Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Highlights (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

NETL’s CARBON STORAGE

NEWSLETTER:ANNUAL INDEX

SEPTEMBER 2015 – SEPTEMBER 2016 

This is a compilation of the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) monthly Carbon

Storage Newsletters published over the last 13 months. The newsletter is produced by NETL to 

provide information on activities and publications related to carbon storage. It covers domestic, 

international, public sector, and private sector news. This Annual Index covers newsletters 

issued from September 2015 to September 2016. Outdated Information 

(e.g., conference dates, paper submittals, etc.) has been removed.

For more information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Carbon Storage Program, click here. 

HIGHLIGHTS ............................................................................................................................................ 1

CARBON STORAGE IN THE NEWS ........................................................................................................... 6

SCIENCE................................................................................................................................................. 15

POLICY .................................................................................................................................................. 23

GEOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................. 33

TECHNOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 45

TERRESTRIAL ........................................................................................................................................ 59

TRADING ............................................................................................................................................... 67

RECENT PUBLICATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 75

LEGISLATIVE.......................................................................................................................................... 91

ANNOUNCEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 95
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Highlights (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

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Highlights

September 2015 

“DOE Selects Nine Projects to Receive Funding for Carbon Storage Intelligent Monitoring and 

Well Integrity and Mitigation Research.” Nine projects have been selected by the U.S. Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to receive funding through DOE's 

Carbon Storage Program to research new carbon dioxide (CO2) storage technologies devoted to 

intelligent monitoring systems and advanced well integrity and mitigation approaches. The selected 

projects focus on the following three research priorities: (1) carbon capture and storage (CCS)-specific 

intelligent systems for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing CO2 injection operations; (2) diagnostic 

tools and methods capable of characterizing borehole release pathways or fluid flow in existing wells; 

and (3) next-generation materials and methods for mitigating wellbore release. From energy.gov on 

August 17, 2015. 

October 2015

“NETL’s 2015 Carbon Storage Atlas Shows Increase in U.S. CO2 Storage Potential.” The U.S. 

Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) released the fifth edition 

of the Carbon Storage Atlas (Atlas V), which shows prospective carbon dioxide (CO2) storage resources 

of at least 2,600 billion metric tons – an increase over the findings of the 2012 Atlas. Atlas V highlights 

potential CO2 storage resources in saline formations, oil and natural gas reservoirs, and unmineable coal 

seams. This edition also presents a detailed look at the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership

(RCSP) Initiative’s large-scale field projects, which are uniquely tailored to address technical and nontechnical challenges within their respective regions. For each large-scale field project, Atlas V provides a 

summary of approaches taken, technologies validated, and lessons learned in carrying out key aspects 

of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project: site characterization; risk assessment; simulation and 

modeling; monitoring, verification, accounting, and assessment; site operations; and public outreach. 

These efforts collectively contribute to the development of regional carbon management plans, aid in 

regulatory development, and help determine appropriate infrastructure for CCS commercialization in 

each region. From NETL News Release on September 28, 2015.

“Energy Department Selects Five Projects in First Step to Produce Fresh Water from CO2 Storage 

Sites.” DOE/NETL selected five projects to develop and validate strategies to manage pressure and the 

flow of CO2 in saline formations through a Brine Extraction Storage Test (BEST). The projects will be 

managed by DOE/NETL under the Carbon Storage Program. In addition, the selected projects will also 

support the clean energy and climate goals announced by the U.S. and Chinese governments in 

November 2014. Following the feasibility and design phase, one of the recipients will be selected for a 

pilot project to validate brine/water injection and treatment technology. From energy.gov on September 

16, 2015.

November 2015 

“Secretary Moniz Announces New CO2 Storage Network at Multinational Carbon Sequestration 

Forum.” The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the formation of an international initiative to 

facilitate collaborative testing of advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in a realworld, saline storage environment. The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum’s (CSLF) Large-Scale 

Saline Storage Project Network will form a global network of large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) injection 

sites that can share best practices, operational experience, and key lessons to advance the deployment 

of CCS. The collaboration builds on the CO2 Capture Test Center Network, which has been chaired by 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Highlights (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

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Norway since 2013; the United States will chair the capture center in 2016. From energy.gov on 

November 4, 2015.

“Underground CO2 Storage, Natural Gas Recovery Targeted by Virginia Tech/NETL Researchers.”

Researchers from DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Virginia Polytechnic 

Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) are investigating the feasibility of permanently and safely 

storing CO2 underground while simultaneously recovering natural gas. The research is testing the use of 

CO2 captured from power plants and industrial facilities to force natural gas out of the pores of organicrich sedimentary rocks where the natural gas becomes trapped over time. In the process, the injected 

CO2 would remain safely and permanently stored. Virginia Tech’s Virginia Center for Coal and Energy 

Research (VCCER) initiated the injection of up to 20,000 tons of CO2 into a coalbed methane field in 

Buchanan County, Virginia, USA, in July 2015. Researchers will use a state-of-the-art monitoring, 

verification, and accounting (MVA) program to monitor and collect data as the CO2 is injected into the 

coal seams. The NETL-VCCER project was initiated in 2011 and builds upon earlier carbon storage tests 

conducted by the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB), one of DOE’s 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs). From energy.gov on October 20, 2015.

February 2016 

“President’s FY 2017 Budget Includes $878 Million for Fossil Energy Programs.” The FY 2017

Budget includes a request for $90.9 million for carbon storage research and development (R&D). The 

funding request supports: (1) storage field management projects, including the Regional Carbon 

Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs), and other field characterization and injection projects; (2) risk and 

integration tool development; and (3) advanced storage R&D efforts, as part of the U.S. Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) Subsurface crosscut, to develop laboratory- and bench-scale technologies for identifying 

and obtaining new subsurface signals, ensuring wellbore integrity, and increasing understanding of the 

stress state and induced seismicity. From energy.gov on February 9, 2016.

“NETL Carbon Capture Technologies to be Used in Commercial Biomass-to-Biofuel Conversion 

Process with Power Generation.” Two patented sorbent technologies that capture carbon dioxide

(CO2) from streams of mixed gases have been granted a license by DOE’s National Energy Technology 

Laboratory (NETL). CogniTek Management Systems will incorporate the technologies into its integrated 

biomass-to-biofuels conversion process with power generation. The process will have naturally low CO2

emissions, as the plants used as feedstock consume CO2 from the atmosphere as part of their growth 

process. The technologies are expected to result in a “near 100 percent carbon negative” process. To 

learn more about NETL’s role, visit their Technology Transfer webpage. From NETL News Release on 

January 20, 2016.

March 2016 

“New Tools to Monitor Carbon Storage Risks Released for Testing.” Simulation tools developed by

the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-led National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) are under 

review by members of industry, regulatory agencies, universities, and other organizations, such as the 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs). The successful deployment of the tools will 

enable users to predict the safety and permanence of carbon storage systems. Following review, the 

NRAP project team will implement improvements based on the feedback, with the final tool release 

expected in late 2016. For more information on NRAP and the new tool set, visit the NRAP website. 

From Energy.gov on February 11, 2016.

“U.S. Takes the Helm of International Carbon Capture Test Network.” The International Test Center

Network (ITCN), a global consortium of facilities conducting research and development (R&D) on carbon 

capture technologies, will be led by the United States (represented by the Office of Fossil Energy [FE]), 
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according to an announcement from DOE and Norway’s Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM). The ITCN, 

which also includes facilities in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom (UK), was formed 

by the DOE-sponsored National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) and TCM to facilitate knowledge 

transfer from carbon capture test facilities around the world. Since its inception, the ITCN members have 

shared lessons learned from carbon capture R&D to aid in the commercial development of carbon 

capture and storage (CCS) technologies. From Energy.gov on February 24, 2016.

April 2016 

“U.S. Department of Energy Announces Funding Opportunities for Subsurface Technology and 

Engineering Crosscut Initiative.” The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology

Laboratory (NETL) announced a collaborative funding opportunity that will focus on advanced research 

projects aimed at the deployment and validation of carbon storage monitoring, verification, and 

accounting technologies in an operational field environment. The Funding Opportunity Announcement 

(FOA), titled “Development of Technologies for Sensing, Analyzing, and Utilizing Novel Subsurface 

Signals in Support of the Subsurface Technology and Engineering (SubTER) Crosscut Initiative,” will 

also focus on the identification and validation of new technologies that characterize and image critical 

subsurface features. The FOA is sponsored through the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s 

(EERE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) and the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) Carbon Storage 

Program. The closing date for applications is May 5, 2016. From Energy.gov on March 10, 2016.

May 2016 

“UK Center for Applied Energy Research Receives $2.4M Grant for U.S.-China Clean Energy 

Research Center.” The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the University of Kentucky’s Center 

for Applied Energy Research (CAER) for a renewal of its U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center 

(CERC) grant. The five-year DOE grant will support CAER efforts to develop advanced coal 

technologies. CAER is a member of CERC’s Advanced Coal Technologies Consortium, whose purpose 

is to advance American and Chinese collaboration in advanced coal technologies, specifically carbon 

capture and utilization, advanced combustion systems, and geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. 

CERC, created in 2009 by DOE, the China Ministry of Science and Technology, and the China National 

Energy Administration, facilitates joint research and development (R&D) on clean energy by research 

teams from the United States and China. From University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy 

Research on April 29, 2016.

June 2016 

“Energy Department Selects Projects to Demonstrate Feasibility of Producing Usable Water from 

CO2 Storage Sites.” The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected two projects to test enhanced 

water recovery (EWR) technologies for their potential to produce useable water from carbon dioxide 

(CO2) storage sites. The two projects, which will be managed by DOE’s National Energy Technology 

Laboratory (NETL), were selected from the five Brine Extraction Storage Test (BEST) projects awarded 

in September 2015. The projects will receive funding to implement their field plan to validate their 

proposed approaches for managing reservoir pressure and the flow of stored CO2 in saline reservoirs. 

The purpose of BEST field projects are to develop and validate engineering strategies and approaches 

for managing formation pressure through brine extraction, as well as to help to find cost-effective ways to 

treat extracted brines. From Energy.gov on June 3, 2016.

“NETL Launches a University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research at Pennsylvania State 

University.” DOE’s NETL selected Pennsylvania State University (PSU) as the lead institution for the 

University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research. The Coalition brings together a multi-disciplinary team of 

researchers from different universities to address the research challenges of fossil energy-based 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Highlights (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

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technologies. In support of the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) Coal Program and Oil and Gas Program, 

research conducted by the Coalition will focus on a variety of areas, including carbon capture and 

storage (CCS). The six-year initiative is expected to help accelerate the development and deployment of 

fossil fuel-based technologies in a cost-effective and environmentally safe manner. From Energy.gov on 

May 11, 2016.

July 2016 

“DOE Announces $68.4 Million in Funding to Advance the Safe and Permanent Storage of CO2.” 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced funding for cost-shared research and development

(R&D) projects focused on the safe and permanent storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) during carbon 

capture and storage (CCS) operations. The Carbon Storage Assurance and Facility Enterprise 

(CarbonSAFE) initiative is intended to develop integrated CCS storage complexes, constructed and 

permitted for operation in the 2025 timeframe following a series of developmental phases. Phase I 

CarbonSAFE: Integrated CCS Pre-Feasibility seeks R&D projects to provide pre-feasibility studies for a 

commercial-scale geologic storage site. Phase II CarbonSAFE: Storage Complex Feasibility seeks R&D 

projects to perform the initial characterization of a storage complex. From energy.gov on June 24, 2016.

August 2016 

“DOE Investing $11.5 Million to Advance Geologic Carbon Storage and Geothermal Exploration.”

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected eight new research and development (R&D) projects to 

receive Federal funding under its Subsurface Technology and Engineering Research, Development, and 

Demonstration (SubTER) Crosscut initiative. The projects, which will be funded by the Office of Fossil 

Energy’s (FE) Carbon Storage Program and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s 

(EERE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), will address two objectives. Projects selected under the 

first objective – to deploy and validate prototype carbon storage monitoring, verification, and accounting 

(MVA) technologies in an operational field environment – will deploy technologies or techniques 

associated with near-surface and/or subsurface monitoring at a large- or commercial-scale site for 

validation. Projects selected under the second objective – to identify and validate new subsurface signals 

to characterize and image the subsurface – will develop new approaches to characterize and image 

subsurface systems. From energy.gov on July 27, 2016.

“Texas CO2 Capture Demonstration Project Hits Three Million Metric Ton Milestone.” A carbon 

capture and storage (CCS) project sponsored by DOE and managed by the National Energy Technology 

Laboratory (NETL) has successfully captured and transported 3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide 

(CO2) via pipeline. The project demonstrates the implementation of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.’s 

vacuum swing adsorption technology into a hydrogen production facility in Port Arthur, Texas, USA. The 

gas separation technology captures 90 percent of the CO2 from the product streams of two commercialscale steam methane reformers. In addition, the project verifies the effective use of CO2 enhanced oil 

recovery (EOR) for permanently storing CO2, as the CO2 captured from the Port Arthur facility is being 

used for EOR at the West Hastings Unit (oilfield) in southeast Texas, USA. The West Hastings Unit is 

estimated to have the potential to produce in the range of 60 to 90 million additional barrels of oil using 

CO2 injection. The Air Products project is supported through DOE’s Industrial Carbon Capture and 

Storage (ICCS) Program. From energy.gov on June 30, 2016. 

September 2016

“DOE’s Carbon Storage Advances Featured in Special Issue of International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control.” Carbon storage research conducted under the U.S. Department of Energy’s 

(DOE) National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) was highlighted in a special August 2016 issue of 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Highlights (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

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the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, which is comprised of a compendium of research 

generated by the NRAP team over six years of collaboration. This is the first special issue focused on 

results from a research team, and the articles detail advancements in scientific understanding, risk 

assessment methodology, and computational tool development related to full geologic carbon dioxide 

(CO2) storage system performance. Release of the special issue coincides with the completion of 

NRAP’s first phase of research, which resulted in the generation of first-of-kind scientific data, 

methodologies, and simulation tools to support quantitative assessment of environmental risks 

associated with industrial-scale geologic CO2 storage. NRAP is now transitioning into a second phase, in 

which the risk-assessment methodologies and tools developed during Phase I will be applied to realworld CO2 storage sites, and new tools and findings will be generated to help effectively manage carbon

storage operations. From energy.gov on August 18, 2016.

“DOE Seeks Projects to Advance Carbon Dioxide Utilization from Coal-Fired Power Plants.” DOE 

released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on securing applications for projects that 

will develop CO2-utilization technologies that produce useful products, without generating additional 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, at a lower cost than currently available technologies. The FOA has 

three areas of interest: (1) biological-based concepts for beneficial use of CO2, (2) mineralization 

concepts utilizing CO2 with industrial wastes, and (3) novel physical and chemical processes for 

beneficial use of carbon. More information on the FOA, titled “Applications for Technologies Directed at 

Utilizing Carbon Dioxide from Coal-Fired Power Plants,” is available via FedConnect. The projects will be 

a part of DOE’s Carbon Storage Program. From energy.gov on August 25, 2016.
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Carbon Storage in the News (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

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Carbon Storage in the News

September 2015

“New Test Campaign Started at TCM, Mongstad.” Technology Center Mongstad (TCM) will conduct 

new tests of the monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent in their amine plant in order to aid in the advancement 

of the CCS industry. The tests will result in lessons learned and reduce potential technology risks with 

the scale-up and operation of a full-scale capture plant. The results of the tests, which will include 

parameters such as energy consumption, emissions, degradation, and plant operability, will be made 

public, providing an MEA baseline for CCS applications. Based on TCM’s previous MEA tests from 

November 2013 through February 2014, several other areas will be investigated further, such as CO2

mass balances, optimized capture rates, and specific energy consumption; plant performance and effect 

of higher CO2 concentrations in flue gas; and emission monitoring. From TCM News Release on August 

12, 2015.

“UK Launches Free Access to National CO2 Storage Database.” The CO2 Storage database, hosted 

by the Crown Estate and the British Geological Survey (BGS) and under license from the Energy 

Technologies Institute (ETI), has been made free for subscribers. The web-enabled database contains 

geologic data, storage estimates, and risk assessments of nearly 600 potential CO2 storage units of 

depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline formations in the United Kingdom (UK). The outcome of ETI’s 

October 2009 UK CO2 Storage Appraisal Project, the database went live in 2013 and provides 

stakeholders with information to enable more informed decisions related to CCS infrastructure in the UK, 

as well as to reduce the early-stage costs of offshore storage site selection. From ClickGreen on August 

20, 2015.

“Australian Government Invests in CCS Research Fund.” The Australian government launched a 

research fund designed to facilitate industry investment and research of CCS technologies. The CCS 

Research Development and Demonstration Fund, which will focus on transport and storage projects, will 

address research priorities in CCS, such as subsurface knowledge and mapping, transport infrastructure, 

whole of chain integration, and development of international collaboration and partnerships. While 

activities will primarily be based in Australia, support will also be provided to leverage international 

expertise. From Carbon Capture Journal on September 2, 2015. 

October 2015

“BHP Billiton and SaskPower Partner to Accelerate Development of Carbon Capture & Storage.” 

SaskPower will share data, information, and lessons learned from its Boundary Dam facility with BHP 

Billiton in a new partnership to accelerate the global development of CCS technology. Under the 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), BHP Billiton would contribute to the establishment of a global 

knowledge center focused on promoting research and reducing potential costs and risks associated with 

new CCS projects. From BHP Billiton News Release on September 10, 2015.

“Devon to Dedicate $100M CO2 Oil Recovery Project.” Devon Energy will invest approximately $100 

million into a CO2 injection facility to serve the Big Sand Draw in the Wind River Basin near Riverton, 

Wyoming, USA. The investment will be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). According to Devon 

officials, the company is currently producing 2,500 barrels of CO2 per day at Big Sand Draw; the 

company expects production to peak beyond 5,000 barrels per day in the near future as more wells 

come online. From Wyoming Business Report on September 18, 2015. 

“UK Government Awards [Approximately $2.6 Million] to CCS Projects.” The United Kingdom (UK) 

government’s Energy Entrepreneurs Fund awarded funding to three projects for the development and 

demonstration of CCS technologies to support cost reductions and innovation. In one project, Carbon 
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Clean Solutions, Ltd., will compare the performance of different solvents to remove CO2 from flue gases. 

In another project, C-Capture, Ltd., will investigate amine-free solvents for suitability and scaling-up for 

industry use. In the final project, FET Engineering, Ltd., will aim to make their PureStream technology 

available for commercial deployment by 2017. From Carbon Capture Journal on October 2, 2015.

“British Study Finds New Potential for Carbon Storage.” According to a case study on CCS in the 

North Sea, CO2 storage in geologic formations could be optimized by injecting the CO2 into two points 

simultaneously. The British Geological Survey (BGS) case study found that using the “dual-injection” 

method allowed for storing more CO2 in less area. The BGS case study was conducted in the Captain 

Sandstone in the North Sea, which lies more than one mile beneath the sea surface off the northeast 

coast of Scotland. More information on the study is available via a Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage 

(SCCS) press release. From UPI.com on September 10, 2015. 

“North Sea Carbon Storage Scheme Gets Support.” The UK government announced plans to support 

a Royal Dutch Shell CCS program in the North Sea. With assistance from a UK energy company, Royal 

Dutch Shell is proposing to capture CO2 released from an Aberdeen power station and store it in the 

Goldeneye reservoir in the North Sea. According to a study conducted by BGS, Royal Dutch Shell’s 

Peterhead CCS project has the potential to store up to 20 million tons of CO2. From UPI.com on 

September 14, 2015. 

November 2015

“Southern Company Subsidiary and Korea Electric Power Corporation Sign MOU to Jointly 

Evaluate Clean Coal Technology Deployment Worldwide.” Southern Company Services, a subsidiary 

of Southern Company, and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) will jointly explore the 

deployment of clean coal power generation and CCS technologies through a recently signed 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Through the agreement, the companies will explore CCS and 

other technologies in the United States, the Republic of Korea, as well as other developing nations. In 

addition, the agreement provides for the testing of KEPCO’s carbon capture technologies at NCCC in 

Alabama, USA. Operated by Southern Company Services and aligned with U.S. and Korean efforts to 

cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, NCCC conducts research and development 

(R&D) to evaluate and advance emerging carbon capture technologies through integration with a coalfired power plant and pilot gasification facility. From Southern Company News Release on October 15, 

2015.

