Carbon and Energy Storage, Emissions and Economics (CESEE) Active
Carbon Dioxide Storage Assessments and Research
The USGS provides national carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and associated carbon dioxide storage information
Associated Energy Gases
The USGS characterizes and evaluates the resource potential of energy-related gases such as carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide
Microseismic Monitoring at Decatur, IL
The USGS monitors microseismic activity to better understand the possible hazard associated with deep-well injection of carbon dioxide at Decatur
Above-ground Infrastructure for Storing Excess Energy
Subsurface natural gas storage in the Hutchinson Salt Member in Reno County, Kansas
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is utilized by industry to enhance oil recovery. Subsurface CO2 storage could significantly impact reduction of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, but the economics and potential risks associated with the practice must be understood before implementing extensive programs or regulations. Utilization of other energy-related gases such as helium (He), if separated and concentrated from the produced natural gas stream, can make otherwise low-thermal (un-economic) natural gas deposits a viable part of the national natural gas resource base. Geologic energy storage options require additional investigation and assessments of available storage resources.
Federal Lands Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sequestration in the U.S.
The USGS has produced estimates of the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the extraction and end-use combustion of fossil fuels produced on Federal lands in the United States, as well as estimates of ecosystem carbon emissions and sequestration.
Downloadable Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Spatial Data
A list of downloadable geologic carbon dioxide sequestration spatial data and associated geologic reports is available here.
Our interactive web map includes investigated basins, assessed areas, stratigraphic columns, and well density information.
Geologic Carbon Dioxide Utilization Topics
- Assessment Methodologies
- National Carbon Dioxide Storage Assessment Results
- Select Energy Resources Program Carbon Dioxide Publications
- Global Carbon Dioxide Storage Resource Assessments
- Project Staff
- Geologic Carbon Sequestration Project Overview Handout
- Helium Concentrations in United States Wells
The Carbon and Energy Storage, Emissions and Economics (CESEE) project conducts science to:
- Estimate how much oil can be produced by injecting CO2 into reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery
- Estimate the amount of CO2 that could be stored in geologic reservoirs nationwide
- Assess the environmental risks of storing CO2 in underground reservoirs, including the potential for CO2 leakage, impacts to drinking water, and induced seismicity
- Evaluate the origin, distribution, and resource-potential of non-hydrocarbon natural gases
- Evaluate subsurface geologic energy storage options including natural gas storage, compressed air storage, pumped hydroelectric storage, and geothermal storage
During the course of the Carbon and Energy Storage, Emissions and Economics (CESEE) project, the following research and assessment topics are being investigated:
- Methodology Development and Assessment of National Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Storage Potential
- Geologic Carbon Dioxide and Energy-related Storage, Gas Resources, and Utilization
- Assessing Emissions from Active and Abandoned Coal Mines
- Geologic Energy Storage
- Induced Seismicity Associated with Carbon Dioxide Geologic Storage
- Economics of Energy Transitions
Slideshows Associated with Project Member Talks:
- National Unplugged Orphan Oil and Gas Well Database - Presentation [.pdf] [3.71 MB]
- Carbon Dioxide Mineralization Feasibility in the United States [.pdf] [3.91 MB]
- Subsurface Carbon and Energy Storage Resource Assessments [.pdf] [1.74 MB]
- Federal lands greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration – a modified EPA methodology [.pdf]
- A Pressure-limited Model to Estimate CO2 Injection and Storage Capacity of Saline Formations: Investigating the Effects of Formation Properties, Model Variables and Presence of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- Enhanced Oil Recovery and Residual Oil Zone Studies at the U.S. Geological Survey [.pdf] [2.0 MB]
- Overview of USGS Carbon Sequestration - Geologic Research and Assessments Project [.pdf] [2.1 MB]
- Microseismicity Monitoring at the Decatur, IL, CO2 Sequestration Demonstration Site [.pdf] [8.9 MB]
- Status Report: Estimating greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels produced from Federal lands [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- A Probabilistic Assessment Methodology for Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Retention [.pdf] [.67 MB]
- A Database and Probabilistic Assessment Methodology for Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Retention in the United States [.pdf] [1.7 MB]
- Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Resource Studies at the U.S. Geological Survey [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- Induced Seismicity Monitoring at the Decatur, IL, CO2 Sequestration Demonstration Site [YouTube]
