pipeline route analysis
- Seismic risk assessment
- Potential uses of the gas
- Complete life cycle analysis
Deliverables: Industry Guidebook and County-by-County Map
By the end of the project, the researchers will create an industry guidebook. They will also produce a county-by-county map of potential CO2 storage locations in Michigan.
Part of a Larger National Effort to Accelerate CCUS
The $5 million grant to WMU is part of a larger $44.5 million national effort by the U.S. Department of Energy. The goal is to accelerate commercial-scale CCUS. The concept involves removing greenhouse gas emissions from sources like industrial plants or factories. The gases are then stored underground to prevent their contribution to the accelerating climate crisis. Carbon Solutions LLC of Okemos, Michigan, also received a $5 million grant. They will provide technical assistance for a carbon storage project within the Columbia River Basalt formation in the western United States.
Advancing Basin-Scale Economies for Carbon Transport and Storage
Brad Crabtree, DOE assistant secretary for fossil energy and carbon management, emphasized the importance of these funded projects. They are intended to advance basin-scale economies for carbon transport and storage. This can play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane. These gases trap heat within the Earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming and climate change.
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