“GroundMetrics, Inc. Awarded Contract for CO2 EOR Flood Monitoring.” Electromagnetic survey 

company GroundMetrics Inc. was awarded a contract for a CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) flood 

monitoring survey in the Frio Sands Formation. The time-lapse electromagnetic survey of CO2 will take 

place in an oil reservoir with sensors at the surface. With the depth greater than 5,000 feet, acquiring 

data from the surface allows for the entire field to be surveyed. From GlobeNewswire on October 12, 

2015.

“Shell’s Quest $1.35 Billion Carbon-Capture Project Near Edmonton on Target for Completion.” 

More than 100,000 metric tons of compressed CO2 have been stored during startup testing of Shell 

Canada’s Quest CCS project. The oil sands CCS project is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from the 

bitumen upgrader at Scotford by up to 35 percent (approximately 1 million metric tons per year). 

Construction was initiated in 2012, and was finished in March 2015; after the commissioning phase was 

completed in August 2015, testing began. The original plan called for approximately 25 to 28 million 

metric tons of CO2 to be stored over the life of the project. However, according to officials, test results 

indicate the potential capacity of more than 30 million metric tons. From Edmonton Journal on October 

20, 2015.
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“Norway Renews Carbon Capture, Storage Pact with SA.” The Norwegian and South African (SA) 

governments have renewed their long-term partnership on CCS research. According to the South African 

Center for Carbon Capture and Storage, the SA government carries out its CCS research in four phases. 

The first phase (completed in 2004) looked into CCS potential in SA, while the second (completed in 

2010) was to identify potential sites for long-term storage in an atlas, with applications filed for permits. 

The currently underway third phase will build a pilot plant (10,000 metric tons of CO2 per year) at 

Bongwana near Harding in KwaZulu-Natal. The fourth phase will be to scale that plant to 100,000 metric 

tons of CO2 per year, and then to 1 million metric tons of CO2 per year. From Business Day Live on 

October 20, 2015.

“$500 Million Oil Recovery Project Wraps Up First Phase in Hobbs.” Occidental Petroleum 

Corporation (Oxy Permian) completed the first phase of its $500 million CO2 EOR project in an oil field in 

South Hobbs, New Mexico, USA. According to the company, oil production has doubled since operations 

began more than a decade ago. The South Hobbs project replaces water-only recovery with CO2

flooding, which is considered by Oxy Permian to be a third-stage oil recovery method. From Albuquerque 

Business First on October 21, 2015.

“JRI, MHI, and INPEX Enter Contract... for Feasibility Study on CCS-EOR Projects in Southern 

Mexico.” A feasibility study consortium entered a contract in response to a public offer, titled “Feasibility 

Study on CCS-EOR projects in Southern Mexico – FY2015 Global Warming Mitigation Technology 

Promotion Project.” The consortium, comprising of the Japan Research Institute, Limited (JRI); Mitsubishi 

Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI); and INPEX CORPORATION, would carry out the commissioned work from 

October 2015 to March 2016. The consortium would study the capability of CCS-EOR in Southern 

Mexico by implementing the evaluation of CO2 sources at petrochemical plants and refineries, 

investigating the EOR targeted fields, estimating the overall business profitability, and conducting other 

studies as necessary. From Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. News Release on October 23, 2015.

December 2015

“Shell Launches Quest Carbon Capture and Storage Project.” Shell’s Quest CCS project initiated 

commercial operations in Alberta, Canada. Designed to capture and safely store more than 1 million 

metric tons of CO2 per year, Quest will capture one-third of the CO2 emissions from Shells’ Scotford 

Upgrader, transport it through an approximately 40-mile pipeline, and inject it more than 1 mile 

underground. Quest is now operating at commercial scale after successful testing that saw more than 

200,000 metric tons of CO2 captured and stored earlier in 2015. From Shell Media Release on November 

6, 2015.

“CO2 Solutions Completes Operation of Demonstration Plant.” CO2 Solutions, Inc., announced the 

completion of its demonstration plant in Valleyfield, near Montreal, Québec, Canada, after logging more 

than 2,500 operational hours since CO2 capture began in June 2015. Data and results from the project, 

which are currently being validated and analyzed, will allow for the completion of detailed engineering 

and costing models for commercial units at various scales. From CO2 Solutions Press Release on 

November 10, 2015.

“Saudi Pilot Carbon Storage Project May Boost Recovery Rates at Giant Oilfield.” According to 

officials, Saudi Arabia’s first CCS project has the potential to increase oil recovery rates by 20 percent. 

The CCS project is located at the Ghawar oilfield, which has been in operation since 1951 and produces 

more than 5 million barrels of oil per day. Under the project, 40 million cubic feet of CO2 will be captured 

at the Hawiyah gas recovery plant and piped approximately 53 miles to the Uthmaniyah area, where it 

will be used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations. Saudi Aramco, the national oil firm that 

developed the project, estimates it has the potential to store approximately 800,000 metric tons of CO2

per year. From Reuters on November 5, 2015.
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“Climeworks AG Builds First Commercial Scale CO2 Capture Plant.” Climeworks AG will operate an 

industrial-scale CO2 capture plant in Hinwil (Canton of Zurich, Switzerland) with the capacity to capture 

900 tons of CO2 per year. The plant, which will be operational by mid-2016, is part of a three-year pilot 

and demonstration project supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). The project will 

utilize Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology and continuously operate an industrial-scale 

plant that captures CO2 from ambient air. From Climeworks’ Press Release on October 21, 2015.

“Test Begins to Store Carbon Dioxide Under Seabed Off Hokkaido.” A Japanese governmentbacked trial operation for the capture and undersea storage of CO2 emissions at a facility in Hokkaido, 

Japan, has been initiated. According to project officials, emissions will be transported via pipeline into a 

CO2 separation and collection device, where they will be absorbed by a liquid solution that will raise the 

CO2 concentration to more than 99 percent. The concentrated CO2 will then be transported to two wells 

that are approximately 1.8 and 2.7 miles off the coast and 0.7 to 1.9 miles deep, respectively. Beginning 

in April 2016, the project will transfer in the range of 100,000 to 200,000 tons of CO2 per year for three 

years, monitoring the temperature and pressure in the process. From Japan Times on November 20, 

2015.

January 2016

“Statoil to Conduct CCS Feasibility Studies in North Sea Fields.” At the request of the Norwegian 

government, Statoil will conduct new carbon storage studies on the Norwegian continental shelf. 

According to Statoil, the feasibility studies will be carried out at three locations in the Norwegian sector of 

the North Sea and are targeted for completion in 2016. The Norwegian government has previously stated 

a goal of at least one full-scale CCS demonstration plant by 2020. From Reuters on January 4, 2016.

“CO2 Capture Technology Picked... for Commercial-Scale Use in Cement Production.” Aker 

Solutions will use its advanced carbon capture technology to conduct a feasibility study on the 

development of a commercial-scale carbon capture facility for use in cement production. Picked by 

Norcem to conduct the study, Aker Solutions will look at capturing as much as 400,000 tons of CO2 a 

year at Norcem’s cement plant in Brevik, Norway. Aker Solutions’ technology was successfully tested for 

18 months at the cement plant and showed to be cost-effective, robust, and flexible during various 

operating conditions. The work is part of a feasibility study that will be submitted to Gassnova and the 

Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. From Aker Solutions’ Press Release on November 17, 

2015.

“Seismos Announces... CO2 EOR Surveillance Platform.” Seismos, Inc., a provider of subsurface 

fluid-flow imaging technology for the oil and gas industry, announced a new surveillance platform for 

enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations. The platform focuses on increasing CO2-EOR production by 

providing continuous, real-time information on the subsurface movement of CO2 and areas of unswept 

oil. The platform is currently installed in oilfields in Texas and New Mexico, USA. From PR Newswire on 

January 6, 2016.

February 2016

“PTRC and EERC Announce $2.5M in Funding.” Funding was awarded to the Petroleum Technology

Research Center (PTRC) and the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University 

of North Dakota to develop an “intelligent monitoring system” (IMS). Utilizing data from PTRC’s Aquistore 

project, the IMS will allow future CO2 storage site operators to more efficiently manage operations, data 

management, and monitoring. While current monitoring technologies require various project teams to 

manually acquire and process data, EERC will develop the IMS to automate the integration of the CO2

monitoring and simulation data. PTRC will provide access to the data acquired from Aquistore. From 

Aquistore News Release on January 7, 2016. 
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“Research Could Slow Fuel Switching Trend in Electric Generation.” A multi-national team, led by

the University of Illinois, was selected to develop a proposal for retrofitting the university’s Abbott Power 

Plant to capture CO2 emissions. The Phase I award is for detailed engineering and planning and is 

expected to have a total value of $1.3 million. The retrofit project will also build a value chain and provide 

workforce training for operators from the coal and mining industries. From Illinois Sustainable 

Technology Center on January 21, 2016.

“Aker Solutions Starts Pioneering CO2-Capture Project in Norway.” Aker Solutions initiated a fivemonth test program to capture CO2 emissions from a waste-to-energy plant in Oslo, Norway. The test will 

be conducted at the Klemetsrud plant, which emits approximately 300,000 tons of CO2 per year. The test 

will be conducted using Aker’s mobile test unit for carbon capture. From Aker Solutions Press Release

on January 25, 2016.

“CO2 Solutions Receives $15 Million to Advance Transformative Technology.” CO2 Solutions, Inc.,

will receive a grant from the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC), the 

company announced. CO2 Solutions expects to use the grant towards the commercial deployment of 

their technology to capture CO2 at an approximately 300 metric ton of CO2/day scale from an industrial 

source in Alberta, Canada, with beneficial reuse of the captured CO2. From CO2 Solutions Press Release

on February 1, 2016.

March 2016

“[Japan Plans Test of Carbon Capture].” Japan will inject CO2 into saline formations off the coast of

Hokkaido in a pilot project sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). Beginning 

in April 2016, CO2 will be injected annually into two separate reservoirs under the seabed off the port of 

Tomakomai in Hokkaido at a site prepared by the Tokyo-based research company Japan CCS Co. From 

Bloomberg on February 28, 2016.

“Norway Examines Feasibility of CO2 Shipping.” Norwegian state operator Gassco has

commissioned two companies to study the transport of CO2 by ship. The study will analyze various shipbased solutions for CO2 transport, with the companies, Knutsen OAS Shipping and Larvik Shipping, 

submitting their finding to Gassco by mid-April 2016. From The Maritime Executive on February 29, 

2016.

“Project to Test CO2 Monitoring from a Subsea [Release].” Carbon dioxide will be injected into the

sea floor in the North Sea as part of a controlled experiment to test the safety of offshore CCS. The 

Strategies for the Environmental Monitoring of Marine CCS (STEMM-CCS) project, set to take place in 

2018, will simulate emissions from a submerged CO2 storage reservoir. The collaborative project will be 

led by the National Oceanographic Center (NOC) and will enable scientists to develop a system capable 

of detecting and quantifying the volume of CO2 released. The technology will be installed at the site 

before the controlled release of the CO2 in order to compare the natural changes from those resulting 

from the controlled release. From Carbon Capture Journal on March 2, 2016.

“ETI Studies Brine Removal from Subsea CO2 Stores.” The Energy Technology Institute (ETI)

launched a project that will study the impact of removing brine from undersea storage reservoirs that 

have CO2 storage potential. The “Impact of Brine Production on [Formation] Storage” project will build on 

earlier CCS research and aid in developing an understanding of potential CO2 storage reservoirs located 

beneath UK waters. From Carbon Capture Journal on March 2, 2016.

 

“Kuwait’s First CO2 Plant Officially Opened.” Kuwait’s first CO2 plant, with a design capacity of 280

metric tons of CO2 per day, has officially opened. The plant is an international joint venture between 

Equate Petrochemical Company and Gulf Cryo. The Equate Petrochemical Company will provide raw 
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CO2 from its industrial operations to Gulf Cryo for use in various commercial applications. From Trade 

Arabia on February 17, 2016.

April 2016

“15,000 Metric Tons of CO2 Stored at Otway.” CO2CRC and its Australian and international research

partners injected 15,000 metric tons of CO2 at the Otway research facility in Nirranda of South Western 

Victoria. Researchers remotely monitored the injected CO2 by using fiber-optic cables and a highresolution buried receiver fitted with automated communications facilities. The tested equipment provides 

options to reduce the surface monitoring activities required to verify the CO2 plume movement. From 

Carbon Capture Journal on April 8, 2016. 

“[NET Power Breaks Ground on Demonstration Plant].” NET Power, LLC, announced it has broken

ground on a demonstration plant in La Porte, Texas, USA. The power plant will demonstrate NET 

Power’s Allam Cycle technology, a natural gas power system that uses CO2 to drive a combustion 

turbine and produces pipeline-quality CO2 that can be stored or used in industrial processes, such as 

enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Commissioning of the plant is expected to begin in late 2016 and be 

completed in 2017. From NET Power on March 9, 2016. 

“Tomakomai CCS Project [Now Online].” The Global CCS Institute announced a fully integrated CCS

project came online in southwest Hokkaido, Japan. Carbon dioxide from a hydrogen production unit in an 

oil refinery will be captured and purified before compression and subsequent injection into offshore 

geological formations. From Global CCS Institute Media Release on March 18, 2016.

“[$15 Million Invested to Enhance Carbon Capture Technology].” A CO2 Solutions enzyme-enabled

carbon capture technology was studied at a demonstration project at Valleyfield in Québec, with the 

results validated through a third-party engineering firm. Québec, Canada, plans to reduce its greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and 37.5 percent below the same level 

by 2030. From CO2 Solutions Release on March 18, 2016. 

May 2016

“[NIST Studying New CO2 Monitoring Technique].” Scientists from the National Institute of Standards 

and Technology (NIST) are studying a CO2 monitoring technique that may allow for more effective 

monitoring of storage sites under real-world conditions. Under a cooperative agreement with NETL, the 

NIST team, in collaboration with Harris Corporation and Atmospheric and Environmental Research 

(AER), built a laser-based measurement system that collected data from a mock storage site in Ft. 

Wayne, Indiana, USA. NIST developed a mathematical model based on the analysis of the data, the 

results of which allowed them to pinpoint potential releases from the ground ten times more accurately 

than previous monitoring techniques. From NIST on April 20, 2016.

“[Geologic] Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association Established in Japan.”

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) authorized the establishment of the “Geological 

Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association,” which will promote the development of 

technologies related to large-scale CCS at storage sites in Japan. According to the press release, the 

“Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association” will target the commercialization 

of CCS, the establishment of safety management technologies for large-scale CCS, the establishment of 

injection technologies for large-scale subsurface storage, and the development of criteria and standards 

for improved CCS awareness. From Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) 

Press Release on March 31, 2016.
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“[Carbon Storage Tested with $1.5 Billion Project in Australia].” A CCS project will be conducted at 

Barrow Island in northwest Australia next year. The project will store as much as 4 million tons of CO2

per year approximately 1.25 miles underground. Led by Chevron Corp., the project is part of the Gorgon 

liquified natural gas development, which began production earlier this year. From Bloomberg on April 19, 

2016.

“Arup Appointed to Undertake Carbon Capture and Storage Study.” Arup, a global firm of consulting 

engineers, has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government and the U.K. Department of Energy 

and Climate Change (DECC) to conduct a feasibility study for a CCS plant in Grangemouth, Scotland. 

Appointed by Summit Power Caledonia UK Ltd (Summit), Arup will provide environmental and permitting 

guidance for the Caledonia Clean Energy Project, conduct risk assessments, and assist with the 

development of a stakeholder and engagement strategy. From Arup News on April 20, 2016.

“[CCS Technology Paves Way...].” The European Commission’s Horizon 2020 grant program will 

provide funding to the Low-Emissions Intensity Lime and Cement (LEILAC) consortium, whose project 

will focus on reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry through the cement sector. 

The technology will capture CO2 released from limestone with potentially no additional energy costs.

From edie.net on April 25, 2016. 

“[MSU and CO2 Storage Company Complete Phase I Algae Trial].” PHYCO2, an algae growth and 

CO2 storage company, and Michigan State University (MSU) have completed the first phase of their 

partnership to capture CO2 and create renewable alternative energy feedstock. Phase I set out to prove 

PHYCO2’s technology could capture CO2 for algae cultivation with their patented algae photo bioreactor. 

According to their joint press release, the PHYCO2 and MSU partnership’s focus is to demonstrate the 

PHYCO2-developed technology to store CO2, reclaim water, and continuously grow multiple types of 

algae at an accelerated rate without sunlight. From Carbon Capture Journal on May 3, 2016.

June 2016

“UK CO2 Storage Asset Reaffirmed.” A 12-month CO2 storage appraisal project conducted by the 

Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) confirmed there are a potential 579 CO2 storage sites offshore in the 

United Kingdom (UK) and 20 were identified for potential future storage developers by the UK 

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)-funded project. Five of the storage sites were then 

progressed towards readiness for “Final Investment Decisions” due to their potential contribution to 

mobilize commercial-scale CCS projects for power and industrial use in the UK. The Executive Summary 

of ETI’s report, titled “Progressing Development of the UK’s Strategic Carbon Dioxide Storage 

Resource,” is available in the Recent Publications section of this newsletter. From Carbon Capture 

Journal on May 12, 2016.

“PTRC and University of Alberta Sign Agreement to Collaborate on Carbon Capture Storage and 

Utilization (CCUS) Research in Mexico.” The Petroleum Technology Research Center (PTRC) and the 

University of Alberta signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) to collaborate on carbon capture, utilization, 

and storage (CCUS) in Mexico. The LOU, which was signed at the North American Energy Ministers 

Trilateral Meeting on CCUS in Mexico City, Mexico, allows the university to access research conducted 

at the PTRC-managed Aquistore CO2 storage project in Saskatchewan, Canada. From PTRC on May 

11, 2016.

“Scotland and Mexico Forge Links on Climate Action.” Representatives from the Secretaria de 

Energia de Mexico (SENER), the Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México (UNAM), and the Scottish 

Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS) Research Partnership held a meeting to explore future research 

collaborations to develop CCUS technologies. A Letter of Collaboration was signed between Mexican 

and Scottish scientists, laying the foundation to work jointly on CCUS research and to explore 
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international funding initiatives and potential academic opportunities. From SCCS News Release on May 

30, 2016.

“Carbon Clean Solutions Announces Breakthrough Test Results from TCM Pilot.” Carbon Clean 

Solutions Limited (CCSL) announced results of a pilot test designed to measure emissions, corrosion, 

and energy efficiency at Technology Center Mongstad (TCM). According to the results, plant availability 

levels were 100 percent and there was no loss of run time due to solvent issues. During the pilot project, 

which ran from November 2015 through the end of March 2016, more than 25,000 tons of CO2 were 

captured. In addition, the pilot demonstrated parts per billion solvent emissions compared to parts per 

million for traditional solvents. A separate, independent test at the University of Kentucky also confirmed 

a 50 percent reduction in energy consumption over conventional solvents. From Carbon Clean Solution 

Press Release on May 10, 2016.

July 2016

“DOE Awards UND’s EERC $15 Million to Continue Carbon Storage Research.” The University of 

North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (UNDEERC) was awarded funding to 

continue its carbon storage research. UNDEERC was originally selected to study the benefits of active 

reservoir management (ARM) in CCS (Phase I), which consisted of feasibility studies and project 

designs. DOE’s funding will be utilized for Phase II, which is expected to last approximately four years, 

beginning with the installation of infrastructure, such as wells and brine treatment and handling 

equipment, and continuing with active reservoir research and management testing and brine treatment 

technology demonstration. From Prairie Business Magazine on June 8, 2016.

“Iceland Carbon Capture Project Quickly Converts Carbon Dioxide Into Stone.” According to 

scientists, tests have demonstrated that CO2 emissions could be stored by turning them into rock. 

Conducted at the CarbFix project in Iceland, the tests indicated that most of the CO2 injected into basalt 

turned into carbonate minerals in less than two years. Scientists’ original estimates were that the process 

would take hundreds to thousands of years. The pilot project injected 230 tons of CO2 into basalt rocks 

near the Hellisheidi geothermal plant east of Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2012; scientists also included a set of 

tracers to monitor the fate of the CO2. The mineralogy of basalts is favorable for storing CO2, as the 

rocks into which the gas is injected need calcium-, magnesium-, or iron-rich silicate materials; while 

sedimentary rocks do not have enough of those minerals, basalts do. From Smithsonian Magazine on 

June 9, 2016.