- U.S. Geological Survey National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources and Associated Research [.pdf] [2.3 MB]
- U.S. Geological Survey National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources and Associated Research [.pdf] [2.6 MB]
- National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Results [.pdf] [2.2 MB]
- Development Philosophy of an Assessment Methodology for Hydrocarbon Recovery Potential Using CO2-EOR Associated with Carbon Sequestration [.pdf] [.57 MB]
- U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resource Assessment of the United States - 2012 Project Update [.pdf] [3.9 MB]
- Examining Salinity Restrictions for CO2 Storage: Suggestions from Basin to Reservoir Scales [.pdf] [1.9 MB]
- Using ArcGIS to Identify Environmental Risk Factors Associated with CO2 Storage [.pdf] [1.7 MB]
- A Probabilistic Assessment Methodology for the Evaluation of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage [.pdf] [1.4 MB]
- CO2 Fluid Flow Modeling to Derive the Time Scales of Lateral Fluid Migration [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resource Assessment of the United States - Project Update [.pdf] [3.3 MB]
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Dimensional effects of inter-phase mass transfer on attenuation of structurally trapped gaseous carbon dioxide in shallow aquifers
Estimating market conditions for potential entry of new sources of anthropogenic CO2 for EOR in the Permian Basin
A fuzzy logic approach for estimating recovery factors of miscible CO2-EOR projects in the United States
Preliminary GIS representation of deep coal areas for carbon dioxide storage in the contiguous United States and Alaska
Improving pressure-limited CO2 storage capacity in saline formations by means of brine extraction
Estimating the pressure-limited dynamic capacity and costs of basin-scale CO2 storage in a Saline Formation
An ANCOVA model for porosity and its uncertainty for oil reservoirs based on TORIS dataset
Overview of future USGS Gulf of Mexico buoyant storage assessment project
Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and residual oil zone studies at the U.S. Geological Survey
Carbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States
Simulating the evolution of fluid underpressures in the Great Plains, by incorporation of tectonic uplift and tilting, with a groundwater flow model
Estimating the potential costs of brine production to expand the pressure-limited CO2 storage capacity of the Mount Simon Sandstone
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is utilized by industry to enhance oil recovery. Subsurface CO2 storage could significantly impact reduction of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, but the economics and potential risks associated with the practice must be understood before implementing extensive programs or regulations. Utilization of other energy-related gases such as helium (He), if separated and concentrated from the produced natural gas stream, can make otherwise low-thermal (un-economic) natural gas deposits a viable part of the national natural gas resource base. Geologic energy storage options require additional investigation and assessments of available storage resources.
Federal Lands Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sequestration in the U.S.The USGS has produced estimates of the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the extraction and end-use combustion of fossil fuels produced on Federal lands in the United States, as well as estimates of ecosystem carbon emissions and sequestration.
Downloadable Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Spatial DataA list of downloadable geologic carbon dioxide sequestration spatial data and associated geologic reports is available here.
Our interactive web map includes investigated basins, assessed areas, stratigraphic columns, and well density information.
Geologic Carbon Dioxide Utilization Topics- Assessment Methodologies
- National Carbon Dioxide Storage Assessment Results
- Select Energy Resources Program Carbon Dioxide Publications
- Global Carbon Dioxide Storage Resource Assessments
- Project Staff
- Geologic Carbon Sequestration Project Overview Handout
- Helium Concentrations in United States Wells
The Carbon and Energy Storage, Emissions and Economics (CESEE) project conducts science to:
- Estimate how much oil can be produced by injecting CO2 into reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery
- Estimate the amount of CO2 that could be stored in geologic reservoirs nationwide
- Assess the environmental risks of storing CO2 in underground reservoirs, including the potential for CO2 leakage, impacts to drinking water, and induced seismicity
- Evaluate the origin, distribution, and resource-potential of non-hydrocarbon natural gases
- Evaluate subsurface geologic energy storage options including natural gas storage, compressed air storage, pumped hydroelectric storage, and geothermal storage
During the course of the Carbon and Energy Storage, Emissions and Economics (CESEE) project, the following research and assessment topics are being investigated:
- Methodology Development and Assessment of National Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Storage Potential
- Geologic Carbon Dioxide and Energy-related Storage, Gas Resources, and Utilization
- Assessing Emissions from Active and Abandoned Coal Mines
- Geologic Energy Storage
- Induced Seismicity Associated with Carbon Dioxide Geologic Storage
- Economics of Energy Transitions
Slideshows Associated with Project Member Talks:
- National Unplugged Orphan Oil and Gas Well Database - Presentation [.pdf] [3.71 MB]
- Carbon Dioxide Mineralization Feasibility in the United States [.pdf] [3.91 MB]
- Subsurface Carbon and Energy Storage Resource Assessments [.pdf] [1.74 MB]
- Federal lands greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration – a modified EPA methodology [.pdf]
- A Pressure-limited Model to Estimate CO2 Injection and Storage Capacity of Saline Formations: Investigating the Effects of Formation Properties, Model Variables and Presence of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- Enhanced Oil Recovery and Residual Oil Zone Studies at the U.S. Geological Survey [.pdf] [2.0 MB]
- Overview of USGS Carbon Sequestration - Geologic Research and Assessments Project [.pdf] [2.1 MB]
- Microseismicity Monitoring at the Decatur, IL, CO2 Sequestration Demonstration Site [.pdf] [8.9 MB]
- Status Report: Estimating greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels produced from Federal lands [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- A Probabilistic Assessment Methodology for Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Retention [.pdf] [.67 MB]
- A Database and Probabilistic Assessment Methodology for Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery and Associated Carbon Dioxide Retention in the United States [.pdf] [1.7 MB]
- Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Resource Studies at the U.S. Geological Survey [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- Induced Seismicity Monitoring at the Decatur, IL, CO2 Sequestration Demonstration Site [YouTube]
- U.S. Geological Survey National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources and Associated Research [.pdf] [2.3 MB]
- U.S. Geological Survey National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources and Associated Research [.pdf] [2.6 MB]
- National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources - Results [.pdf] [2.2 MB]
- Development Philosophy of an Assessment Methodology for Hydrocarbon Recovery Potential Using CO2-EOR Associated with Carbon Sequestration [.pdf] [.57 MB]
- U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resource Assessment of the United States - 2012 Project Update [.pdf] [3.9 MB]
- Examining Salinity Restrictions for CO2 Storage: Suggestions from Basin to Reservoir Scales [.pdf] [1.9 MB]
- Using ArcGIS to Identify Environmental Risk Factors Associated with CO2 Storage [.pdf] [1.7 MB]
- A Probabilistic Assessment Methodology for the Evaluation of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage [.pdf] [1.4 MB]
- CO2 Fluid Flow Modeling to Derive the Time Scales of Lateral Fluid Migration [.pdf] [1.2 MB]
- U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resource Assessment of the United States - Project Update [.pdf] [3.3 MB]
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 96Dimensional effects of inter-phase mass transfer on attenuation of structurally trapped gaseous carbon dioxide in shallow aquifers
Based on experimental evidence and using mathematical modeling, inter-phase mass transfer processes of CO2 exsolving from and dissolving into water in heterogeneous porous media are investigated under two fundamentally different flow conditions: in a quasi one dimensional vertical column and in a two-dimensional tank with a lateral background water flow, both at laboratory scale. In both cases, thAuthorsJakub Solovsky, Radek Fucik, Michelle R. Plampin, Tissa H. Illangasekare, Jiri MikyskaEstimating market conditions for potential entry of new sources of anthropogenic CO2 for EOR in the Permian Basin
This study attempts to determine feasible carbon dioxide (CO2) price thresholds for entry of new sources of anthropogenic (man-made) CO2 for utilization in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the Permian Basin. Much of the discussion about carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) has focused on the high costs of carbon capture as the major barrier to entry of new anthropogenic sources of CO2 forAuthorsSteven T. Anderson, Steven M. CahanA fuzzy logic approach for estimating recovery factors of miscible CO2-EOR projects in the United States
"Recovery factor (RF) is one of the most fundamental parameters that define engineering and economical success of any operational phase in oil and gas production. The effectiveness of the operation, e.g. CO2-EOR (enhanced oil recovery with carbon dioxide injection), is usually defined by multiplying the resultant recovery factor by the original oil in place. Moreover, investment decisions for suchAuthorsC. Özgen KaracanPreliminary GIS representation of deep coal areas for carbon dioxide storage in the contiguous United States and Alaska
