DCNR Accepting Bids To Collect Data, Study Possibility Of Storing Carbon Underground

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced this week it is undertaking the next step in its innovative work to reduce the amount of climate-changing greenhouse gases that reach the atmosphere.

 

The department is requesting bids on a package of four contracts that will examine geologic information to determine whether any suitable areas in the state exist to store carbon dioxide underground.

 

Bids are due by Feb 20.

The carbon dioxide would be captured and collected from coal-fired electricity generating plants and other industrial sources, a process known as geologic carbon sequestration.

 

DCNR is required by Act 129 of 2008 to complete a site assessment, risk assessment and a cost study to possibly develop a state geologic sequestration network this year.

 

“DCNR’s mission is to protect our unique natural resources in Pennsylvania. That demands that we play a role in evaluating alternative technologies to address one of the biggest threats facing those resources—climate change,” Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said.

 

Since the act passed, DCNR has been consulting with various sources to develop an appropriate scope of work for these studies.

 

The contracts are for highly specialized remote sensing and engineering expertise, including:

-- Aeromagnetic data survey – an airborne technique that measures the total intensity of the Earth’s magnetic field in a defined area. The technique is useful for mapping deeply buried igneous rocks, and can help outline locations of buried faults and the thickness of sedimentary rocks;

 

-- Reservoir modeling – mathematical models and numerical simulation tools that help evaluate whether it is feasible to store carbon dioxide in subsurface reservoirs, such as brine aquifers, oil and gas reservoirs and coalbeds;

 

-- Geophysical logging of existing bore holes – various tools that collect data on the physical and mineralogical characteristics of the in-place rock strata, using holes previously drilled for oil and natural gas exploration and production; and

 

-- Seismic data collection – collecting data that describes the physical characteristics of the rock, including extent, thickness, structure and other facets which are specific to the area.

 

The work to identify specific sites in the state where these evaluations will be done should be completed in March. DCNR is currently evaluating available geologic data, most of which covers the western half of Pennsylvania.

 

“After we have completed our initial review of possible candidate geologic formations in the state, we will direct contractors to the most promising areas to do the more detailed investigation that is necessary to know if they can safely be used for sequestration,” Secretary DiBerardinis said.

Later in the spring, the department intends to procure services for the risk assessment and cost study that also are required by Act 129.

 

An academic advisory committee will be created by DCNR so that the reports produced can undergo scrutiny by experts. Additional public outreach efforts will be developed as the project proceeds.

 

Technology is not available to capture the carbon dioxide that is produced by burning fossil fuels and compress it for transportation and injection underground. There are projects that are storing carbon dioxide at varying scales around the world, but not at the volumes that would be produced from a typical coal-fired power plant.

 

“Researchers say that demonstrating carbon capture and sequestration on a large scale is essential if we are to continue using fossil fuel energy while meeting the challenge of reducing emissions to combat climate change,” Secretary DiBerardinis said.

 

The geologic formations that would be considered for sequestration in Pennsylvania are typically at least one-half mile below the surface and have alternating layers of rocks of different types, some of which form barriers that cannot be penetrated.

 

Pennsylvania ranks third among all states in greenhouse gas emissions, producing 1 percent of the entire planet’s climate changing pollution. Pennsylvania and the nation are likely to continue relying on fossil fuel-generated electricity for at least the next few decades.

 

Visit DCNR's Carbon Sequestration webpage for more information.