“BHP Billiton and Peking University to Accelerate CCUS Research.” BHP Billiton and Peking 

University (PKU) announced an agreement to accelerate carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) 

research in China. The three-year agreement will identify key policy, technical, and economic barriers to 

CCUS deployment in the industrial sector. The agreement builds on the BHP Billiton SaskPower Carbon 

Capture Knowledge Center, which was established in February 2016 to share lessons learned on CCS. 

From BHP Billiton News Release on June 6, 2016.

August 2016

“Carbon Capture and Storage Pilot Planned for Rotterdam.” Approximately 1 million metric tons of 

CO2 will be captured at a coal-fired power station and injected into a gas field in the North Sea as part of 

a planned pilot project to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands. An investment decision is expected by early 

next year. Once infrastructure is in place, the pilot project, called “ROAD,” will operate for a three-year 

trial period. From Digital Energy on July 22, 2016.

“Scientists in Scotland Receive Funding for Offshore Carbon Dioxide Storage Investigation.”

Scientists from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland have received funding from the United 
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Kingdom’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for a four-year study of CO2 storage 

solutions. The project, titled “Migration of CO2 through North Sea Geological Carbon Storage Sites: 

Impact of Faults, Geological Heterogeneities and Dissolution,” will explore the ability of complex rock 

strata beneath the North Sea to safely store CO2 emissions. Specifically, the initiative will study how 

injected CO2 could potentially migrate through overlying layers of underground rocks, while also 

examining the interaction of embedded faults and rock tiers with CO2 flow. From Gas World on July 6, 

2016.

September 2016

“Red Trail Energy, EERC Win Funding to Support CCS Study.” Red Tail Energy, LLC, (RTE) and the 

University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (UNDEERC) have been 

awarded funding by the North Dakota Industrial Commission’s Renewable Energy Program to examine 

CCS integration. The funding will be used to examine the integration of CCS by determining the technical 

and economic parameters of installing and operating a commercial CCS system at RTE’s ethanol 

manufacturing facility in North Dakota, USA. The Broom Creek Formation, found below the RTE facility, 

has been identified as the location for potential geologic CO2 storage. From Ethanol Producer Magazine

on August 10, 2016.

“[CCS Demonstration Project in Japan Starts Up].” Commissioned by the Japan Ministry of 

Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Japan CCS (JCCS) is finalizing the commercialization of its CO2

separation, capture, transportation, and storage technology and has constructed a demonstration plant in 

Tomakomai, Hokkaido. JCCS is conducting the METI scheme Tomakomai CCS Large-Scale 

Demonstration Project over a nine-year period, which began in 2012. JCCS completed preparatory work 

for the plant during its first four years of operation (2012 through 2015). METI initiated pressure injection 

and CO2 monitoring in April 2016. Over the course of the demonstration project (a three-year period), 

more than 100,000 metric tons of CO2 will be injected each year, stored at two different depths, and 

monitored. From gasworld on August 11, 2016.

“CO2 Solutions [Finalizes] Commercial Agreement to Deploy CCS Unit in Canada.” Fibrek General 

Partnership, CO2 Solutions, and Serres Toundra, Inc. finalized an agreement to deploy a CCS unit at a 

pulp mill in Québec, Canada. The unit will be designed and constructed by CO2 Solutions and is 

expected to capture approximately 30 metric tons of CO2 per day from a pulp mill in Saint-Félicien, 

Québec, Canada; the CO2 will then be transported for reuse in Serres Toundra’s neighboring vegetable 

greenhouse. After a successful six-month demonstration period, Serres Toundra will purchase the 

captured CO2 for the next 10 years. The site is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2017. From 

gasworld on August 19, 2016. 

“[Australia Invests in CCS R&D].” The Australian CCS Research Development and Demonstration 

(RD&D) Fund, which provides funding for CCS projects with an emphasis on CO2 transport and storage, 

awarded funding to seven applicants. In addition to supporting the Australian government’s focus on 

reducing technical and commercial barriers to the deployment of large-scale CCS projects, the projects 

selected for funding are also expected to encourage industry investment in further deployment of CCS 

technologies. Details of the selected applicants, which include both industry- and institution-led projects, 

are available online. From Carbon Capture Journal on August 29, 2016. 
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Science

September 2015

“CU-Boulder Researchers Use Wastewater Treatment to Capture CO2 Emissions and Produce 

Energy.” Engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a wastewater treatment 

process that mitigates CO2 emissions and captures GHGs. While purifying wastewater, the method, 

called microbial electrolytic carbon capture (MECC), uses an electrochemical reaction that absorbs more 

CO2 than it releases, while also creating renewable energy. According to the research, which was funded 

by the National Science Foundation and recently published in the journal “Environmental Science and 

Technology,” dissolved carbonates and bicarbonates produced by MECC may also have the long-term 

potential to counter the effects of absorbed CO2 emissions on oceans. The Abstract of the study, titled 

“Microbial Electrolytic Carbon Capture for Carbon Negative and Energy Positive Wastewater Treatment,” 

is available in the “Technology” section of this newsletter. From University of Colorado Boulder News 

Release on August 3, 2015.

“Climate Change Could Harm British Butterflies.” According to a recent report, six species of 

butterflies located in the UK could face local extinction due to potential climate change. Researchers 

gathered their data by studying 129 sites in which 28 butterfly species are tracked in the United Kingdom 

Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, and incorporating historical weather data and climate model predictions 

from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. The data showed that, by 2050, populations in dry 

areas, such as southeastern England, have the potential to disappear. The study was published in the 

journal “Nature Climate Change.” From The Columbus Dispatch on August 16, 2015.

October 2015

“Protected Areas Save Mangroves, Reduce Carbon Emissions.” According to a study published in 

the journal “Ecological Economics,” protected areas that keep Indonesia’s mangrove habitats intact also 

prevent the release of CO2 emissions. Mangroves are dense forests of trees and shrubs that grow in lowlying coastal areas. Using a detailed, country-wide dataset, the analysis states that keeping the 

mangroves “avoided release of approximately 13 million metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.” The 

Abstract of this study, titled “Do protected areas reduce blue carbon emissions? A quasi-experimental 

evaluation of mangroves in Indonesia,” is available in the “Terrestrial” section of this newsletter. From 

EurekAlert! on September 14, 2015. 

“Gas ‘Fingerprinting’ Could Help Energy Industry Manage Carbon Dioxide Storage.” A new 

technique for monitoring CO2, discovered by scientists from the Scottish Universities Environmental 

Research Center (SUERC), has the potential to contribute to the energy industry’s efforts to reduce 

future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a recently published study claims. Using gas samples collected 

from wells at the Cranfield CO2-EOR field in Mississippi, USA, from 2009 and 2012, SUERC researchers 

used the unique signature from traces of noble gases (in this case, helium, neon, and argon) to monitor 

the fate of CO2 stored underground. The study, titled “Tracing injected CO2 in the Cranfield enhanced oil 

recovery field (MS, USA) using He, Ne and Ar isotopes,” was published in the “International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control.” From University of Glasgow on October 5, 2015.

“BYU Technology Tackles Climate Change by Freezing Carbon.” A scientist from Brigham Young 

University (BYU) has developed a system that prevents the release of CO2 into the atmosphere by 

freezing it and capturing up to 99 percent of it in the process. The system freezes the CO2 with -130 

degrees Celsius (-202 degrees Fahrenheit) temperatures, separates the dry ice from the gas, and then 

heats everything back up. The CO2 is then pressurized into liquid form for uses such as EOR. An 

overview of the technology was published in the “International Journal of Greenhouse Control.” The 

Abstract of the paper, titled “Prediction and validation of external cooling loop cryogenic carbon capture 
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(CCC-ECL) for full-scale coal-fired power plant retrofit,” is available in the “Technology” section of this 

newsletter. From BYU News Release on September 28, 2015.

November 2015

“Game-Changing Process Mitigates CO2 Emissions Using Renewable Energy.” DOE/NETL 

researchers conceived and developed a new process involving gold nanoparticles that can convert CO2

into usable chemicals and fuels. The process, which has the potential to lead to an industrial-scale way 

to reduce CO2 emissions, is a “carbon neutral” energy cycle, using renewable energy sources to recycle 

waste CO2 into chemicals and fuels without generating new CO2 emissions. In addition to limiting 

atmospheric CO2 emissions, the process will also offer an environmentally friendly supplement to 

traditional energy sources and enable the sustainable use of current fossil fuel resources. The process 

was detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published in the American Chemical Society (ACS) “ACS Applied 

Materials & Interfaces” journal. Data from the study is also being used to inform critical performance 

estimates needed to move the carbon-neutral energy cycle into industrially relevant applications. The 

Abstract of the paper, titled “Efficient Electrochemical CO2 Conversion Powered by Renewable Energy,” 

is available in the “Technology” section of this newsletter. From energy.gov on October 21, 2015.

“New Crystal Captures Carbon from Humid Gas.” Scientists have created a new material with 

micropores that is capable of more efficiently capturing CO2 in the presence of water than previously 

known materials. The result of international cooperation between scientists from Stockholm University 

and Sogang University in Korea, the new material, a copper silicate crystal, is stable and recyclable, with 

the micropores within having different adsorption sites for CO2 and water. Scientists believe the material, 

called SGU-29, could be used for capturing atmospheric CO2. The research was published in a report 

titled “CO2 capture from humid flue gases and humid atmosphere using a microporous coppersilicate,” 

the Abstract of which is available in the “Technology” section of this newsletter. From Stockholm 

University on October 15, 2015.

December 2015

“DOE-Funded Research Yields U.S. Patent for Use of CO2 in Concrete Curing.” The United States 

Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for a new process, funded by DOE’s NETL, which uses 

CO2 to cure pre-cast concrete. Developed by Solidia Technologies, Inc., the process uses CO2 instead of 

water to cure pre-cast concrete, reducing curing time to less than 24 hours (water-based curing could 

take weeks). According to Solidia, the new process may reduce the carbon footprint of concrete curing 

by approximately 30 percent compared to traditional methods. In addition, Solidia’s analysis claims that 

combining it with their patented CO2-enriched cement process could reduce CO2 emissions associated 

with concrete product fabrication by 60 percent, while slashing water use by 90 percent. Applied industrywide, the two technologies combined have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,920 million metric 

tons per year. For more information, visit NETL’s Carbon Use and Reuse Webpage. From energy.gov on 

November 10, 2015.

“Halifax Firm Injects CO2 into Concrete and Reduces Carbon Footprint.” A company in Nova Scotia 

has developed a concrete technology in which captured CO2 emissions are injected and stored into the 

concrete, lowering its carbon footprint by up to 15 percent. According to the developer, CarbonCure 

Technologies, the CO2 mineralizes during the process, becoming limestone calcium carbonate, and 

creates a stronger, faster-setting concrete. From CBC News on November 30, 2015.

“Porous Liquid Holds Promise for CO2 Capture.” Scientists have created a porous liquid with the 

ability to dissolve large amounts of gas, which could potentially be used for carbon capture applications. 

Researchers from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast led 

the three-year research project, which found that large amounts of gas can be absorbed into the “holes” 
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17

of their newly invented liquid. The study, titled “Liquids with permanent porosity” and published in the 

journal “Nature,” also involved the University of Liverpool and universities in France, Germany, and 

Argentina. From Carbon Capture Journal on November 15, 2015.

January 2016

“Sea Plankton Rise Could be Due to Increased Carbon Dioxide: Research.” According to 

researchers from John Hopkins University, rises in CO2 levels in the Atlantic Ocean may have led to a 

nearly 10-times increase in the marine alga concentration during the last few decades. Published in the 

journal “Science,” the study analyzed Continuous Plankton Recorder survey data from the North Atlantic 

Ocean and North Sea since the mid-1960s, finding that higher CO2 levels in the oceans may be causing 

an increase in the population of single-celled coccolithophores. Previous studies believed that increased 

ocean acidity due to higher CO2 levels would lead to a decline in the number of plankton species. The 

Abstract of the study, titled “Multidecadal increase in North Atlantic coccolithophores and the potential 

role of rising CO2,” is available below. From Northern Californian on November 29, 2015.

“Multidecadal increase in North Atlantic coccolithophores and the potential role of rising CO2.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “As anthropogenic CO2 emissions acidify the oceans, 

calcifiers generally are expected to be negatively affected. However, using data from the Continuous 

Plankton Recorder, [the authors] show that coccolithophore occurrence in the North Atlantic increased 

from ~2 to more than 20 [percent] from 1965 through 2010. [The authors] used random forest models to 

examine more than 20 possible environmental drivers of this change, finding that CO2 and the Atlantic 

Multidecadal Oscillation were the best predictors, leading [the authors] to hypothesize that higher CO2

levels might be encouraging growth. A compilation of 41 independent laboratory studies supports [the 

authors’] hypothesis. [The authors’] study shows a long-term basin-scale increase in coccolithophores 

and suggests that increasing CO2 and temperature have accelerated the growth of a phytoplankton 

group that is important for carbon cycling.” Sara Rivero-Calle, Anand Gnanadesikan, Carlos E. Del 

Castillo, William M. Balch, and Seth D. Guikema, Science. (Subscription may be required.)

“Living Shorelines Blunt Effects of Climate Change, Study Shows.” A National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study found that “living shorelines” may help reduce atmospheric 

CO2. The study, published in the journal “PLOS One,” measured carbon storage in the coastal wetlands 

and the fringing marshes of living shorelines in North Carolina, USA. Researchers found that the living 

shorelines stabilize shorelines using natural materials, such as plants, sand, and rock, which may reduce 

CO2 emissions in the atmosphere and help to mitigate potential climate change. An Abstract of the study, 

titled “Living Shorelines: Coastal Resilience with a Blue Carbon Benefit,” is available below. From 

Environmental Protection on December 23, 2015. 

“Living Shorelines: Coastal Resilience with a Blue Carbon Benefit.” The following is the Abstract of 

this article: “Living shorelines are a type of estuarine shoreline erosion control that incorporates native 

vegetation and preserves native habitats. Because they provide the ecosystem services associated with 

natural coastal wetlands while also increasing shoreline resilience, living shorelines are part of the 

natural and hybrid infrastructure approach to coastal resiliency. Marshes created as living shorelines are 

typically narrow (< 30 m) fringing marshes with sandy substrates that are well flushed by tides. These 

characteristics distinguish living shorelines from the larger meadow marshes in which most of the current 

knowledge about created marshes was developed. The value of living shorelines for providing both 

erosion control and habitat for estuarine organisms has been documented but their capacity for carbon 

[storage] has not. [The authors] measured carbon [storage] rates in living shorelines and sandy 

transplanted Spartina alterniflora marshes in the Newport River Estuary, North Carolina. The marshes 

sampled here range in age from 12 to 38 years and represent a continuum of soil development. Carbon 

[storage] rates ranged from 58 to 283 g C m-2 yr-1 and decreased with marsh age. The pattern of lower 

[storage] rates in older marshes is hypothesized to be the result of a relative enrichment of labile organic 

matter in younger sites and illustrates the importance of choosing mature marshes for determination of 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Science (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

18

long-term carbon [storage] potential. The data presented here are within the range of published carbon 

[storage] rates for S. alterniflora marshes and suggest that wide-scale use of the living shoreline 

approach to shoreline management may come with a substantial carbon benefit.” Jenny L. Davis, 

Carolyn A. Currin, Colleen O’Brien, Craig Raffenburg, and Amanda Davis, PLOS One. (Subscription 

may be required.)

February 2016

“Breakthrough in Continuous Monitoring of CO2 [Releases] from Storage Sites Could Assist 

CCS.” A new study conducted by a team of Japanese researchers could potentially lead to conducting

lower-cost monitoring of underground CO2 storage sites. By using monitoring techniques more often 

associated with the study of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, researchers from the Kyushu University 

International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2

CNER) analyzed seismic waves to detect 

the movement of subterranean fluid and to identify CO2 releases before they reach the surface. I2

CNER 

is currently testing the method to further improve its accuracy. The Abstract of the study, titled 

“Development of surface-wave monitoring system for [released] CO2 using a continuous and controlled 

seismic source,” is available below. From Science Codex on January 22, 2016.

“Development of surface-wave monitoring system for [released] CO2 using a continuous and 

controlled seismic source.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “To detect CO2 [release] from 

CO2 geological storage, [the authors] describe a seismic monitoring method using a continuous and 

controlled seismic source system, the Accurately Controlled Routinely Operated Signal System 

(ACROSS). The method applies surface-wave analysis to monitor the shallow subsurface from the 

temporal-variation (time-variation) of surface-wave phase velocity. [The authors’] numerical simulation 

study for CO2 [release] through fault zones indicated that the spatial distribution of [released] CO2 can be 

estimated from small temporal-variation of local phase velocities (∼1–3 [percent]). To demonstrate the 

method in a field case, [the authors] analyzed continuous seismic records acquired with ACROSS. [The 

authors] clearly extracted a dispersion curve of surface waves in the frequency range excited by the 

ACROSS (5.015–15.015 Hz). In particular, [the authors] obtained reliable estimates of phase velocities in 

10–15 Hz frequency range, in which the time-variation of phase velocities was better than [one percent] 

accuracy. This temporal stability was sufficient to allow [the authors] to detect changes in phase 

velocities associated with CO2 [release] before [released] CO2 reached the surface.” Tatsunori Ikeda, 

Takeshi Tsuji, Toshiki Watanabe, and Koshun Yamaoka, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas 

Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“Carbon Dioxide Captured from Air Can Be Directly Converted into Methane Fuel.” Researchers

from the University of Southern California have demonstrated that CO2 captured from the air can be 

directly converted into methanol using a homogeneous catalyst. The conversion of CO2 to methanol 

requires high temperatures, which can cause the catalysts to decompose. However, in the new study, 

published in the “Journal of the American Chemical Society,” the researchers developed a stable catalyst 

that does not decompose in such conditions; the stability of the catalyst allows it to be reused numerous 

times for the continuous production of methanol, which can be used as an alternative fuel. According to 

the researchers, the new catalyst, along with additional compounds, allows for up to 79 percent of the 

CO2 captured from the air to be converted into methanol. The Abstract of this study, titled “Conversion of 

CO2 from Air into Methanol Using a Polyamine and a Homogeneous Ruthenium Catalyst,” is available 

below. From Phys.org on January 27, 2016.

“Conversion of CO2 from Air into Methanol Using a Polyamine and a Homogeneous Ruthenium 

Catalyst.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “A highly efficient homogeneous catalyst system

for the production of CH3OH from CO2 using pentaethylenehexamine and Ru-Macho-BH (1) at 125–

165°C in an ethereal solvent has been developed (initial turnover frequency = 70 h–1 at 145°C). Ease of 

separation of CH3OH is demonstrated by simple distillation from the reaction mixture. The robustness of 

the catalytic system was shown by recycling the catalyst over five runs without significant loss of activity 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Science (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

19

(turnover number > 2000). Various sources of CO2 can be used for this reaction including air, despite its 

low CO2 concentration (400 ppm). For the first time, [the authors] have demonstrated that CO2 captured 

from air can be directly converted to CH3OH in 79 [percent] yield using a homogeneous catalytic 

system.” Jotheeswari Kothandaraman, Alain Goeppert, Miklos Czaun, George A. Olah, and G.K. 

Surya Prakash, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (Subscription may be required.)

March 2016

“Enhanced Levels of Carbon Dioxide are Likely Cause of Global Dryland Greening, Study Says.”

According to a study conducted by the School of Science at the Indiana University-Purdue University 

Indianapolis (IUPUI), enhanced levels of atmospheric CO2 could be leading to global dryland greening. 

Researchers analyzed 45 studies from 8 countries, finding the that greening observed through satellite 

images may be a result of potentially rising levels of atmospheric CO2 on plant water savings and the 

consequent increases in available soil water. Published in the journal “Scientific Reports,” the study 

examined the sensitivity of soil water change to varying levels of CO2, and discovered a positive change 

in soil water along the CO2 enrichment gradient. The research also showed that elevated CO2 enhanced 

soil water levels in drylands more than in non-drylands. From Phys.org on February 16, 2016.