This report and its accompanying geospatial data outline many areas of coal in the United States beneath more than 3,000 ft of overburden. Based on depth, these areas may be targets for injection and storage of supercritical carbon dioxide. Additional areas where coal exists beneath more than 1,000 ft of overburden are also outlined; these may be targets for geologic storage of carbon dioxide in cAuthorsKevin B. Jones, Laura E. Barnhart, Peter D. Warwick, Margo D. CorumImproving pressure-limited CO2 storage capacity in saline formations by means of brine extraction
The carbon dioxide (CO2) storage capacity of saline formations may be constrained by reservoir pressure limitations. Brine extraction could be necessary to increase the CO2 storage capacity of a given formation, manage the extent of the underground CO2 plume and induced pressure front, and control the migration direction. To estimate the additional CO2 storage capacity of a saline formation that cAuthorsHossein Jahediesfanjani, Steven T. Anderson, Peter D. WarwickEstimating the pressure-limited dynamic capacity and costs of basin-scale CO2 storage in a Saline Formation
Deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) could be necessary to be able to satisfy baseload electricity demand, maintain diversity in the energy mix, and achieve mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at lowest cost (IPCC, 2015; U.S. DOE, 2016). If basin-, regional- or national-scale deployment of CCS is needed, it may be possible to store only a small fraction of the captured CO2 in oiAuthorsSteven T. Anderson, Hossein JahediesfanjaniAn ANCOVA model for porosity and its uncertainty for oil reservoirs based on TORIS dataset
Porosity is one of the most important parameters to assess in-place oil or gas in reservoirs, and to evaluate recovery from enhanced production operations. Since it is relatively well-established to determine porosity using different laboratory and field methods, its value is usually determined at many locations across a reservoir as part of the common practice to capture reservoir heterogeneity aAuthorsC. Özgen KaracanOverview of future USGS Gulf of Mexico buoyant storage assessment project
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a member of a U.S. Department of Energy-funded partnership headed by the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology that is working to assess the feasibility of offshore geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in the Gulf of Mexico. The role of the USGS is to assess the buoyant geologic CO2 storage resource of the western half of the offshore Gulf ofAuthorsSean T. BrennanCarbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and residual oil zone studies at the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is preparing a national resource assessment of the potential hydrocarbons recoverable after injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) into conventional oil reservoirs in the United States. The implementation of CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) techniques can increase hydrocarbon production, and lead to incidental retention of CO2 in reservoir pore space allowing long-tAuthorsPeter D. Warwick, Emil D. Attanasi, Madalyn S. Blondes, Sean T. Brennan, Marc L. Buursink, Colin A. Doolan, Philip A. Freeman, Hossein Jahediesfanjani, C. Özgen Karacan, Celeste D. Lohr, Matthew D. Merrill, Ricardo A. Olea, Jacqueline N. Roueché, Jenna L. Shelton, Ernie Slucher, Brian A. Varela, Mahendra K. VermaCarbon dioxide mineralization feasibility in the United States
Geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage is one of many methods for stabilizing the increasing concentration of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere. The injection of CO2 in deep subsurface sedimentary reservoirs is the most commonly discussed method; however, the potential for CO2 leakage can create long-term stability concerns. This report discusses the feasibility of an alternative form of geologic CO2 sAuthorsMadalyn S. Blondes, Matthew D. Merrill, Steven T. Anderson, Christina A. DeVeraSimulating the evolution of fluid underpressures in the Great Plains, by incorporation of tectonic uplift and tilting, with a groundwater flow model
Underpressures (subhydrostatic heads) in the Paleozoic units underlying the Great Plains of North America are a consequence of Cenozoic uplift of the area. Based on tectonostratigraphic data, we have developed a cumulative uplift history with superimposed periods of deposition and erosion for the Great Plains for the period from 40 Ma to the present. Uplift, deposition, and erosion on an 800 km geAuthorsAmjad M. J. Umari, Philip H. Nelson, Gary D. LecainEstimating the potential costs of brine production to expand the pressure-limited CO2 storage capacity of the Mount Simon Sandstone
The conventional wisdom is that widespread deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is likely necessary to be able to satisfy baseload electricity demand, to maintain diversity in the energy mix, and to achieve mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at lowest cost (IPCC, 2014). If national-scale deployment of CCS is needed in the United States, it may be possible to store only a smallAuthorsSteven T. Anderson, Hossein Jahediesfanjani - Web Tools
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- News
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- FAQ
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.