Class VI Carbon Sequestration Program

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How Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Works:

CCS is a three-step process that involves capturing CO₂ at the source, compressing it for transport, and injecting it deep underground into rock formations. The first step, capturing the CO₂, involves separating CO₂ from other gases generated by industrial process facilities including fossil fuel-fired power plants, refineries, steel mills, and chemical plants. The next step, CO₂ transport, involves compressing the CO₂ for transport via pipelines or other methods to a suitable geologic storage site. Lastly, the remaining step is to store the CO₂ deep underground via injecting it into rock formations often at depths of one mile or more.

Modified from Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

The temperature and pressure conditions at these depths cause CO₂ to exist as a supercritical fluid; this supercritical CO₂ occupies significantly less volume than gaseous CO₂ allowing for increased amounts to be stored underground. The storage of supercritical CO₂ into deep underground rock formations is conducted through the use of Class VI injection wells. Class VI wells in Louisiana are currently regulated by the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resource’s Office of Conservation, Injection and Mining Division, Underground Injection Control (UIC) Section. In the context of CCS, the primary purpose of the UIC Section is to administer a regulatory and permitting program to protect underground sources of drinking water from endangerment by the subsurface emplacement of CO₂ through deep well injection.

For public information, contact Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources Communications Director, Patrick Courreges, at (225) 454-8223 or Patrick.Courreges@LA.GOV.

For project-related information, contact the Injection and Mining Division at Injection-Mining@LA.GOV.