April 2016

“Trees Deal With [Potential Climate Change] Better Than Expected.” According to a new study,

forests may release less atmospheric CO2 during hotter temperatures than previously thought. While 

scientists originally hypothesized that plants would release more CO2 into the atmosphere as global 

temperatures rose, new data showed that plants are able to adapt their respiration to increases in 

temperature over long periods. Researchers tested how respiration rates of 10 different species of trees 

were affected by temperature increases over a period of three to five years in two separate conditions: 

ambient and warmer. The results, published in the journal “Nature,” showed trees that were acclimated to 

the warmer temperatures increased their CO2 release by a smaller amount than those only exposed to a 

short-term temperature increase of the same magnitude. The Abstract of the study, titled “Boreal and 

temperate trees show strong acclimation of respiration to warming,” is available below. From The New 

York Times on March 16, 2016.

“Boreal and temperate trees show strong acclimation of respiration to warming.” The following is

the Abstract of this article: “Plant respiration results in an annual flux of CO2 to the atmosphere that is six 

times as large as that due to the emissions from fossil fuel burning, so changes in either will impact 

future climate. As plant respiration responds positively to temperature, a warming world may result in 

additional respiratory CO2 release, and hence further atmospheric warming. Plant respiration can 

acclimate to altered temperatures, however, weakening the positive feedback of plant respiration to rising 

global air temperature, but a lack of evidence on long-term (weeks to years) acclimation to climate 

warming in field settings currently hinders realistic predictions of respiratory release of CO2 under future 

climatic conditions. Here [the authors] demonstrate strong acclimation of leaf respiration to both 

experimental warming and seasonal temperature variation for juveniles of [10] North American tree 

species growing for several years in forest conditions. Plants grown and measured at 3.4°C above 

ambient temperature increased leaf respiration by an average of 5 [percent] compared to plants grown 

and measured at ambient temperature; without acclimation, these increases would have been 23

[percent]. Thus, acclimation eliminated 80 [percent] of the expected increase in leaf respiration of nonacclimated plants. Acclimation of leaf respiration per degree temperature change was similar for 

experimental warming and seasonal temperature variation. Moreover, the observed increase in leaf 

respiration per degree increase in temperature was less than half as large as the average reported for 

previous studies, which were conducted largely over shorter time scales in laboratory settings. If such 

dampening effects of leaf thermal acclimation occur generally, the increase in respiration rates of 

terrestrial plants in response to climate warming may be less than predicted, and thus may not raise 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Science (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

20

atmospheric CO2 concentrations as much as anticipated.” Peter B. Reich, Kerrie M. Sendall, Artur 

Stefanski, Xiaorong Wei, Roy L. Rich, and Rebecca A. Montgomery, Nature. (Subscription may be 

required.) 

“Development of environmental impact monitoring protocol for offshore carbon capture and 

storage (CCS): A biological perspective.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Offshore 

geologic storage of CO2, known as offshore CCS, has been under active investigation as a safe, 

effective mitigation option for reducing CO2 levels from anthropogenic fossil fuel burning and climate 

change. Along with increasing trends in implementation plans and related logistics on offshore CCS, 

thorough risk assessment (i.e. environmental impact monitoring) needs to be conducted to evaluate 

potential risks, such as CO2 gas [release] at injection sites. Gas [releases] from offshore CCS may affect 

the physiology of marine organisms and disrupt certain ecosystem functions, thereby posing an 

environmental risk. Here, [the authors] synthesize current knowledge on environmental impact 

monitoring of offshore CCS with an emphasis on biological aspects and provide suggestions for better 

practice. Based on [the authors’] critical review of preexisting literatures, this paper: (1) discusses key 

variables sensitive to or indicative of gas [release] by summarizing physico-chemical and ecological 

variables measured from previous monitoring cruises on offshore CCS; (2) lists ecosystem and organism 

responses to a similar environmental condition to CO2 [release] and associated impacts, such as ocean 

acidification and hypercapnia, to predict how they serve as responsive indicators of short- and long-term 

gas exposure, and (3) discusses the designs of the artificial gas release experiments in fields and the 

best model simulation to produce realistic [release] scenarios in marine ecosystems. Based on [the 

authors’] analysis, [the authors] suggest that proper incorporation of biological aspects will provide 

successful and robust long-term monitoring strategies with earlier detection of gas [release], thus 

reducing the risks associated with offshore CCS.” Hyewon Kim, Yong Hoon Kim, Seong-Gil Kang, 

and Young-Gyu Park, Environmental Impact Assessment Review. (Subscription may be required.)

May 2016

“Carbon Dioxide Fertilization Greening Earth, Study Finds.” According to a study published in the 

journal “Nature,” potential rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere may have led to greening of 25 to 50 

percent of the Earth’s vegetated lands over the last 35 years. The research involved the use of data from 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Moderate Resolution Imaging 

Spectrometer and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Advanced Very High 

Resolution Radiometer instruments to determine the amount of leaf cover over Earth’s vegetated 

regions. The results showed that CO2 fertilization explains 70 percent of the greening effect. The 

Abstract of the study, titled “Greening of the Earth and its drivers,” appears below. From ScienceDaily on 

April 26, 2016. 

“Greening of the Earth and its drivers.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Global 

environmental change is rapidly altering the dynamics of terrestrial vegetation, with consequences for the 

functioning of the Earth system and provision of ecosystem services. Yet how global vegetation is 

responding to the changing environment is not well established. Here [the authors] use three long-term 

satellite leaf area index (LAI) records and ten global ecosystem models to investigate four key drivers of 

LAI trends during 1982–2009. [The authors] show a persistent and widespread increase of growing 

season integrated LAI (greening) over 25 [percent] to 50 [percent] of the global vegetated area, whereas 

less than 4 [percent] of the globe shows decreasing LAI (browning). Factorial simulations with multiple 

global ecosystem models suggest that CO2 fertilization effects explain 70 [percent] of the observed 

greening trend, followed by nitrogen deposition (9 [percent]), climate change (8 [percent]) and land cover 

change (LCC) (4 [percent]). [Carbon dioxide] fertilization effects explain most of the greening trends in 

the tropics, whereas climate change resulted in greening of the high latitudes and the Tibetan Plateau. 

LCC contributed most to the regional greening observed in southeast China and the eastern United 

States. The regional effects of unexplained factors suggest that the next generation of ecosystem models 

will need to explore the impacts of forest demography, differences in regional management intensities for 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Science (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

21

cropland and pastures, and other emerging productivity constraints such as phosphorus availability.” 

Zaichun Zhu, Shilong Piao, Ranga B. Myneni, Mengtian Huang, Zhenzhong Zeng, Josep G. 

Canadell, Philippe Ciais, Stephen Sitch, Pierre Friedlingstein, Almut Arneth, Chunxiang Cao, Lei 

Cheng, Etsushi Kato, Charles Koven, Yue Li, Xu Lian, Yongwen Liu, Ronggao Liu, Jiafu Mao,

Yaozhong Pan, Shushi Peng, Josep Peñuelas, Benjamin Poulter, Thomas A. M. Pugh, Benjamin 

D. Stocker, Nature Climate Change. (Subscription may be required.)

June 2016

“In Latin America, Forests May Rise to Challenge of Carbon Dioxide.” According to a new study, 

recently established forests on abandoned Latin American farmland have the potential to store at least 

31 billion tons of CO2 if allowed to grow for another 40 years. The study, published in the journal Science 

Advances, also claims that the abandonment of additional pastures and allowing them to revert to 

tropical forest could store approximately 7 billion more tons of CO2. The Abstract of the study, titled 

“Carbon [storage] potential of second-growth forest regeneration in the Latin American tropics,” is 

available in the Terrestrial section of this newsletter. From The New York Times on May 16, 2016. 

“Pacific Stores [CO2] at Depths of Thousands of Meters.” An international team of researchers, led 

by the Alfred Wegener Institute, has located a CO2 reservoir in the South Pacific Ocean at an 

approximate depth of 2,000 to 4,300 meters. This region was selected for sampling due to large amounts 

of “old” CO2 (from a reservoir that had not been in contact with the atmosphere for a long period of time) 

being released into the atmosphere at the end of the last ice age. The scientists concluded that, from a 

climate historical perspective, the most likely place where the CO2 was hidden was in deep oceanic 

water. The Abstract of the study, titled “Radiocarbon constraints on the extent and evolution of the South 

Pacific glacial carbon pool,” is available to the right. From Alfred Wegener Institute Press Release on 

May 10, 2016.

“Radiocarbon constraints on the extent and evolution of the South Pacific glacial carbon pool.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “During the last deglaciation, the opposing patterns of 

atmospheric CO2 and radiocarbon activities (Δ14C) suggest the release of 14C-depleted CO2 from old 

carbon reservoirs. Although evidences point to the deep Pacific as a major reservoir of this 14C-depleted 

carbon, its extent and evolution still need to be constrained. Here [the authors] use sediment cores 

retrieved along a South Pacific transect to reconstruct the spatio-temporal evolution of Δ14C over the last 

30,000 years. In [approximately] 2,500–3,600 m water depth, [the authors] find 14C-depleted deep waters 

with a maximum glacial offset to atmospheric 14C (ΔΔ14C=−1,000‰). Using a box model, [the authors]

test the hypothesis that these low values might have been caused by an interaction of aging and 

hydrothermal CO2 influx. [The authors] observe a rejuvenation of circumpolar deep waters synchronous 

and potentially contributing to the initial deglacial rise in atmospheric CO2. These findings constrain parts 

of the glacial carbon pool to the deep South Pacific.” T.A. Ronge, R. Tiedemann, F. Lamy, P. Köhler, 

B.V. Alloway, R. De Pol-Holz, K. Pahnke, J. Southon, and L. Wacker, Nature Communications. 

(Subscription may be required.)

July 2016

“New Study Helps Identify Criteria for Effective Greenhouse Gas Emissions Storage.” A study on 

natural underground reservoirs of CO2 has identified criteria for the effective storage of greenhouse 

gases (GHGs). Research conducted by scientists from Scotland’s University of Edinburgh and the 

University of Strathclyde will be used to develop a new CCS technology to aid underground CO2 storage. 

The data for the study was gathered through the evaluation of 76 natural reservoirs in Asia, America, 

Australia, and Europe. From Power Technology on June 22, 2016.
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August 2016

“CO2 Fingerprint Discovery Enables Safe Storage of Greenhouse Gas.” Researchers from the 

University of Edinburgh found that CO2 captured from power stations and industrial sites has a distinct 

chemical fingerprint that allows it to be distinguished from other CO2 present near storage sites. The 

fingerprint, which is dependent on the fuel producing the gas and the technology being used for its 

capture, may aid in the storage and monitoring of underground CO2. By comparing the chemical 

fingerprints in the captured CO2 with those in geologic storage reservoirs and drinking water formations, 

the research shows that the fingerprints can be easily identified and distinguished from natural sources of 

CO2. The study, titled “Inherent Tracers for Carbon Capture and Storage in Sedimentary Formations: 

Composition and Applications,” was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. 

From Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage News Release on July 25, 2016.

“Polar Ice Reveals Secrets of Carbon-Climate Feedbacks.” A team of international researchers has 

quantified the relationship of the Earth’s land biosphere to changes in temperature, as well as how it 

affects the cycles of carbon between land, ocean, and the atmosphere. Published in the journal Nature 

Geoscience, the paper shows that the Earth’s land biosphere takes up less carbon in a warmer climate. 

Scientists used air bubbles in polar ice from pre-industrial times, focusing on CO2 changes preserved in 

ice before, during, and after the Little Ice Age. The study, titled “Low atmospheric CO2 levels during the 

Little Ice Age due to cooling-induced terrestrial uptake,” showed that for every degree Celsius of global 

temperature rise, the equivalent of 20 parts per million (ppm) less CO2 is stored by the land biosphere.

From Phys.org on July 26, 2016.

“Scientists Convert Carbon Dioxide, Create Electricity.” Cornell University researchers have created 

an oxygen-assisted aluminum/CO2 power cell capable of storing CO2 while producing electrical energy. 

The proposed power cell would use aluminum as the anode and mixed streams of CO2 and oxygen as 

the active ingredients of the cathode. The electrochemical reactions between the anode and the cathode 

would store the CO2 while also producing electricity and an oxalate byproduct. The researchers’ findings 

are detailed in a paper, titled “The O2-assisted Al/CO2 electrochemical cell: A system for CO2

capture/conversion and electric power generation,” published in the journal Science Advances. From 

ScienceDaily on August 4, 2016.

September 2016

“Blowing Bubbles to Catch Carbon Dioxide.” Researchers from Sandia National Laboratory and the 

University of New Mexico developed a technology capable of capturing CO2 from coal- and gas-fired 

electricity plants. The bubble-like membrane technology, called CO2 Memzyme, is approximately 10 

times thinner than a soap bubble and produces 99-percent pure CO2. A video on CO2 Memzyme, which 

has been tested successfully at the laboratory scale, is available online. From Sandia National 

Laboratories News Release on September 1, 2016. 

“USGS Studies Groundwater Sampling for CO2.” Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) completed 

a comparison study of deep-groundwater sampling techniques to provide guidance on the methods 

available to accurately reflect CO2 storage effectiveness. The study, titled “Comparison of geochemical 

data obtained using four brine sampling methods at the SECARB Phase III Anthropogenic Test CO2

injection site, Citronelle Oil Field, Alabama,” was published in the International Journal of Coal Geology

and included four sampling methods: gas lift, electric submersible pump, a down-hole vacuum sampler, 

and a U-tube. The research was carried out at the Citronelle injection site in Alabama, USA, which is part 

of the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) Anthropogenic Test project. 

SECARB is one of seven DOE RCSPs. From Carbon Capture Journal on September 1, 2016. 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Policy (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

23

Policy

September 2015

“Korea to Develop Six New Technologies to Counter Climate Change.” The Korean Ministry of 

Science, ICT, and Future Planning (MSIP) is investing approximately $44 million toward the development 

of six technologies, including CCS, to address potential climate change. MSIP will look to advance the 

commercialization of CCS by developing carbon capture technologies such as wet and dry processes 

and gas separation. In order to demonstrate the technologies, MSIP will construct an underground 

storage area at Pohang, South Korea, that can hold up to 10,000 tons of CO2. From Korea Bizwire on 

August 7, 2015.

“State Grants Money for Local Climate Change Studies.” Maine’s Coastal Zone Management agency 

will help fund climate change studies through a joint grant to the Town of Essex, the National Wildlife 

Federation, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, and the Essex County Greenbelt Association. The 

grant is part of approximately $2 million given to coastal Massachusetts organizations as part of the 

state’s effort to “advance local efforts to increase awareness and understanding of climate impacts.” 

From Newbury Port News on August 22, 2015. 

“Climate change policy in Brazil and Mexico: Results from the MIT EPPA model.” The following is 

the Abstract of this article: “Based on an in-depth analysis of results from the MIT Economic Projection 

and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model of climate policies for Brazil and Mexico, [the authors] demonstrate 

that commitments by Mexico and Brazil for 2020—made during the UN climate meetings in Copenhagen 

and Cancun—are reachable, but they come at different costs for each country. [The authors] find that

Brazil's commitments will be met through reduced deforestation, and at no additional cost; however, 

Mexico's pledges will cost [$4 billion] in terms of reduced GDP in 2020. [The authors] explore short- and 

long-term implications of several policy scenarios after 2020, considering current policy debates in both 

countries. The comparative analysis of these two economies underscores the need for climate policy 

designed for the specific characteristics of each country, accounting for variables such as natural 

resources and current economic structure. [The authors’] results also suggest that both Brazil and 

Mexico may face other environmental and economic impacts from stringent global climate policies, 

affecting variables such as the value of energy resources in international trade.” Claudia Octaviano, 

Sergey Paltsev, and Angelo Costa Gurgel, Energy Economics. (Subscription may be required.)

October 2015

“Québec Sets New Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets.” The province of Québec, Canada, at the 

recommendation of its consultation committee on potential climate change, announced plans to cut its 

GHG emissions to 37.5 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The Québec government will present its 

plans at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP-21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on 

Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled to be held in Paris, France, in December 2015. More information 

is available in the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate 

Change Press Release. From CBC News on September 17, 2015. 

Washington to Set Carbon Emission Limits. The Washington Department of Ecology is drafting a rule 

that would require a portion of the state of Washington’s CO2 emitters to reduce their GHGs. Businesses 

and organizations responsible for producing 100,000 metric tons or more of GHGs could potentially be 

covered under the rule. Over the next year, public meetings and hearings will be held to gather input

from stakeholders. More information is available on the Washington State Department of Ecology 

website. 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Policy (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

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“Economic evaluation on CO2-EOR of onshore oil fields in China.” The following is the Abstract of 

this article: “Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) and [storage] in depleted oil reservoirs is 

a plausible option for utilizing anthropogenic CO2 to increase oil production while storing CO2

underground. Evaluation of the storage resources and cost of potential CO2-EOR projects is an essential 

step before the commencement of large-scale deployment of such activities. In this paper, a hybrid 

techno-economic evaluation method, including a performance model and cost model for onshore CO2-

EOR projects, has been developed based on previous studies. Total 296 onshore oil fields, accounting 

for about 70 [percent] of total mature onshore oil fields in China, were evaluated by the techno-economic 

method. The key findings of this study are summarized as follows: (1) deterministic analysis shows there 

are approximately 1.1 billion tons (7.7 billion barrels) of incremental crude oil and 2.2 billion tons CO2

storage resource for onshore CO2-EOR at net positive revenue within the Chinese oil fields reviewed 

under the given operating strategy and economic assumptions. (2) Sensitivity study highlights that the 

cumulative oil production and cumulative CO2 storage resource are very sensitive to crude oil price, CO2

cost, project lifetime, discount rate and tax policy. High oil price, short project lifetime, low discount rate, 

low CO2 cost, and low tax policy can greatly increase the net income of the oil enterprise, incremental oil 

recovery and CO2 storage resource. (3) From this techno-economic evaluation, the major barriers to 

large-scale deployment of CO2-EOR include complex geological conditions, low API of crude oil, high tax 

policy, and lack of incentives for the CO2-EOR project.” Ning Wei, Xiaochun Li, Robert T. Dahowski, 

Casie L. Davidson, Shengnan Liu, and Yongjin Zha, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas 

Control. (Subscription may be required.)

November 2015

“Expanding U.S.-Indonesia Cooperation for Energy Development and Energy Security.” Building 

on the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, the United States and Indonesia will further expand 

their partnership by promoting clean energy technologies and policies to help Indonesia’s energy 

demands, improve energy access, and reduce energy-sector GHG emissions. Expanded cooperation 

includes support through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for clean energy 

development and to build Indonesian capacity to reduce carbon in land use and energy. For more 

information, view the “Joint Statement by the United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia,” 

which includes a section on Energy Cooperation. From The White House Fact Sheet on October 26, 

2015.

“In silico science for climate policy: How policy-makers process and use carbon storage 

simulation data.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Knowledge gained from computer 

simulations in new earth-related technologies is not limited to the scientific community itself but impacts 

other domains of society such as politics, business and industry, and the public at large. In general 

business and industry in the oil and gas business are using computer simulations on a daily basis. In this 

case it is using computer simulations to gain understanding of the risk of a new technology which would 

affect the subsurface on a large scale and hence in Europe a substantial amount of people. So far, 

research did not consider in depth patterns of in silico science for policy. This paper analyses how policymakers process and use simulation data based on a case-study of geo-scientific [CO2] capture modeling. 

The empirical results are based on 19 qualitative interviews with decision-makers from politics, business 

and industry, and society. The empirical results reveal a great variety of co-existing perception, 

evaluation and use patterns of how decision-makers deal with simulations. The field work reveals that the 

current state-of-the-art in research literature which emphasizes an overall misperception, 

misunderstanding and misuse of simulation data by policy-makers is, in general, not backed by the casestudy results. However, scientific simulations do leave considerable room for misunderstandings for 

experts not disposing on specific geo-scientific and simulation expertise.” Dirk Scheer, Environmental 

Science & Policy. (Subscription may be required.)
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Policy (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

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December 2015

“[The United States] and China Advance Policies to Limit Carbon Emissions.” According to the 

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States and China have advanced policies to 

limit CO2 emissions. In its intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), the United States 

proposes to bring emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. China’s INDC proposes to 

peak its CO2 emissions around 2030, furthermore proposing 20 percent non-fossil energy use, also by 

2030. From Energy Voice on November 18, 2015.

“DNV GL Conducts Largest Ever Controlled Release of CO2 from an Underwater Pipeline.” DNV 

GL announced it will conduct a controlled release of CO2 from an underwater pipeline at its full-scale 

Spadeadam Testing and Research Center in Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK). Scheduled in begin in 

January 2016, the planned underwater release is part of an international Joint Industry Project (JIP) 

called “Sub-C-O2,” the goal of which is to develop safety guidelines on the use of offshore CO2 pipelines. 

