SBIR-STTR Award

Recent commitments for major reductions in U.S. "greenhouse" gas emissions within 20 years will require a technological change in electric power production. Combustion of abundant domestic coal provides low cost power, but it releases over 1 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. New technology is needed to reduce these CO2 emissions while maintaining this secure energy source which is so essential to the domestic economy. Long-term geologic sequestration of CO2 in deep western U.S. coalbeds could eliminate 10 to 40 percent of U.S. thermal electric coal emissions. In this project, the integrity, capacity, and cost of this process for CO2 disposal will be quantitatively evaluated. Phase I will evaluate 4 major western U.S. coal regions, from North Dakota to Utah, for specific CO2 disposal characterization. Quantified CO2 disposal capacity and cost will be determined by definition and analysis of secure, long-term storage cells in deep coal units with low mining potential.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
Cost effective high volume CO2 disposal technology will be avidly sought by thermal fossil fuel industries as the emission of CO2 becomes more costly. Quantified CO2 disposal process data is also essential for effective governmental policy decisions.

Geologic sequestration of CO2 in deep western U.S. coal beds could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal thermal electric power generation by more than 100 million tonnes/year. However, successful commercial application of this technology requires secure, long-term disposal of very high-volume CO2 streams at costs below $10.00/ tonne. This project focuses on the geologic definition and detailed formation evaluation of coal target zones for the disposal of power plant emissions streams at levels exceeding 10 million tonnes/year. In order to show technical and economic feasibility, engineering and economic modeling will be conducted, including analyses of gas processing, transport cost, and potential economic enhancement by coal bed methane (CBM) production. Phase I identified a Tertiary-coals target zone in northeast Wyoming with a capacity for secure sequestration of multiple-power plant operation CO2 emissions, (more than 25 million tonnes/year) at very low cost (less than $1.00/tonne). Also identified was a Cretaceous-coals target zone in northwest Colorado, with a capacity of more than 5 million tonnes/mile2. The total secure disposal capacity of the evaluated areas exceeds 1 billion tonnes. Phase II will provide a detailed formation evaluation of the Powder River Basin target coal zone in Wyoming. Further refinements in the analyses of target zone definition, plant-specific disposal plans, and possible flue gas injection will be used to extend the technology to additional commercial opportunities. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by he awardee: Newly established international trading in carbon emissions units clearly demonstrates the increasing commercial potential of high-volume CO2 disposal. Research results quantifying this important technology should support informed governmental policy-making and increase scientific understanding and support of efficient CBM production.