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Young, G. B. C., V. A. Lintz, B. L. Wildmann, D. A. Bird, and J. A. Cappa, 2009, An overview of CO2 sequestration potential in Colorado, in M. Grobe, J. C. Pashin, and R. L. Dodge, eds., Carbon dioxide sequestration in geological media—State of the science: AAPG Studies in Geology 59, p. 47–60.

DOI:10.1306/13171233St593375

Copyright copy2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

An Overview of CO2 Sequestration Potential in Colorado

Genevieve B. C. Young,1 Beth L. Widmann,2 James A. Cappa,3 Vanessa A. Lintz,4 David A. Bird,5

1Colorado Geological Survey, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
2Colorado Geological Survey, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
3Colorado Geological Survey, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
4Comet Ridge USA, Inc., Denver, CO, U.S.A.
5Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, Denver, CO, U.S.A.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Colorado Geological Survey appreciates the opportunity to have participated in the U.S. Department of Energy–National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL)-sponsored Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration. In particular, the Colorado Geological Survey wishes to acknowledge the most valuable assistance provided to the study by dozens of geoscientists and engineers assembled by the project's lead investigator, Brian McPherson, formerly at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. This report summarizes many of their collaborative ideas shared during marathon teleconferences and meetings.

With respect to the emerging mineralization technology, we thank William O'Connor, Albany Research Center, who provided a great deal of information on the subject of mineralization and numerous equations. As one of the pioneering researchers of the produced water mineralization process, Gillian Bond, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, was a primary source of information on that subject. Mike McKelvy, Arizona State University, was also generous in sharing information.

ABSTRACT

The Colorado Geological Survey is a participant in the Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration project. The primary goal of the project is to determine an optimum strategy for minimizing greenhouse gas intensity in the southwestern United States. The Southwest Regional Partnership is led by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and comprises a large diverse group of expert organizations and individuals specializing in carbon sequestration science and engineering, as well as public policy and outreach.

In 2000, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Colorado exceeded 83.5 mmt (92 million tons) and are projected to increase by 2.4% per year through 2025. Nearly 76% of these emissions results from activities in the utility and transportation sectors. Power generation in the state relies primarily on coal, and as a result, 38 mmt (42 million tons) of CO2, or 46% of the total emissions in Colorado, is emitted from power plants in the utility sector. These stationary point sources afford the possibility of capture and separation of CO2 for transport to and storage at nearby sinks. The remaining 54% of Colorado's emissions result from the transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial sectors.

Although CO2 sink potential is widely distributed across the state, characterization efforts focused on seven pilot study regions defined on the basis of maximum diversity in potential sequestration options relatively close to large CO2 sources. Using both geologic and mineralization options, carbon storage capacity within these regions is an estimated 653 billion t (720 billion tons). With the availability of suitable technology, the pilot areas have the potential of providing a long-term storage solution based on 2000 CO2 emission levels. The highest CO2 sequestration capacity potential for Colorado lies within the oil, gas, coalbed, and saline aquifer reservoirs of the Denver, Canon City, Piceance, and Sand Wash basins. Further site-specific investigations are required to determine both the technical and economic feasibility of implementing carbon storage projects in any one of these areas.

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