This marks the project’s second experimental phase and is expected to run for three months and involve 

releases in an approximately 130-foot-diameter, 39-foot-deep pond at Spadeadam. From DNV GL on 

November 23, 2015.

“A benchmarking framework to evaluate business climate change risks: A practical tool suitable 

for investors decision-making process.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “A fundamental 

concern for the investor community is to identify techniques which would allow them to evaluate and 

highlight the most probable financial risks that could affect the value of their asset portfolio. Traditional 

techniques primarily focus on estimating certain conventional social-economic factors and many fail to 

cover an array of climate change risks. A limited number of institutional documents present, to a 

somewhat limited extent, some general-defined types of business climate change risks, which are 

deemed most likely to influence the value of an investors’ portfolio. However, it is crucial that 

stakeholders of businesses and scholars consider a wider range of information so as to assist investors 

in their decision making. This paper aims at establishing a new framework to operationalize and quantify 

an array of business climate change risks to provide more comprehensive and tangible information on 

non-traditional risks. This framework relies on the benchmarking – scoring systems and Global Reporting 

Initiative (GRI) guidelines, and is applied to various Greek businesses that are certified by Environmental 

Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).” Nikolaos Demertzidis, Thomas A. Tsalis, Glykeria Loupa, 

Ioannis E. Nikolaou, Climate Risk Management. (Subscription may be required.) 

January 2016

“New Zealand Meets Kyoto Climate Target.” The New Zealand government released three reports 

indicating its target has been met for reducing emissions under the first commitment period of the Kyoto 

Protocol. The reports, which also show that the country is on track to meet its 2020 target, were 

published by the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment as part of their international climate change 

reporting obligations. The reports are available via the above link. From New Zealand Government News 

Release on December 17, 2015.

“Japan to Release New Climate Policy Plan...” The Japanese government announced plans to 

develop a new climate change policy plan by early 2016. The new climate plan, which will be developed 

by a panel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and a panel from the Ministry of 

Environment, will aim to meet Japan’s target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 26 percent 

below 2013 levels by 2030. Due for publication in 2016, the policy plan will also consider the possibility of 

implementing an emissions trading scheme (ETS). From Carbon Pulse on December 22, 2015.

“Recent advances in risk assessment and risk management of geologic CO2 storage.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “This paper gives an overview of the advances made in the field of 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Policy (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

26

risk assessment and risk management of geologic CO2 storage (GCS), since the publication of the IPCC 

Special Report on Carbon Capture and Storage in 2005. Development and operation of a wide range of 

demonstration projects coupled with development of new regulations for safe injection and storage of 

CO2 have led to development and deployment of a range of risk assessment approaches. New methods 

and tools have been developed for quantitative and qualitative risk assessment. These methods have 

been integrated effectively with monitoring and mitigation techniques and deployed in the field for smallscale field tests as well as large-scale commercial projects. An important development has been 

improved definition of risks, which can be broadly classed as site performance risks, long-term 

containment risks, public perception risks and market risks. Considerable experience has now been 

gained on understanding and managing site performance risks. Targeted research on containment risks 

and induced seismicity risks has led to improved understanding of parameters and processes influencing 

these risks as well as identifying key uncertainties that need to be targeted. Finally, significant progress 

has been made to effectively integrate communication strategies with risk management approaches to 

increase stakeholder confidence in effectiveness of deployed risk management approaches to manage 

risks.” Rajesh J. Pawar, Grant S. Bromhal, J. William Carey, William Foxall, Anna Korre, Philip S. 

Ringrose, Owain Tucker, Maxwell N. Watson, and Joshua A. White, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“An examination of geologic carbon [storage] policies in the context of [release] potential.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “Carbon dioxide injected into geologic reservoirs for long-term 

[storage], or the brine it displaces, may [release] through natural or manmade pathways. Using a 

[release] estimation model, [the authors] simulated fluid [release] from a storage reservoir and its 

migration into overlying formations. The results are discussed in the context of policies that seek to 

assure long-term [storage] and protect groundwater. This work is based on a case study of CO2 injection 

into the Mt. Simon sandstone in the Michigan sedimentary basin, for which [the authors] constructed a 

simplified hydrologic representation of the geologic formations. The simulation results show that (1) CO2

[release] can reach [a formation] containing potable water, but numerous intervening stratigraphic traps 

limit the rate to be orders of magnitude less than the rate of [release] from the storage reservoir; (2) 

[DOE] guidelines for storage permanence allow for more [release] from larger injection projects than for 

smaller ones; (3) well [release] permeability is the most important variable in determining [release]

processes and substantial [release] requires that numerous wells [releasing] with the anomalously high 

permeability of 10−10 m2

; and (4) [release] can reduce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Area 

of Review.” Jeffrey M. Bielicki, Catherine A. Peters, Jeffrey P. Fitts, and Elizabeth J. Wilson, 

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

February 2016

“Historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change.” An agreement was reached by 195 nations at the

annual Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris, France, to combat potential climate change by driving 

efforts to limit global temperature increase and invest in a low-carbon future. In addition to setting longterm direction, the Paris Agreement lays the foundation for countries to peak their GHG emissions as 

soon as possible while continuing to submit national climate action plans. Under the agreement, 

countries will submit their updated climate plans, called nationally determined contributions (NDCs), 

every five years. Following adoption of the Paris Agreement by the COP, it will be opened for one year 

for signature on April 22, 2016, and will become effective after 55 countries, accounting for at least 55 

percent of global emissions, ratify the agreement. From United Nations Press Release on December 12, 

2015.

“Canada to Consider CO2 Emissions in Approving New Pipelines.” Canada announced a new

framework for approving the construction of pipelines that requires the consideration of the direct and 

upstream GHG emissions linked to the projects. The new requirements will be added to Canada’s 

existing environmental assessment process and will apply to projects currently being analyzed by the 

national energy regulator. From Phys.org on January 28, 2016.
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27

“Carbon strategies and management practices in an uncertain carbonomic environment – 

lessons learned from the coal-face.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “For many

businesses, carbon strategies are undertaken within a backdrop of an uncertain national carbon policy. 

Such was the case in Australia with the major political parties having radically different policies as to 

tackle the issue of climate change. However, despite such uncertainty, forward-thinking early movers 

have incorporated carbon awareness into their business decisions. This research investigates the carbon 

strategies and carbon management practices that were adopted by two firms operating at different levels 

of the Australian national energy market – one operates in energy transmission and distribution, and the 

other is an energy generator and retailer. The metaphor of ‘the coal-face’ is used to [analogize] the 

business practitioners from the studied firms who understand and are directly involved in day-to-day 

practices to handle carbon emissions issues in their [organizations]. The research findings highlight that 

while operating in the same industry, the firms employ different carbon strategies and carbon 

management practices to manage their compliance liabilities. Applying the lens of contingent resourcebased view, the factors that explain their different carbon practices include the extent of carbon 

exposures, the sector-specific regulatory setting and the in-house capabilities to deal with carbon issues. 

In addition, this study [synthesizes] a general template of corporate carbon management framework, 

based on the real practices of studied firms, to provide practical guidelines for effectively developing 

carbon management strategies in an uncertain environment.” Dina Wahyuni and Janek Ratnatunda, 

Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be required.)

“Climate policy modeling: An online SCI-E and SSCI based literature review.” The following is the

Abstract of this article: “This study utilizes the bibliometric method on climate policy modeling based on 

the online version of SCI-E from 1981 to 2013 and SSCI from 2002 to 2013, and summarizes several 

important research topics and methodologies in the field. Publications referring to climate policy modeling 

are assessed with respect to quantities, disciplines, most productive authors and institutes, and citations. 

Synthetic analysis of keyword frequency reveals six important research topics in climate policy modeling 

which are summarized and analyzed. The six topics include integrated assessment of climate policies, 

uncertainty in climate change, equity across time and space, endogeneity of technological change, 

greenhouse gases abatement mechanism, and enterprise risk in climate policy models. Additionally, 

twelve types of models employed in climate policy modeling are discussed. The most widely utilized 

climate policy models are optimization models, computable general equilibrium (CGE) models, and 

simulation models.” Yi-Ming Wei, Zhi-Fu Mi, and Zhimin Huang, Omega. (Subscription may be 

required.)

March 2016

“Sweden Reveals Plan to Go ‘Carbon Neutral’ by 2045.” The Swedish parliamentary committee

responsible for environmental policy proposed a plan to go “carbon neutral” by reducing its emissions by 

at least 85 percent from 1990 levels. The country would then offset the remaining 15 percent by investing 

in projects to reduce CO2 emissions abroad. The government is expected to release more details on the 

legislative proposals later this year. From Business Green on February 12, 2016.

“Japan to Target 80 [Percent] Emissions [Reduction] by 2050.” According to a draft report, the

Japanese government plans to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80 percent from their 

current level by 2050. The draft states Japan will also set an official target of a 3.8 percent or more 

reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 compared to the 2005 level, as well as a target to reduce emissions 

by 26 percent by 2030 compared to 2013. Those targets, along with the long-term 2050 target, will be 

registered with the United Nations (UN) after the latest international framework on climate change takes 

effect. From Nikkei Asian Review on February 29, 2016.

“The European low-carbon mix for 2030: The role of renewable energy sources in an 

environmentally and socially efficient approach.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The 
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28

European Union’s [EU] commitment to increase the presence of renewable energy sources in its portfolio 

has resulted in better levels of security of supply, competitiveness and environmental sustainability. This 

proposed work reviews European legislation regarding the promotion of renewable energy sources, as 

well as the bibliography that applies portfolio theory methodology to energy policy. This double revision 

gives rise to the question whether the share limits of renewable energy technologies anticipated for the 

European power mix in 2020 and 2030 are actually efficient. The optimization model corrects for the 

attractiveness of renewable energy sources as opposed to conventional sources in terms of costs, risks 

and pollutant gas emissions. This model successfully and explicitly identifies the positive effect on the 

environment that is represented by the inclusion of renewable energy sources in the portfolio. The goal is 

to minimize the cost and risk that society must bear to produce electricity, in addition to compliance with 

European pollutant gas (CO2, SO2, NOx and PM) objectives. The results for 2020 indicate that the EU 

would not be able to reach its emissions reduction goals with the anticipated shares of renewable energy 

sources. In 2030, achieving a lower emissions portfolio would not mean taking on greater costs, although 

it would be necessary to assume a greater level of risk. The anticipated shares of renewable energy 

sources (+5 [percent]) and fossil fuel technologies (+15 [percent]) would be overdimensioned in the 

forecasts analyzed. In terms of technologies, both nuclear and wind energy stand out, both with shares 

above 20 [percent]. On the contrary, biomass and solar photovoltaic energies would be unnecessary in 

order to reach efficiency. In any case, one thing is clear: The EU would be the master of its energy future 

if it prioritizes the importance of renewable energy sources in its efficient portfolio.” Fernando deLlanoPaz, Anxo Calvo-Silvosa, Susana Iglesias Antelo, and Isabel Soares, Renewable and Sustainable 

Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

“European Carbon Capture and Storage Project Network: Overview of the Status and 

Developments.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The European CCS Project Network [the 

‘Network’] is currently composed of projects located in the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the UK. The 

goal of the Network is to accelerate deployment of CCS by sharing project development experiences 

about technology integration, regulatory environment and financial structures. This paper aims to provide 

a review of some CCS experiences gained from developing the Network projects. Besides technology 

and project development, sharing knowledge and lessons learned on project-level basis, also gives 

valuable insights on how to create policies that would assist more effective deployment of technology 

and can enable development and implementation of regulatory frameworks. Hence, knowledge acquired 

in CCS aspects during the early development of this technology in Europe will be presented in this 

paper.” Zoe Kapetaki, Jelena Simjanović, and Jens Hetland, Energy Procedia. (Subscription may be 

required.)

April 2016

“Malaysia Committed In Reducing CO2 Emissions...” Malaysia will reduce its CO2 emission intensity

by 40 percent, government officials announced. To date, the country has reduced their emissions by 33 

percent. According to the Eleventh Malaysian Plan, the Malaysian government has set aside funding to 

develop and implement technologies. From Malaysian Digest on March 20, 2016.

“A commentary on the [U.S.] policies for efficient large scale renewable energy storage systems: 

Focus on carbon storage cycles.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The inevitable depletion 

of fossil resources and increasing atmospheric [GHG] concentrations demonstrate the need for 

renewable energy conversion technologies for a sustainable economy. Intermittencies and variability in 

availability of renewable energy sources are the challenges for uninterrupted energy supply, which can 

be overcome by large scale energy storage facilities. Pumped hydroelectric energy storage is an efficient 

but a very low energy density energy storage method that dominates the current energy storage market 

with ~96 [percent] share. [The authors] first present a recently developed potential solution for large 

scale efficient and dense energy storage: closed loop carbon storage cycles and a specific example 

dimethyl ether storage cycle. [The authors] then discuss the relevant [U.S.] energy storage regulations, 

policy initiatives, their status, and potential modifications that will contribute to the invention and 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Policy (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

29

implementation of novel energy storage systems.” Emre Gençer and Rakesh Agrawal, Energy Policy. 

(Subscription may be required.)

“‘Best practice’ community dialogue: The promise of a small-scale deliberative engagement 

around the siting of a carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) facility.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “In New Zealand the Taranaki region has been identified as a likely place for [CO2

storage] as a result of its oil and gas industry, potential storage reservoirs and skilled local workforce. As 

yet there are no plans to deploy the CCS technology in this particular region but this presented an 

opportunity for pro-active engagement with local stakeholders, including the urban community, farmers 

and landowners, local iwi (Māori), local and regional councils and the oil/gas industry. As an alternative 

to a standard consultation technique, a small-scale dialogue-based method was used, based on the 

principles of deliberative engagement. In this context, the emphasis was on developing an informed 

understanding of different viewpoints and solution-focused decision-making. This method of engagement 

was found to be cost-effective, revealed some unexpected viewpoints and identified some important 

precursors to risk perception in New Zealand. The empowerment of participants, assisted by 

independent scientists and the opportunity for facilitated dialogue, were key success factors. Moreover, 

the approach was valued by the wider community and perceived as a means to open up dialogue around 

other regional energy issues. In summary, small-scale deliberative engagement processes are a viable 

alternative or complement to standard community consultation techniques for engagement around the 

siting of CCS facilities.” Fiona J. Coyle, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription 

may be required.)

“Persuasiveness, importance and novelty of arguments about Carbon Capture and Storage.” The

following is the Abstract of this article: “CCS is a promising technology for reducing carbon emissions, 

but the public is often reluctant to support it. To understand why public support is lacking, it is crucial to 

establish what citizens think about the arguments that are used by proponents and opponents of CCS. 

[The authors] determined the persuasiveness, importance and novelty of 32 arguments for and against 

CCS using a discrete choice experiment in which respondents made consecutive choices between pairs 

of pro or con arguments. [The authors] used latent class models to identify population segments with 

different preferences. The results show that citizens find arguments about climate protection, which is the 

primary goal of CCS, less persuasive than other arguments, such as normative arguments (for example 

‘a waste product such as CO2 should be disposed of properly’) or arguments about benefits of CCS for 

energy production and economic growth. This discrepancy complicates communication that aims to 

convince citizens of the benefits of CCS for climate protection.” Kevin P.F. Broecks, Sander van 

Egmond, Frank J. van Rijnsoever, Marlies Verlinde-van den Berg, and Marko P. Hekkert, 

Environmental Science & Policy. (Subscription may be required.)

May 2016

“China’s Hunan Province Sets Absolute CO2 Target for 2020.” According to the Hunan Provincial 

People’s Government Office, the south-central China province will limit its 2020 CO2 emissions to 

approximately 510 million metric tons. The target was outlined in the government’s low-carbon 

implementation plan for 2016-2020. In addition, government officials announced plans to finalize work on 

a carbon emissions trading system (ETS) as part of preparations to join the national ETS. To meet the 

target, the provincial government will introduce advanced climate finance tools, increase international 

collaboration, and introduce a low-carbon building program. From Carbon Pulse on May 2, 2016. 

“The political economy of carbon capture and storage: An analysis of two demonstration 

projects.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “CCS technology is considered key to mitigating 

climate change by international institutions and governments around the world. The technology is 

considered advantageous because it may enable the continued utilization of fossil fuels while curbing 

carbon emissions. However, development of the technology remains slow on the ground. It is generally 

argued that large-scale, integrated demonstration projects are needed as a next step toward 
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30

commercialization. Despite government support in several countries, few projects exist so far worldwide. 

This paper asks why it is so difficult to get demonstration projects off the ground. The argument is that it 

is not only project-specific factors that determine the feasibility of demonstration, but given the need for 

government support, a variety of political economy factors influence decision-making processes by policy 

makers and companies. The paper introduces an analytical framework developed on the basis of the 

political economy literature that considers six sets of factors that influence outcomes. It discusses two 

specific projects, Longannet in the UK and Quest in Canada, and explains why one failed and the other 

one is under construction. The analysis shows that although climate change has been a more important 

policy concern in the UK compared to Canada, the specific political economy situation of fossil fuel rich 

provinces like Alberta has led to the Quest project going forward.” Florian Kern, James Gaede, James 

Meadowcroft, and Jim Watson, Technological Forecasting and Social Change. (Subscription may be 

required.)

June 2016

“[South] Korea to Double Investment in Clean Energy by 2021.” The South Korean government 

announced plans to spend more than $841 million on R&D of clean energy by 2021. In addition, the 

South Korean ministry also announced plans for detailed roadmaps for each of its six research areas, 

which include CCUS. From The Korea Times on June 3, 2016. 

“Long-term abatement potential and current policy trajectories in Latin American countries.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “This paper provides perspectives on the role of Latin American 

and Latin American countries in meeting global abatement goals, based on the scenarios developed 

through the CLIMACAP–LAMP modeling study. Abatement potential in Latin America, among other 

things, is influenced by its development status, the large contributions of non-CO2 and land use change 

CO2 emissions, and energy endowments. In most scenarios in this study, the economic potential to 

reduce fossil fuel CO2 as well as non-CO2 emissions in Latin America in 2050 is lower than in the rest of 

the world (in total) when measured against 2010 emissions, due largely to higher emission growth in 

Latin America than in the rest of the world in the absence of abatement. The potential to reduce land use 

change CO2 emissions is complicated by a wide range of factors and is not addressed in this paper (land 

use emissions are largely addressed in a companion paper). The study confirms the results of previous 

research that the variation in abatement costs across models may vary by an order of magnitude or 

more, limiting the value of these assessments and supporting continued calls for research on the degree 

to which models are effectively representing key local circumstances that influence costs and available 

abatement options. Finally, a review of policies in place in several Latin American countries at the time of 

this writing finds that they would be of varying success in meeting the emission levels proposed by the 

most recent [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)] reports to limit global temperature 

change to 2°C.” Leon Clarke, et al., Energy Economics. (Subscription may be required.)

July 2016

“Leaders’ Statement on a North American Climate, Clean Energy, and Environment Partnership.”

Representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico announced a commitment to the North 

American Climate, Clean Energy, and Environment Partnership, with a goal of achieving 50 percent 

clean power generation by 2025 through clean energy development and deployment, clean energy 

innovation, and energy efficiency. The partnership will include domestic initiatives and policies, crossborder projects, a joint study, trilateral collaborations on green government initiatives, aligning efficiency 

standards, and building on North American leadership in international forums. In addition, the 

collaboration will result in the identification of joint R&D initiatives to advance clean technologies in areas 

such as CCUS. From The White House, Office of the Press Secretary on June 29, 2016. 
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31

“Québec and Saskatchewan Join Forces for Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies.” Officials 

from Québec, Canada, and Saskatchewan, Canada, agreed to expand their collaboration to accelerate 

the development of CCS-related technologies. According to Saskatchewan’s Executive Council, the 

collaboration will contribute to the development of knowledge and best practices to reduce GHG 

emissions through CCS, while improving the economic return on projects by reusing the captured carbon 

for other purposes. In addition, officials from the two provinces will also exchange CCS project updates 

and information, and continue to work together to identify future collaboration possibilities. From 

Canadian Underwriter on June 17, 2016.

