Prairie Research Institute

Illinois State Geological Survey

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is an important greenhouse gas that is generated as both a byproduct of energy production (e.g., the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels) and from natural processes (e.g., wildfires, volcanic eruptions). With growing concern over the increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and the adverse effects on the environment and society that could result from associated climate change, government and industry are taking measures to reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions and even remove CO2 from the atmosphere directly.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is an important greenhouse gas that is generated as both a byproduct of energy production (e.g., the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels) and from natural processes (e.g., wildfires, volcanic eruptions). With growing concern over the increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and the adverse effects on the environment and society that could result from associated climate change, government and industry are taking measures to reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions and even remove CO2 from the atmosphere directly.

The Prairie Research Institute is involved in projects that span the CCUS value chain from capture, utilization (the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center has several ongoing carbon capture and utilization projects) through to storage. ISGS has decades of applied research experience in the Illinois Basin to support the safe development of carbon utilization and storage in the subsurface.

Utilization

ISGS has built geologic conceptual and geocellular models and run reservoir simulations for decades. ISGS staff have familiarity with field laboratory research and have participated with industry partners in the past to design drilling, coring, logging, and fluid sampling programs for new wells and have designed and implemented CO2 injection tests.

Storage

ISGS has been at the forefront of carbon capture and storage (CCS) research for over 20 years accumulating some of the richest data collection of relevant geological, engineering, hydrogeological, geochemical, geophysical, geomechanical, and environmental data for the Illinois Basin in the world. ISGS has been directly involved in drilling eight wells in the Illinois Basin to collect data for evaluation of storage site feasibility. Most of these wells were drilled through the entire Paleozoic sedimentary succession into the Precambrian crystalline basement. These wells have included injection wells, deep-monitoring wells, and structure test wells. ISGS is also experienced in other field and data acquisition efforts, analysis, and methods required for storage site evaluation, including designing and interpreting 2D and 3D seismic data, well testing, static modeling, and dynamic simulation. Our expertise ranges from site screening, feasibility assessment, site design, Class VI permitting, site development, injection operations, and site closure. This work includes research derived from the extensive Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC), including the comprehensive site characterization conducted by the IBDP and for the IL-ICCS projects in Decatur, Illinois. That work has produced 158 conference papers, 138 Journal articles, five patents/patent applications, 28 reports, and 108 unpublished papers on subsurface evaluation. Additional and more recent activities include previous and ongoing CarbonSAFE projects, including the CarbonSAFE Illinois East Basin (DE-FE0029445), CarbonSAFE Illinois Phase 2 Macon County (DE-FE0029381), Wabash CarbonSAFE (DE-FE0031626) and the CarbonSAFE Illinois Storage Corridor (DE-FE0031892).

Stakeholder Engagement

ISGS has a long history of maintaining effective stakeholder engagement across a variety of carbon management projects and has contributed to CCS stakeholder engagement activities around the world, as well as to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Outreach Best Practices Manual and World Resources Institute Stakeholder Engagement Guidelines.

At ISGS, successful carbon management practices require early public engagement and outreach with communities to provide information, answer questions, and offer support around CCUS activities. Lack of public awareness and support can be a major non-technical barrier to the development and implementation of CCS projects, and it is of vital importance to ISGS to establish an effective two-way relationship with communities early in the process.