“CCS Feasible by 2022, Says [Norwegian Petroleum Directorate] Study.” According to a feasibility 

study conducted by Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE), full-scale CCS could be achieved 

in Norway by 2022. The study set out to identify a technically feasible CCS chain with corresponding cost 

estimates that include CO2 capture, transport, and storage. The Norwegian government will present 

further plans for CCS in its state budget for 2017. More information is available via an MPE press 

release. Click here for a summary of the feasibility studies. From Offshore Engineer on July 4, 2016. 

“[United Kingdom (UK)] Sets 2030 Climate Goal...” Britain has set a target to reduce its CO2

emissions by 57 percent, based on 1990 levels, by 2032. Britain’s overall target is to reduce emissions 

by 80 percent based on 1990 levels. Before it can become law, the carbon budget will need to be 

adopted by Parliament. By 2050, Britain has a legally binding target to cut emissions by 80 percent 

based on 1990 levels. From Reuters on June 30, 2016.

August 2016

“EU Commission Proposes Emissions Cuts for Member States.” The European Commission has 

proposed country-specific emissions targets in a proposal known as the Effort Sharing Regulation. The 

proposal, which clarifies roles in helping the European Union (EU) reach a 40 percent reduction in 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, targets sectors not included in the 

European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In addition, the proposal includes requirements 

for member states to report on their progress toward meeting goals, as well as sets annual interim 

targets from 2021 to 2030. The Effort Sharing Regulation builds upon the Effort Sharing Decision, which 

is the emissions roadmap for 2013 to 2020. From International Centre for Trade and Sustainable 

Development on July 28, 2016.

“The effects of fiscal policy on CO2 emissions: Evidence from the U.S.A.” The following is from the 

Abstract of this article: “This paper examines the effects of fiscal policy on CO2 emissions using Vector 

Autoregressions on U.S. quarterly data from 1973 to 2013. In particular, [the authors] analyze the shortand mid-term interactions between fiscal policy and emissions by using sign restrictions to identify the 

policy shocks. [The authors] construct the impulse responses to linear combinations of fiscal shocks, 

corresponding to the scenarios of deficit-financed spending and deficit-financed tax-cuts. To consider 

possible variations of the effect of fiscal policy, [the authors] distinguish between production- and 

consumption-generated CO2 emissions. The results point out that the implementation of expansionary 

fiscal spending provides an alleviating effect on emissions, whereas deficit-financed tax-cuts are 

associated with an increase on consumption-generated CO2 emissions. The exact pattern of the effects 

depends on the source of emissions, the scenario of fiscal policy that is implemented and the functional 

class of government expenditure being increased.” George E. Halkos and Epameinondas Α. 

Paizanos, Energy Policy. (Subscription may be required.)

September 2016 

“Canada Advances Mission Innovation with Establishment of Clean Energy Innovation Program.”

Natural Resources Canada (NRC) announced the Canadian government is seeking proposals for 
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32

projects as part of the Clean Energy Innovation Program, the goal of which is to advance the 

commercialization of clean energy technologies. In addition, the initiative will aid Canada in meeting its 

Mission Innovation goal of doubling its 2014 through 2015 funding for clean energy and clean technology 

R&D by 2020. Mission Innovation is a global initiative of 20 countries focused on accelerating clean 

energy development. From Natural Resources Canada News Release on August 18, 2016. 

“Ontario, Québec Sign Climate Policy Deal with Mexico.” The governments of Ontario and Québec, 

Canada, signed an agreement with the Mexican government to jointly develop carbon markets, allowing 

companies in the two Canadian provinces to purchase Mexican greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction 

credits. The memorandum was reached during the Climate Summit of the Americas in Guadalajara, 

Mexico, in August 2016. Under the agreement, Mexico plans to join the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), 

a non-profit corporation formed to support the implementation of state and provincial GHG emissions 

trading programs. Ontario and Québec are currently represented in WCI. From The Globe and Mail on 

August 31, 2016.

“Stakeholder and public perceptions of CO2-EOR in the context of CCS – Results from UK focus 

groups and implications for policy.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Interest is growing in 

CO2-EOR as an additional economic incentive for CO2 injection and demonstration of storage feasibility. 

However, given increasing societal concern over fossil fuel energy, could CO2-EOR unintentionally 

hinder conventional CCS by reducing support from neutral or cautiously supportive voices? This paper 

assesses how stakeholders and citizens respond to four scenarios for CCS with CO2-EOR in the North 

Sea, and draws societal implications for deployment in other mature basins. Based on focus group data 

from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and London, [the authors] argue that scenarios [emphasizing maximizing] oil 

recovery may be met with [skepticism] or even opposition, and that there is an expectation for national 

governments to lead and ensure CO2-EOR (and CCS more generally) are undertaken in the public 

interest. Nonetheless, [the authors’] data also suggest a certain degree of pragmatism as to the 

embeddedness of fossil fuels in society, and thus that there may be qualified support for CCS with CO2-

EOR as making best use of existing fields whilst [decarbonizing] the power and industrial sectors. 

However, for this support to emerge there is an imperative for coherent and credible policy that positions 

CO2-EOR firmly within a managed transition towards a low-carbon economy.” Leslie Mabon and Chris 

Littlecott, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)
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33

Geology

September 2015

“Impacts of CO2 [release] into shallow formations on groundwater chemistry.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “Geological storage of CO2 is one option for mitigating atmospheric emissions of 

[CO2]. However, the injected CO2 has the possibility of [release]. The [released] CO2 may move upward 

into shallow formations and thereby affects shallow groundwater. To investigate this effect, 27 tonnes of 

gaseous CO2 was injected into [a formation] about 180 m below a surface. Periodic groundwater 

samples were studied to identify shift of hydro-chemical parameters, including pH, TDS, ORP, Ca, Mg, 

Na, HCO3, Cl, SO4, Pb, Fe, and F. The results indicated that CO2 dissolution and reaction concurrently 

reduced aquifer pH levels and increased concentrations of TDS, Ca, Mg, HCO3, and F. ORP level and 

SO4 concentration remained static. Pb and Fe concentrations were lower than the detection limit 1 mg/L 

and 0.02 mg/L, respectively. After the CO2 breakthrough, Cl concentration increased to a stable level 

slightly higher than the background concentration. The shift in groundwater levels of Ca and Mg was 

attributed to dolomite (or Mg-rich calcite) and calcite-dominant dissolution processes. Results indicated 

linear approximations between concentrations of F vs. HCO3 (slope 0.0036) and F vs. Ca (slope 0.013). 

Additionally, the TDS and the total molar concentration of Ca and Mg showed linear correlations with 

increased levels of HCO3.” Qianlin Zhu, Xiaochun Li, Zhenbo Jiang, and Ning Wei, Fuel Processing 

Technology. (Subscription may be required.)

October 2015

“Capillarity and wetting of carbon dioxide and brine during drainage in Berea sandstone at 

reservoir conditions.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The wettability of CO2-brine-rock 

systems will have a major impact on the management of carbon [storage] in subsurface geological 

formations. Recent contact angle measurement studies have reported sensitivity in wetting behavior of 

this system to pressure, temperature, and brine salinity. [The authors] report observations of the impact 

of reservoir conditions on the capillary pressure characteristic curve and relative permeability of a single 

Berea sandstone during drainage—CO2 displacing brine—through effects on the wetting state. Eight 

reservoir condition drainage capillary pressure characteristic curves were measured using CO2 and brine 

in a single fired Berea sandstone at pressures (5–20 MPa), temperatures (25–50°C), and ionic strengths 

(0–5 mol kg−1 NaCl). A ninth measurement using a N2-water system provided a benchmark for capillarity 

with a strongly water wet system. The capillary pressure curves from each of the tests were found to be 

similar to the N2-water curve when scaled by the interfacial tension. Reservoir conditions were not found 

to have a significant impact on the capillary strength of the CO2-brine system during drainage through a 

variation in the wetting state. Two steady-state relative permeability measurements with CO2 and brine 

and one with N2 and brine similarly show little variation between conditions, consistent with the 

observation that the CO2-brine-sandstone system is water wetting and multiphase flow properties 

invariant across a wide range of reservoir conditions.” Ali Al-Menhali, Ben Niu, and Samuel Krevor, 

Water Resources Research. (Subscription may be required.)

“CO2-induced mechanical [behavior] of Hawkesbury sandstone in the Gosford basin: An 

experimental study.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “CO2 [stored] in saline [formations]

undergoes a variety of chemically-coupled mechanical effects, which may cause CO2-induced 

mechanical changes and time-dependent reservoir deformation. This paper investigates the 

mineralogical and microstructural changes that occur in reservoir rocks following injection of CO2 in deep 

saline [formations] and the manner in which these changes influence the mechanical properties of the 

reservoir rocks. In this study, cylindrical sandstone specimens, 38 mm in diameter and 76 mm high, 

obtained from the Gosford basin, were used to perform a series of unconfined compressive strength 

(UCS) tests. Different saturation conditions: dry, water- and brine-saturated sandstone samples with and 

without scCO2 (super-critical carbon dioxide) injection, were considered in the study to obtain a 
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34

comprehensive understanding of the impact of scCO2 injection during the CO2 [storage] process on 

saline [formation] mechanical properties. An acoustic emission (AE) system was employed to identify the 

stress threshold values of crack closure, crack initiation and crack damage for each testing condition 

during the whole deformation process of the specimens. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Xray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were performed to evaluate the chemical 

and mineralogical changes that occur in reservoir rocks during CO2 injection. From the test results, it is 

clear that the CO2-saturated samples possessed a lower peak strength compared to non-CO2 saturated 

samples. According to SEM, XRD and XRF analyses, considerable quartz mineral corrosion and 

dissolution of calcite and siderite were observed during the interactions of the CO2/water/rock and 

CO2/brine/rock systems, which implies that mineralogical and geochemical rock alterations affect rock 

mechanical properties by accelerating the collapse mechanisms of the pore matrix. AE results also 

reveal the weakening effect of rock pore structure with CO2 injection, which suggests a significant effect 

of CO2 on failure mechanisms of the reservoir rock, with CO2 saturation showing a significant influence 

on crack initiation and crack damage stages.” T.D. Rathnaweera, P.G. Ranjith, M.S.A. Perera, A. 

Haque, A. Lashin, N. Al Arifi, D Chandrasekharam, SQ Yang, T Xu, SH Wang, and E Yasar, 

Materials Science and Engineering A. (Subscription may be required.)

November 2015

“Opportunities and obstacles for CO2 mineralization: CO2 mineralization specific frames in the 

interviews of Finnish carbon capture and storage (CCS) experts.” The following is from the Abstract 

of this article: “CCS is expected to significantly reduce CO2 emissions for climate change mitigation 

purposes. Currently, the EU CCS Directive contains only geological storage as the storage option for 

CO2 – excluding CO2 mineralization as a storage option. Since all CCS technologies are currently in a 

relatively early stage of development, this exclusion seems unreasonable. Opportunities for the use of 

CO2 mineralization and the main uncertainties that can potentially prevent the use of these opportunities 

are investigated in this paper. The analysis is done by means of framing methodology that enables the 

extraction of CCS experts' mental models concerning CO2 mineralization from the interview data.” Laura 

Kainiemi, Sanni Eloneva, Arho Toikka, Jarkko Levänen, and Mika Järvinen, Journal of Cleaner 

Production. (Subscription may be required.)

December 2015

“Eocene atmospheric CO2 from the nahcolite proxy.” The following is the Abstract of this article: 

“Estimates of the atmospheric concentration of CO2, [CO2]atm, for the ‘hothouse’ climate of the early 

Eocene climatic optimum (EECO) vary for different proxies. Extensive beds of the mineral nahcolite 

(NaHCO3) in evaporite deposits of the Green River Formation, Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, USA, 

previously established [CO2]atm for the EECO to be >1125 ppm by volume (ppm). Here, [the authors]

present experimental data that revise the sodium carbonate mineral equilibria as a function of [CO2] and 

temperature. Co-precipitation of nahcolite and halite (NaCl) now establishes a well-constrained lower 

[CO2]atm limit of 680 ppm for the EECO. Paleotemperature estimates from leaf fossils and fluid inclusions 

in halite suggest an upper limit for [CO2]atm in the EECO from the nahcolite proxy of ∼1260 ppm. These 

data support a causal connection between elevated [CO2]atm and early Eocene global warmth, but at 

significantly lower [CO2]atm than previously thought, which suggests that ancient climates on Earth may 

have been more sensitive to a doubling of [CO2]atm than is currently assumed.” Elliot A. Jagniecki, Tim 

K. Lowenstein, David M. Jenkins, and Robert V. Demicco, Geology. (Subscription may be required.)

“Analysis of CO2 trapping capacities and long-term migration for geological formations in the 

Norwegian North Sea using MRST-co2lab.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “MRST-co2lab 

is a collection of open-source computational tools for modeling large-scale and long-time migration of 

CO2 in conductive [formations], combining ideas from basin modeling, computational geometry, 

hydrology, and reservoir simulation. Herein, [the authors] employ the methods of MRST-co2lab to study 
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35

long-term CO2 storage on the scale of hundreds of [million tons]. [The authors] consider public data sets 

of two [formations] from the Norwegian North Sea and use geometrical methods for identifying structural 

traps, percolation-type methods for identifying potential spill paths, and vertical-equilibrium methods for 

efficient simulation of structural, residual, and solubility trapping in a thousand-year perspective. In 

particular, [the authors] investigate how data resolution affects estimates of storage capacity and discuss 

workflows for identifying good injection sites and optimizing injection strategies.” Halvor Møll Nilsen, 

Knut-Andreas Lie, and Odd Andersen, Computers & Geosciences. (Subscription may be required.)

January 2016

“Capillary trapping for geologic carbon dioxide storage – From pore scale physics to field scale 

implications.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “A significant amount of theoretical, numerical 

and observational work has been published focused on various aspects of capillary trapping in CO2

storage since the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (2005). This research 

has placed capillary trapping in a central role in nearly every aspect of the geologic storage of CO2. 

Capillary, or residual, trapping – where CO2 is rendered immobile in the pore space as disconnected 

ganglia, surrounded by brine in a storage [formation] – is controlled by fluid and interfacial physics at the 

size scale of rock pores. These processes have been observed at the pore scale in situ using X-ray 

microtomography at reservoir conditions. A large database of conventional centimetre core scale 

observations for flow modelling are now available for a range of rock types and reservoir conditions. 

These along with the pore scale observations confirm that trapped saturations will be at least 10

[percent] and more typically 30 [percent] of the pore volume of the rock, stable against subsequent 

displacement by brine and characteristic of water-wet systems. Capillary trapping is pervasive over the 

extent of a migrating CO2 plume and both theoretical and numerical investigations have demonstrated 

the first order impacts of capillary trapping on plume migration, [immobilization] and CO2 storage 

security. Engineering strategies to [maximize] capillary trapping have been proposed that make use of 

injection schemes that [maximize] sweep or enhance imbibition. National assessments of CO2 storage 

capacity now incorporate modelling of residual trapping where it can account for up to 95 [percent] of the 

storage resource. Field scale observations of capillary trapping have confirmed the formation and 

stability of residually trapped CO2 at masses up to 10,000 tons and over time scales of years. Significant 

outstanding uncertainties include the impact of heterogeneity on capillary [immobilization] and capillary 

trapping in mixed-wet systems. Overall capillary trapping is well constrained by laboratory and field scale 

observations, effectively modelled in theoretical and numerical models and significantly enhances 

storage integrity, both increasing storage capacity and limiting the rate and extent of plume migration.” 

Samuel Krevor, Martin J. Blunt, Sally M. Benson, Christopher H. Pentland, Catriona Reynolds, Ali 

Al-Menhali, and Ben Niu, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be 

required.)

“Petrological characterization and reactive transport simulation of a high-water-cut oil reservoir 

in the Southern Songliao Basin, Eastern China for CO2 [storage].” The following is from the Abstract 

of this article: “[Carbon dioxide] geological [storage] (CGS) in depleted or high-water-cut oil reservoirs is 

a viable option for reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions and [EOR]. The Upper Cretaceous 

Qingshankou Formation in the central Changling (fault) Depression, Songliao Basin, East China is the 

selected site for a pilot injection of the CO2 INJECTION project. The target reservoir depth is about 

2400–2500 m. Lithologic features and diagenetic minerals of the reservoir and [caprocks] have been 

investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In 

the Qingshankou Formation, the reservoir rock is a typical arkose with moderately to good sorting, and 

very fine to fine grain sizes. Minerallogically it is dominated by quartz (19–31 vol.%), plagioclase (19–28 

vol.%), and K-feldspar (2–26 vol.%). Calcite and ankerite constitute the most common diagenetic 

minerals. The lithology of the [caprock] is mainly silty mudstone and composed of quartz (average of 

12.9–27.0 wt.%), albite (14.2–35.5 wt.%), K-feldspar (1.3–2.7 wt.%), mixed-layer illite/smectite (24.9–

68.8 wt.%), chlorite (3.15–14.7 wt.%) and some kaolinite. The main antigenic minerals in the CO2

INJECTION well are made up of albite (average of 29.7 wt.%), K-feldspar (average of 4.5 wt.%), calcite 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

36

(average of 7.5 wt.%) and ankerite (average of 9.1 wt.%).” Zhichao Yu, Li Liu, Keyu Liu, Siyu Yang, 

and Yongzhi Yang, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“Carbon dioxide storage in subsurface geologic medium: A review on capillary trapping 

mechanism.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in subsurface 

geologic medium is presently the most promising option for mitigating the anthropogenic CO2 emissions. 

To have an effective storage in immobile phase, however, it is necessary to determine the distribution of 

CO2 in a medium, which mainly depends on three trapping mechanisms known as capillary, dissolution 

and mineral mechanisms. Previous studies have emphasized on these mechanisms individually in 

different aspects, particularly by considering the [formation] system. The purpose of this review is to give 

a comprehensive discussion on the advancement made toward capillary trapping in terms of effective 

and non-effective factors. It also throws light into the importance of capillary trapping in depleted 

hydrocarbon reservoir. Considering various factors and their impacts on capillary trapping, it is suggested 

to carry out an integrated study for the assessment of the major and minor influential parameters for 

better modeling and understanding of capillary trapping in any storage medium.” Arshad Raza, Reza 

Rezaee, Chua Han Bing, Raoof Gholami, Mohamed Ali Hamid, and Ramasamy Nagarajan, Egyptian 

Journal of Petroleum. (Subscription may be required.)

February 2016

“Impact of pressure and temperature on CO2–brine–mica contact angles and CO2–brine 

interfacial tension: Implications for carbon geo-[storage].” The following is the Abstract of this

article: “Precise characterization of wettability of CO2–brine–rock system and CO2–brine interfacial 

tension at reservoir conditions is essential as they influence capillary sealing efficiency of caprocks, 

which in turn, impacts the structural and residual trapping during CO2 geo-[storage]. In this context, [the 

authors] have experimentally measured advancing and receding contact angles for brine–CO2–mica 

system (surface roughness ∼12 nm) at different pressures (0.1 MPa, 5 MPa, 7 MPa, 10 MPa, 15 MPa, 

20 MPa), temperatures (308 K, 323 K, and 343 K), and salinities (0 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt% and 30 

wt% NaCl). For the same experimental matrix, CO2–brine interfacial tensions have also been measured 

using the pendant drop technique. The results indicate that both advancing and receding contact angles 

increase with pressure and salinity, but decrease with temperature. On the contrary, CO2–brine 

interfacial tension decrease with pressure and increase with temperature. At 20 MPa and 308 K, the 

advancing angle is measured to be ∼110°, indicating CO2-wetting. The results have been compared with 

various published literature data and probable factors responsible for deviations have been highlighted. 

Finally, [the authors] demonstrate the implications of measured data by evaluating CO2 storage heights 

under various operating conditions. [The authors] conclude that for a given storage depth, reservoirs with 

lower pressures and high temperatures can store larger volumes and thus exhibit better sealing 

efficiency.” Muhammad Arif, Ahmed Z. Al-Yaseri, Ahmed Barifcani, Maxim Lebedev, and Stefan 

Iglauer, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. (Subscription may be required.)

“Analysis of a time dependent injection strategy to accelerate the residual trapping of [stored] 

CO2 in the geologic subsurface.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “A time dependent

injection strategy for greatly accelerating the immobilization of geologically [stored] CO2 is proposed and 

analyzed. The injection of high density CO2 into a brine [formation] is followed by brine flooding 

facilitating residual trapping and dissolution of the CO2 on time scales much shorter than those that 

would occur by natural processes. One-dimensional kinematic wave equations are derived for the twophase flow of brine and CO2 and for the transport of dissolved CO2. A solution of these equations using 

the method of characteristics reveals that brine flooding is most effective when the kinematic wave speed 

of CO2 saturation is higher than the propagation velocity of a shock wave separating the two-phase flow 

from the native brine. Finite volume simulation using the reservoir simulator TOUGH2 with PetraSIM 

interface are generally in good agreement with the one-dimensional model, but show that gravitational 

overriding of the CO2 can become important if the duration of the injection process is too long. Both 

methods show that brine flooding is able to reduce the mass fraction of mobile CO2 to less than 10 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

37

[percent] using a volume ratio brine:CO2 of less than 2.75 on time scales comparable to that of the CO2

injection.” Erik J. Huber, Abraham D. Stroock, and Donald L. Kock, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

March 2016

“Effects of rate law formulation on predicting CO2 [storage] in sandstone formations.” The

following is the Summary of this article: “Injection of CO2 into confined geological formations, given their 

massive carbon storage capacity and widespread geographic distribution, represents one of the most 

promising options for CO2 [storage]. Reactive transport models have been constructed to understand the 

process of carbon storage and predict the fate of injected CO2. Model results, however, differ 

dramatically because of the large uncertainties attributed to reaction kinetics. The root of this problem is 

partly related to the one of the biggest challenges in modern geochemistry: The persistent two to five 

orders of magnitude discrepancy between laboratory-measured and field-derived feldspar dissolution 

rates. Recently, advances in reaction kinetics research suggest that the slow precipitation of secondary 

minerals produces negative feedback in the dissolution–precipitation loop, which reduces the overall 

feldspar dissolution rates by orders of magnitude. In this study, [the authors] focused on how the 

coupling between feldspar dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation, as well as mineral 

carbonation, is affected by rate law uncertainties. Reactive transport models with four different rate law 

scenarios were used for CO2 [storage] in a sandstone formation resembling the Mt. Simon saline 

reservoir in the Midwest, USA. The results indicate that (1) long-term mineral trapping is more sensitive 

to rate laws for feldspar dissolution than to rate laws for carbonate mineral precipitation and (2) 

negligence of the sigmoidal shape of rate – ΔGr relationships and the mitigating effects of secondary 

mineral precipitation can overestimate both the extent of feldspar dissolution during CO2 injection and in 

turn mineral trapping.” Guanru Zhang, Peng Lu, Yilun Zhang, Xiaomei Wei, and Chen Zhu,

International Journal of Energy Research. (Subscription may be required.)

“Reduced order models of transient CO2 and brine [release] along abandoned wellbores from 

geologic carbon [storage] reservoirs.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] have 

developed reduced order models (ROMs) for CO2 and brine [release] rates along wellbores including 

abandoned wells at geologic CO2 storage sites using a Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines 

(MARS) algorithm. The ROMs were developed for use within systems level performance assessment 

models such as Los Alamos National Laboratory's CO2-PENS model. The ROMs are used to compute 

[release] rates as a function of wellbore properties including effective permeability, depth as well as 

pressures and saturations in the reservoir where the wellbore intercepts the reservoir. The ROMs were 

created using results of complex, 3-D multi-phase numerical simulations of large-scale CO2 injection at a 

generic CO2 storage site with an abandoned wellbore. The generic site included not only the primary 

storage reservoir but also a groundwater [formation] and an intermediate permeable zone. Two sets of 

simulations were performed, one with and one without an abandoned wellbore in order to capture the 

effect of coupling between the storage reservoir and wellbore in a system level model where it is 

assumed that they are decoupled. Cross-validation against the complex, multi-phase numerical 

simulation results were used to evaluate the ability of the ROMs to reproduce numerical simulation 

results. Further, [the authors’] ROM development approach effectively captures transient CO2 and brine 

[release] during and after CO2 injection as well as the effects of an intermediate permeable zone on 

[release] to a shallow groundwater [formation] and to the atmosphere. Ultimately, the ROM is a 

computationally efficient model that effectively captures many of the complex underlying processes 

taking place during CO2 and brine [release] along a wellbore at a geologic CO2 storage site.” Dylan R. 

Harp, Rajesh Pawar, J. William Carey, and Carl W. Gable, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas 

Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“Integration of reservoir simulation, history matching, and 4D seismic for CO2-EOR and storage 

at Cranfield, Mississippi, USA.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “In this paper, [the authors]

compare 4D seismic interpretations of CO2 plume evolution with fluid-flow numerical simulation results 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

38

for Cranfield, Mississippi. Historic pressure trends, oil and gas production rates, and current CO2-

[enhanced oil recovery (EOR)] production data from the field were history matched, and a tuned model 

was used for predictive simulations. For CO2-EOR operations, numerical simulation results of the CO2

plume distribution and CO2 first arrival (breakthrough) times in production wells were compared to the 

available field data. Three interpretations of 4D seismic data show discrepancies on the edges of the 

seismic survey, and along the sealing fault, where numerical simulations show high CO2 saturations. In 

areas between these two limits, the match between simulation and 4D seismic interpretation improves. In 

addition, for most of the production wells, comparison of the breakthrough time of CO2 showed a 

reasonable match. The tuned model was then used to predict reservoir response and storage capacity in 

different field development scenarios under CO2 injection. [The authors] compared hypothetical 

scenarios where the operator transitions from CO2-EOR to CO2 injection without oil production (CO2-

EORT) when oil production is not economical anymore, to a scenario of continuing with CO2-EOR. [The 

authors’] results show that CO2-EOR can store more CO2 and operations will last longer, whereas if 

switched to CO2-EORT, the field must be abandoned earlier because of spillover of the CO2 plume. 

However, the amount of CO2 stored per year is larger for CO2-EORT as compared to CO2-EOR.” 

Masoud Alfi and Seyyed A. Hosseini, Fuel. (Subscription may be required.)

April 2016

“Palaeogeographic mapping to understand the hydrocarbon and CO2 storage potential of the 

post-rift Warnbro Group, offshore Vlaming Sub-basin, southern Perth Basin, Australia.” The 

following is from the Abstract of this article: “The Lower Cretaceous Gage Sandstone and South Perth 

Shale are a prospective reservoir-seal pair in the Warnbro Group, offshore Vlaming Sub-basin, Western 

Australia. Plays include post-breakup pinch-outs and [four]-way dip closures. A sequence stratigraphic 

analysis incorporating seismic interpretation, well log analysis and new biostratigraphic data 

characterised the reservoir-seal pair. Palaeogeographic mapping reveals multiple regressivetransgressive cycles which infilled the central palaeodepression on the Valanginian Unconformity. Within 

the deltaic South Perth Supersequence, the Gage Lowstand Fan (lithostratigraphically referred to as the 

Gage Sandstone) is a sand-rich submarine fan system and ranges from canyon-confined inner fan to 

basin-plain middle fan deposits. Major sediment contributions were from north–south-trending canyons 

adjacent to the Mandurah Terrace. Detailed seismic facies mapping and well log analysis of the Gage 

Lowstand Fan show that distal middle fan sand sheets and stacked channelised sands in the inner fan 

may provide an extensive reservoir of good to excellent quality. Seal quality varies greatly and may 

explain the lack of exploration success at some structural closures. A re-evaluation of the regional seal 

determined the extent of deepwater shale facies that provides an effective seal for the underlying 

submarine fans. 3D geological modelling confirms that the reservoir is suitable for hydrocarbon 

entrapment and CO2 storage. Migration path analysis identified the presence of multiple structural and 

stratigraphic closures at the top of the reservoir. Previous petroleum systems modelling concluded that 

some source rock maturation probably post-dates deposition of the effective seal thereby allowing 

structural closures to be charged with hydrocarbons. Uncertainties potentially comprising hydrocarbon 

preservation and CO2 storage include reactivation of large syn-rift faults that may breach top seal, the 

potential absence of base seal, effective seal thickness, and reservoir thickness and quality.” Megan E. 

Lech, Diane C. Jorgensen, Chris Southby, Liuqi Wang, Victor Nguyen, Irina Borissova, and David 

Lescinsky, Marine and Petroleum Geology. (Subscription may be required.)

“Isothermal adsorption kinetics properties of carbon dioxide in crushed coal.” The following is the

Abstract of this article: “Understanding the dynamic response of coal to [CO2] sorption is crucial for 

optimizing [CO2 storage] in unmineable coal seams and enhanced coalbed methane recovery. In order to 

explore the adsorption kinetics of [CO2] in coal, 15 isothermal adsorption tests were conducted on 

bituminous and sub-bituminous coals at 50°C for increasing equilibrium pressures (up to 4 MPa). The 

pseudo-second order (PSO) model is introduced to approximate the [CO2] sorption kinetics in coal, and 

the kinetics properties are then investigated via the PSO model. The linear relationship between (t/q) and 

(t) is validated and confirmed with a high correlation coefficient (>99 [percent]). The kinetics parameter, 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

39

k2, decreases with both increasing equilibrium sorption pressure and increasing pressure difference. The 

sorption equilibrium content, Qe, in each sorption stage depends on both the final equilibrium pressure 

and the pressure difference. Based on the relationship between sorption content and time, the sorption 

content for different pressure ranges is predicted using different time intervals. The analysis indicates 

that the adsorption process for [CO2] in coal is a combination of both bulk diffusion-controlled and 

surface interaction-controlled processes; the former dominates the initial stage while the latter controls 

the majority of the overall process.” Xu Tang, Nino Ripepi, and Ellen Gilliland, Greenhouse Gases: 

Science and Technology. (Subscription may be required.)

“CO2 Storage Potential of Basaltic Rocks Offshore Iceland.” The following is the Abstract of this

article: “Injection of CO2 into basaltic formations provides significant benefits including permanent 

storage by [mineralization] and large storage volume. The largest geological storage potential lies 

offshore and in the case of basalt, along the mid-oceanic ridges where CO2 could be stored as carbonate 

minerals for thousands of years. Most of the bedrock, both on land and offshore Iceland consists of 

basalt that could theoretically be used for injection of CO2, fully dissolved in water. The most feasible 

formations are the youngest formations located within the active rift zone. It is estimated that up to 7000 

GtCO2 could be stored offshore Iceland within the Exclusive Economic Zone. Site specific geological 

research and pilot studies are required for refining the concept and offshore pilot scale projects should be 

considered as the next steps in evolving the method.” Sandra Ó. Snæbjörnsdóttir and Sigurdur R. 

Gislason, Energy Procedia. (Subscription may be required.) 

May 2016

“Wettability, hysteresis and fracture-matrix interaction during CO2 EOR and storage in fractured 

carbonate reservoirs.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Relative permeabilities show 

significant dependence on the saturation path during CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and storage. 

This dependence (or hysteresis) is particularly important for water-alternating-gas (WAG) injection, a 

successful CO2 EOR and storage method for clastic and carbonate reservoirs. WAG injection is 

characterized by an alternating sequence of drainage and imbibition cycles. Hysteresis is hence common 

and results in residual trapping of the CO2 phase, which impacts the volume of CO2 stored and the 

incremental oil recovery. The competition between hysteresis and geological heterogeneity during CO2

EOR and storage, particularly in carbonate reservoirs, is not yet fully understood. In this study, [the 

authors] use a high-resolution simulation model of a Jurassic Carbonate ramp, which is an analogue for 

the highly prolific reservoirs of the Arab D formation in Qatar, to investigate the impact of hysteresis 

during CO2 EOR and storage in heterogeneous carbonate formations. [The authors] then compare the 

impact of residual trapping (due to hysteresis) on recovery to the impact of heterogeneity in wettability 

and reservoir structure. End-member wettability scenarios and multiple wettability distribution 

approaches are tested, while, effective fracture permeabilities are computed using discrete fracture 

networks (DFN), ranging from sparsely distributed background fractures to fracture networks where 

intensity varies with proximity to faults. The results enable [the authors] to analyze the efficiency of oil 

recovery and CO2 [storage] in carbonate reservoirs by comparing the impact of physical displacement 

processes (e.g., imbibition, drainage, residual trapping) and heterogeneous rock properties (e.g., 

wettability, faults, fractures, layering) that are typical in carbonate reservoirs. [The authors] show that 

although the fracture network properties have the greatest impact on the fluid flow, the effect of 

wettability and hysteresis is nontrivial. [The authors’] results emphasize the need for wettability to be 

accurately measured and appropriately distributed in a reservoir simulation model. Similarly, [the 

authors’] results indicate that hysteresis effects in cyclic displacement processes must be accounted for 

in detail to ensure that simulation models give accurate predictions.” Simeon Agada, Sebastian Geiger, 

and Florian Doster, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“Molecular dynamics study of CO2 sorption and transport properties in coal.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “An understanding of gas transport in nano-scale porous media is crucial for many 

industrial applications, for example, processes associated with CO2 injection, storage and enhanced 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

40

coalbed methane (ECBM) production. In this study, [the authors] carried out combined molecular 

dynamics (MD) and Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations on the transport properties (i.e. 

self- and transport diffusivities and permeability) of CO2, in a realistic intermediate rank bituminous coal 

(flexible coal model) at a temperature of 328 K (55°C) and a range of pressures up to 25 MPa. Selfdiffusivity and sorption isotherms of CO2 are obtained directly from the MD and GCMC simulations. The 

Maxwell–Stefan diffusion model was then applied to correlate the self- and transport diffusivities. The 

permeability was computed through an integration of the transport diffusivity over the sorption 

concentration obtained from the simulations. The results show that CO2 self-diffusivity decreases with 

increasing reservoir gas pressure up to 8 MPa, then increases with pressure due to the interaction 

between coal and CO2. The transport diffusivity increases with the reservoir gas pressure as a result of 

an enhanced thermodynamic factor. The simulation results reveal a negative correlation between the 

sorption-induced coal swelling and CO2 self-diffusivity due to the interaction between CO2 and coal. 

Rigorous modeling of gas recovery and production thus requires consideration of specific interaction of 

the gas and coal matrix. Permeability of CO2 exponentially increases with the decreasing reservoir gas 

pressure, which is comparable with published field data.” Junfang Zhang, Michael B. Clennell, Keyu 

Liu, David N. Dewhurst, Marina Pervukhina, and Neil Sherwood, Fuel. (Subscription may be 

required.)

“Comparison of relative permeability-saturation-capillary pressure models for simulation of 

reservoir CO2 injection.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Constitutive relations between 

relative permeability (kr), fluid saturation (S), and capillary pressure (Pc) determine to a large extent the 

distribution of brine and supercritical CO2 (scCO2) during subsurface injection operations. Published 

numerical multiphase simulations for brine–scCO2 systems so far have primarily used four kr − S − Pc

models. For the S − Pc relations, either the Brooks–Corey (BC) or Van Genuchten (VG) equations are 

used. The kr − S relations are based on Mualem, Burdine, or Corey equations without the consideration 

of experimental data. Recently, two additional models have been proposed where the kr − S relations are 

obtained by fitting to experimental data using either an endpoint power law or a modified Corey 

approach. The six models were tested using data from four well-characterized sandstones (Berea, 

Paaratte, Tuscaloosa, Mt. Simon) for two radial injection test cases. The results show a large variation in 

plume extent and saturation distribution for each of the sandstones, depending on the used model. The 

VG–Mualem model predicts plumes that are considerably larger than for the other models due to the 

overestimation of the gas relative permeability. The predicted plume sizes are the smallest for the VG–

Corey model due to the underestimation of the aqueous phase relative permeability. Of the four models 

that do not use fits to experimental relative permeability data, the hybrid model with Mualem aqueous 

phase and Corey gas phase relative permeabilities provide the best fits to the experimental data and 

produce results close to the model with fits to the capillary pressure and relative permeability data. The 

model with the endpoint power law resulted in very low, uniform gas saturations outside the dry-out zone 

for the Tuscaloosa sandstone, as the result of a rapidly declining aqueous phase relative permeability. 

This observed behavior illustrates the need to obtain reliable relative permeability relations for a potential 

reservoir, beyond permeability and porosity data.” M. Oostrom, M.D. White, S.L. Porse, S.C.M. Krevor, 

and S.A. Mathias, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

June 2016

“Impacts of Mineral Reaction Kinetics and Regional Groundwater Flow on Long-Term CO2 Fate at 

Sleipner.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] conducted coupled reactive mass 

transport modeling of CO2 storage in a sandy [formation] resembling the uppermost layer in the Utsira 

Sand, Sleipner, North Sea, in order to investigate the general effects of rate laws and regional 

groundwater flow on long-term CO2 fate in saline [formations]. The temporal and spatial evolution of CO2

plume and the fate of injected CO2 were simulated with a series of scenarios with different rate law 

formulations for dissolution and precipitation reactions and different flow regimes. The results indicated 

the following: (1) Changing the dissolution rate laws of the main soluble silicate minerals can influence 

the silicate reactions and mineral trapping by impacting the sensitivity of the relevant coupled reaction’s 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

41

rate to the acidification of brine. The steeper the slope of rate−ΔGr (Gibbs free energy of reaction) 

relationships, the more sensitive the coupled reaction rate and the mineral trapping are to the 

acidification of brine. The predicted fraction of CO2 mineral trapping when using the linear rate law for 

feldspar dissolution is twice as much as when using the nonlinear rate law. (2) Mineral trapping is more 

significant when regional groundwater flow is taken into consideration. Under the influence of regional 

groundwater flow, the replenishment of fresh brine from upstream continuously dissolves CO2 at the tail 

of CO2 plume, generating a larger acidified area where mineral trapping takes place. In a Sleipner-like

[formation], the upstream replenishment of groundwater results in ∼22 [percent] mineral trapping at year 

10 000, compared to ∼4 [percent] when the effects of regional groundwater are ignored. (3) Using linear 

rate law for silicate dissolution reactions can exaggerate the effect of groundwater flow on the reaction 

rates and mineral trapping and can overestimate the theoretical mineral trapping capacity, compared to 

using the nonlinear rate law.” Guanru Zhang, Peng Lu, Xiaomei Wei, and Chen Zhu, Energy Fuels. 

(Subscription may be required.)

“Seismic and structural geology constraints to the selection of CO2 storage sites – The case of 

the onshore Lusitanian basin, Portugal.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The Lusitanian 

sedimentary basin, in Portugal, has a complex tectonic history and a seismic activity determined by its 

proximity to the Eurasian–Nubian tectonic plate boundary. Seismic activity and geological structure 

impose serious constraints to the selection of CO2 storage sites. This article focuses on the constraints 

imposed by active seismicity, geological structure and, as a direct consequence of the latter, by the 

hydrogeology and geothermal framework on the identification of onshore CO2 storage sites in deep 

saline [formations] of the Lusitanian basin (central and north sectors). Several active faults and areas of 

higher seismic hazard have been defined, [favoring] the selection of storage sites in the northern part of 

the basin. The halokinetic tectonics, responsible for emplacement of salt domes, constrains the regional 

groundwater flow system, and suggests that it is unreasonable to consider post-salt reservoirs. In most of 

the Lusitanian basin the pre-salt Silves Formation is the only reservoir worth considering. Four areas 

have been selected where the reservoir is at adequate depth, but given the other criteria for site 

selection, the area designated as S. Mamede is the most interesting one for CO2 injection.” Nadine 

Pereira, Júlio F. Carneiro, Alexandre Araújo, Mourad Bezzeghoud, and José Borges, Journal of 

Applied Geophysics. (Subscription may be required.)

“Influence of relative permeability on injection pressure and plume configuration during CO2

injections in a mafic reservoir.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “[CCS] projects have 

traditionally targeted deep sedimentary basins; however, mafic reservoirs may also be attractive targets 

for CO2 disposal on the basis of permanent mineral trapping over relatively short time scales (101 to 102 

yr). Nevertheless, CCS development in mafic reservoirs is hampered by substantial uncertainty in 

fracture-controlled reservoir characteristics, particularly with respect to the effects of multi-phase fluid 

flow, e.g., relative permeability and capillary pressure. The present study quantifies uncertainty 

surrounding relative permeability effects in a basalt reservoir by developing a numerical modeling 

experiment on the basis of site characterization data from the Slack Canyon #2 flow top, which is one of 

three flow tops comprising the injection zone at the Wallula Basalt Sequestration Pilot Project in 

southeast Washington State. This numerical modeling experiment controls for the effects of curvature in 

the relative permeability models by performing an ensemble of 399 CO2 injection simulations with 

constant geometry and reservoir properties, while systematically varying the phase interference 

parameter (λ) and residual CO2 saturation (Sgr), which govern wetting and non-wetting phase relative 

permeability, respectively. The relative permeability parameter space is defined by selecting 

combinations of λ and Sgr that cover a wide range of experimental laboratory measurements. For each 

simulation, CO2 is injected into the reservoir for 10 years at a constant rate of 2.78 kg s−1 (87,856 metric 

tons [MT] yr−1), which is 10 [percent] of the annual injection rate proposed for one injection scenario at 

the Wallula Site. Results from the ensemble of simulations show that relative permeability alone can 

account for >50 MPa of variability in the injection pressure and a two-fold difference in lateral CO2 plume 

migration. Additionally, this work shows that curvature in the wetting phase relative permeability model is 

the stronger influence on reservoir pressure accumulation, while curvature in the non-wetting phase 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

42

relative permeability model strongly governs CO2 plume geometry.” Ryan M. Pollyea, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

July 2016

“Mechano-chemical interactions in sedimentary rocks in the context of CO2 storage: Weak acid, 

weak effects?” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Due to the corrosive nature of dissolved 

CO2, the potential short or long term alteration of rock properties, represents a major issue in several 

sites where natural CO2 circulation is observed, as well as in reservoirs targeted for storage of 

anthropogenic CO2. To date, this has been primarily studied from a transport-chemical perspective, with 

laboratory evidence of microstructural modifications together with the consequences for flow properties. 

Compared to the transport-chemical aspects, the mechanical-chemical aspects have been less 

investigated, though it is to be expected that mechanical properties (e.g. elastic properties, failure 

parameters, and time-dependent mechanical [behavior]) could potentially be affected in a similar manner 

to hydraulic parameters. Yet, since CO2 is a weak acid, the pH drop is expected to be moderate with a 

likely lower limit close to 4.0. The buffering of pH by calcite minerals present in most reservoirs targeted 

for storage may further limit the pH drop, as well as confining it to a localized rock volume around the 

injection well. This leads to the question of the magnitude and time/spatial scales of chemically-mediated 

mechanical processes during CO2 [storage]. The authors propose to address this issue by reviewing 

recent laboratory-based studies restricted to sedimentary rocks, namely: reservoir rocks (carbonate or 

sandstone), intact or fractured caprocks and fault rocks. Key findings include the following: [1.] the shortterm impact on the elastic and inelastic [behavior] of intact caprocks remains limited; [2.] shear strength 

weakening is likely to be respectively low and low-to-moderate for shale/clay-rich and anhydrite-rich 

faults, but without modifying slip stability in either case; [3.] the largest impact is located within carbonate 

reservoirs, but with a broad range of reported responses depending on hydrodynamic conditions (closed 

or open) and on dissolution regime (uniform or channelling); and [4.] creep experiments confirm that 

CO2-induced dissolution may enhance long-term compaction of carbonate reservoirs, but the magnitude 

of acceleration (varying from non-significant to 50 times) depends to a large extent on site-specific 

conditions (grain size, pH, temperature, effective stress state, etc.), which renders any direct 

extrapolation from laboratory to reservoir scale difficult. Finally, some directions for future research 

studies are discussed.” J. Rohmer, A. Pluymakers, and F. Renard, Earth-Science Reviews. 

(Subscription may be required.)

“An integrated core-based analysis for the characterization of flow, transport and mineralogical 

parameters of the Heletz pilot CO2 storage site reservoir.” The following is the Abstract of this article: 

“Heletz, Israel is the location for an onshore deep saline CO2 storage pilot site. The ‘Heletz sandstone’ is 

the building unit of the deep saline reservoir. Based on core samples of sandstone and caprock taken 

from the newly drilled injection (H18A) and monitoring wells (H18B), this article examines and reports the 

petrophysical properties of the Heletz Formation reservoir important for the short and long term trapping 

of CO2. A suite of laboratory and pore-scale CT-based modeling techniques are employed to determine 

the flow and transport parameters used by the continuum-scale numerical simulators and the mineral 

composition necessary for the understanding of mineral trapping processes. The effect of diagenesis on 

the reservoir parameters was determined in the laboratory using sedimentological, petrological, and 

petrophysical analyses. Variations in 87Sr/86Sr isotope composition and fluid inclusion analysis bring

additional information about the diagenetic development and define the status quo of fluid–mineral 

reactions before CO2 injection. Cathodoluminescence microscopy and SEM/XRD revealed the amounts 

of minerals in the sandstone samples and caprock and explained the poor binding of the sandstone 

which may lead to mobilized material during injection. Digital image analysis on thin sections, 

cathodoluminescence, and SEM were integrated with attributes derived from mercury intrusion 

porosimetry, steady state gas permeametry or nuclear magnetic resonance to form an essential outline 

for the Heletz Formation reservoir. This relates storage space, injectivity and storage efficiency to 

features such as grain size, pore size distribution, effective porosity, intrinsic permeability, or tortuosity. 

Furthermore, the laboratory and numerical CT-based investigation techniques are compared and 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

43

discussed. The benefit of combining experimental methods and numerical simulations on pore-scale 

models is the increase in confidence of the parameter accuracy, fundamental for the success of the 

planned activities at Heletz.” Alexandru Bogdan Tatomir, Matthias Halisch, Florian Duschl, Aaron 

Peche, Bettina Wiegand, Mario Schaffer, Tobias Licha, Auli Niemi, Jacob Bensabat, and Martin 

Sauter, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

August 2016

“Heletz experimental site overview, characterization and data analysis for CO2 injection and 

geological storage.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “This paper provides an overview of the 

site characterization work at the Heletz site, in preparation to scientifically motivated CO2 injection 

experiments. The outcomes are geological and hydrogeological models with associated medium 

properties and baseline conditions. The work has consisted on first re-analyzing the existing data base 

from ∼40 wells from the previous oil exploration studies, based on which a 3-dimensional structural 

model was constructed along with first estimates of the properties. The CO2 injection site is located on 

the saline edges of the Heletz depleted oil field. Two new deep (>1600 m) wells were drilled within the 

injection site and from these wells a detailed characterization program was carried out, including coring, 

core analyses, fluid sampling, geophysical logging, seismic survey, in situ hydraulic testing and 

measurement of the baseline pressure and temperature. The results are presented and discussed in 

terms of characteristics of the reservoir and [caprock], the mineralogy, water composition and other 

baseline conditions, porosity, permeability, capillary pressure and relative permeability. Special emphasis 

is given to petrophysical properties of the reservoir and the seal, such as comparing the estimates 

determined by different methods, looking at their geostatistical distributions as well as changes in them 

when exposed to CO2.” Auli Niemi, Jacob Bensabat, Vladimir Shtivelman, Katriona Edlmann, 

Philippe Gouze, Linda Luquot, Ferdinand Hingerl, Sally M. Benson, Philippe A. Pezard, Kristina 

Rasmusson, Tian Liang, Fritjof Fagerlund, Michael Gendler, Igor Goldberg, Alexandru Tatomir, 

Torsten Lange, Martin Sauter, and Barry Freifeld, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.) 

September 2016

“Pore-scale supercritical CO2 dissolution and mass transfer under imbibition conditions.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “In modeling of geological carbon storage, dissolution of 

supercritical CO2 (scCO2) is often assumed to be instantaneous with equilibrium phase partitioning. In 

contrast, recent core-scale imbibition experiments have shown a prolonged depletion of residual scCO2

by dissolution, implying a non-equilibrium mechanism. In this study, eight pore-scale scCO2 dissolution 

experiments in a 2D heterogeneous, sandstone-analog micromodel were conducted at supercritical 

conditions (9 MPa and 40°C). The micromodel was first saturated with deionized (DI) water and drained 

by injecting scCO2 to establish a stable scCO2 saturation. DI water was then injected at constant flow 

rates after scCO2 drainage was completed. High resolution time-lapse images of scCO2 and water 

distributions were obtained during imbibition and dissolution, aided by a scCO2-soluble fluorescent dye 

introduced with scCO2 during drainage. These images were used to estimate scCO2 saturations and 

scCO2 depletion rates. Experimental results show that (1) a time-independent, varying number of waterflow channels are created during imbibition and later dominant dissolution by the random nature of water 

flow at the micromodel inlet, and (2) a time-dependent number of water-flow channels are created by 

coupled imbibition and dissolution following completion of dominant imbibition. The number of water-flow 

paths, constant or transient in nature, greatly affects the overall depletion rate of scCO2 by dissolution. 

The average mass fraction of dissolved CO2 (dsCO2) in water effluent varies from 0.38 [percent] to 2.72

[percent] of CO2 solubility, indicating non-equilibrium scCO2 dissolution in the millimeter-scale pore 

network. In general, the transient depletion rate decreases as trapped, discontinuous scCO2 bubbles and 

clusters within water-flow paths dissolve, then remains low with dissolution of large bypassed scCO2

clusters at their interfaces with longitudinal water flow, and finally increases with coupled transverse 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Geology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

44

water flow and enhanced dissolution of large scCO2 clusters. The three stages of scCO2 depletion, 

common to experiments with time-independent water-flow paths, are revealed by zoom-in image analysis 

of individual scCO2 bubbles and clusters. The measured relative permeability of water, affected by scCO2

dissolution and bi-modal permeability, shows a non-monotonic dependence on saturation. The results for 

experiments with different injection rates imply that the non-equilibrium nature of scCO2 dissolution 

becomes less important when water flow is relatively low and the time scale for dissolution is large, and 

more pronounced when heterogeneity is strong.” Chun Chang, Quanlin Zhou, Timothy J. Kneafsey, 

Mart Oostrom, Thomas W. Wietsma, and Qingchun Yu, Advances in Water Resources. (Subscription 

may be required.)
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

45

Technology

September 2015

“CO2 storage associated with CO2 enhanced oil recovery: A statistical analysis of historical 

operations.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “This work analyzes a database of 31 existing 

CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects that was compiled for the estimation of oil reserves to better 

understand the CO2 retention, incremental oil recovery, and net CO2 utilization for these oil fields. The 

measured data begin at the start date of the CO2 flood and extend through the year 2007. Cumulative 

CO2 retention (in the formation), incremental oil recovery factors, and net CO2 utilization factors were 

calculated for each of the sites. To express all site data on a common dimensionless scale, the data 

were extrapolated to 300 [percent] cumulative hydrocarbon pore volume (HCPV) by fitting nonlinear 

functions. Summary statistics were then calculated from 0 [percent] to 300 [percent] HCPV. Across all 31 

sites, the 10th, 50th (median), and 90th percentile values for the three factors at 300 [percent] HCPV 

were: CO2 retention: 23.1 [percent], 48.3 [percent], and 61.8 [percent] retained; incremental oil recovery: 

5.3 [percent], 12.2 [percent], and 21.5 [percent] of OOIP (original oil in place); and net CO2 utilization: 

4.8, 8.7, and 10.5 Mscf/STB (stock-tank barrel). This work employs a novel approach that incorporates 

nonlinear functions to quantify uncertainty in the estimated values as a function of HCPV and to describe 

the shape of the CO2 retention or incremental oil recovery response with a handful of parameters, 

providing insight into the behavior of the reservoir across the entire timeline of the CO2 flood. These 

nonlinear curve fits are focused on statistical inference – i.e., what is the likely outcome and uncertainty 

ranges for CO2 retention, incremental oil recovery, and net CO2 utilization given the historical data from 

the 31 CO2 EOR sites? However, the approach described in this work also provides useful information 

for prediction – i.e., given a set of inputs from another site with similar geology, what are plausible ranges 

in outcomes for each of these factors? Consequently, the results of this work can be used to estimate the 

potential range of expected performance for similar candidate oil fields that are not currently undergoing 

CO2 injection, including estimates of the associated CO2 storage potential of these candidate fields. The 

results of this work allow estimation of CO2 storage capacity in CO2-EOR operations with various 

degrees of confidence. The sites in the dataset reflect water – alternating gas CO2 floods – all within the 

continental United States and heavily dominated by the West Texas carbonate floods. Other floods 

outside of this region, where the data were available, are also included in this study (i.e., the Rocky 

Mountain region and the State of Oklahoma).” Nicholas A. Azzolina, David V. Nakles, Charles D. 

Gorecki, Wesley D. Peck, Scott C. Ayash, L. Stephen Melzer, and Sumon Chatterjee, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

 “Microbial Electrolytic Carbon Capture for Carbon Negative and Energy Positive Wastewater 

Treatment.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Energy and carbon neutral wastewater 

management is a major goal for environmental sustainability, but current progress has only reduced 

emission rather than using wastewater for active CO2 capture and utilization. [The authors] present here 

a new microbial electrolytic carbon capture (MECC) approach to potentially transform wastewater 

treatment to a carbon negative and energy positive process. Wastewater was used as an electrolyte for 

microbially assisted electrolytic production of H2 and OH– at the cathode and protons at the anode. The 

acidity dissolved silicate and liberated metal ions that balanced OH–

, producing metal hydroxide, which 

transformed CO2 in situ into (bi)carbonate. Results using both artificial and industrial wastewater show 

80–93 [percent] of the CO2 was recovered from both CO2 derived from organic oxidation and additional 

CO2 injected into the headspace, making the process carbon-negative. High rates and yields of H2 were 

produced with 91–95 [percent] recovery efficiency, resulting in a net energy gain of 57–62 kJ/mol-CO2

captured. The pH remained stable without buffer addition and no toxic chlorine-containing compounds 

were detected. The produced (bi)carbonate alkalinity is valuable for wastewater treatment and long-term 

carbon storage in the ocean. Preliminary evaluation shows promising economic and environmental 

benefits for different industries.” Lu Lu, Zhe Huang, Greg H. Rau, and Zhiyong Jason Ren, 

Environmental Science and Technology. (Subscription may be required.)
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

46

“Fracture-based modeling of complex flow and CO2 migration in three-dimensional fractured 

rocks.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The fractures and pores in rock formations are the 

fundamental units for flow and contaminant-transport simulations. Modeling and meshing a fractured rock 

system are challenging tasks because mesh generations of fractured networks typically involve complex 

procedures in conducting topological transformations, and the modeling of such a complex mesh system 

is computationally expensive. The objective of this study was to develop a three-dimensional (3D) 

discrete fracture network (DFN) model and an associated unstructured mesh generation (UMG) model to 

simulate flow and transport for fractured rock systems. This study employed coupled multicomponent, 

multiphase fluids in a 3D porous and fractured media simulator (the TOUGH2/ECO2N model) to analyze 

flow and CO2 migration in fracture formations. The developed DFN and UMG models were first tested 

using a single and horizontal fracture plate to evaluate the results based on various mesh types. The 

models were then implemented in multiple DFN realizations to assess the behavior of equivalent 

permeability of a rock block influenced by various fracture intensities. By exploiting the well-developed 

TOUGH2/ECO2N model, the developed DFN and UMG models were applied to problems of flow and 

CO2 migration in fracture formations. The simulation results showed that the developed models can 

capture behaviors of the flow and transport in fractured formations. Different types of mesh led to slight 

variations in pressure distribution near injection wells. However, such pressure variations can be reduced 

with refined mesh around the injection wells. The results based on 52 DFN realizations indicated that the 

value of equivalent permeability for the simulated rock block shows three to four orders of magnitudes 

lower than the value of the specified fracture permeability. The injection of supercritical CO2 exhibited a 

rapid migration of gaseous and aqueous phase CO2 along connected fractures.” I-Hsein Lee and 

Chuen-Fa Ni, Computers & Geosciences. (Subscription may be required.)

October 2015

“Reducing uncertainty associated with CO2 injection and brine production in heterogeneous 

formations.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Spatial heterogeneity and variability across 

many orders of magnitude are two properties of formation permeability that are challenging to effectively 

capture in subsurface flow models. With regard to geological CO2 storage, heterogeneity affects storage 

capacity, plume migration, pressure build-up around injection wells and, if utilized, the possibility of early 

breakthrough at brine extraction wells. Faced with under-characterized heterogeneity and an informationpoor environment, the challenge is to make as much use as possible of the available data in reducing 

uncertainty associated with model prediction of a CO2 injection operation. The two types of data used 

here to inform models are point permeability measurements from each well and interference tests 

between wells; these are both obtained from a synthetic permeability distribution approximating a 

hypothetical CO2 storage formation. These data are used to reduce uncertainty in predictions of CO2

injection, brine and CO2 production rates, and CO2 breakthrough times obtained from simulations of fivespot CO2 injection/brine production performed on >600 conditional permeability realizations. First, 

assuming the underlying permeability field exhibits long-range correlation and a log-normal permeability 

distribution, a Bayesian analysis was undertaken using the point permeability measurements to reduce 

the likely magnitude of permeability heterogeneity. Comparison of realizations drawn from the prior and 

posterior indicate that the data were sufficient to exclude extreme scenarios with very rapid or very slow 

CO2 transport and breakthrough at brine production wells. Thirty-year prediction envelopes for net CO2

retention, brine and CO2 production were reduced by 40, 45 and 72 [percent], respectively. In the second 

stage, simulated interference tests for each of the posterior realizations were compared against 

interference tests simulated for the synthetic ‘true’ permeability field. Weighting functions derived from 

these comparisons are used to further refine predictions, providing additional reductions of uncertainty by 

38 and 69 [percent] for brine and CO2 production rates, respectively. Predictions of CO2 breakthrough 

are especially sensitive to analysis of interference tests, with a good estimate of the correct time obtained 

in three out of four cases.” David Dempsey, Daniel O’Malley, and Rajesh Pawar, International Journal 

of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

47

“Assessing the usefulness of the isotopic composition of CO2 for [release] monitoring at CO2

storage sites: A review.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “[Geologic] storage of injected CO2

is a promising technology to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Tracer methods are an 

essential tool to monitor CO2 plume distribution in the target formation and to enable tracking potential 

[release] of CO2 outside the storage reservoir. Here, [the authors] demonstrate that the isotopic 

composition of CO2 can serve as a suitable tracer at large CO2 injection sites provided that the injected 

CO2 is isotopically distinct from background CO2 sources that are usually composed of dissolved 

inorganic carbon, bedrock-derived carbon, and soil CO2. Very [favorable] conditions for this tracer 

approach exist if δ13C values of injected CO2 are more than 10‰ different from those of baseline CO2

and other dissolved inorganic carbon species at the CCS site. In this case, changes in δ13C values 

accompanied with increasing concentrations of CO2 or DIC in samples obtained regularly at monitoring 

sites within or above the storage reservoir indicate arrival of injected CO2. The proportion of injected CO2

contributing to the obtained samples can be quantified when carbon isotope fractionation effects are 

either negligible or thoroughly known. [The authors] point out several areas where additional detailed 

information on carbon isotope effects during phase change, transport and geochemical reactions is 

desirable to refine this tracer approach for temperature, pressure and salinity conditions relevant for CO2

storage sites. Oxygen isotope ratios of injected CO2 were not found to be a conservative tracer due to 

oxygen isotope exchange between CO2 and water on time scales of hours to a few days. δ18O 

measurements on CO2 and H2O have, however, revealed pore space saturation with CO2 and hence 

indicate the presence of injected CO2 within CO2 storage reservoirs. [The authors] suggest that the 

stable isotopic composition of injected CO2 is a suitable tracer for assessing the movement and fate of 

injected CO2 in the target reservoir and for [release] detection at CO2 storage sites, provided that the 

injected CO2 is isotopically distinct from background CO2 sources. A key advantage is that this tracer 

approach does not depend on the co-injection of additional tracers and hence can be continuously used 

in large-scale commercial storage projects with CO2 injection rates exceeding 1 million [metric tons] per 

year at reasonable cost.” B. Mayer, P. Humez, V. Becker, C. Dalkhaa, L. Rock, A. Myrttinen, and 

J.A.C. Barth, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“Prediction and validation of external cooling loop cryogenic carbon capture (CCC-ECL) for fullscale coal-fired power plant retrofit.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Bench-scale 

experiments and Aspen PlusTM simulations document full-scale, steady-state performance of the external 

cooling loop cryogenic carbon capture (CCC-ECL) process for a 550 MWe coal-fired power plant. The 

baseline CCC-ECL process achieves 90 [percent] CO2 capture, and has the potential to capture 99+ 

[percent] of CO2, SO2, PM, NO2, Hg, and most other noxious species. The CCC-ECL process cools 

power plant flue gas to 175 K, at which point solid CO2 particles desublimate as the flue gas further cools 

to 154 K. Desublimating flue gas cools in a staged column in direct contact with a cryogenic liquid and 

produces a CO2-lean flue gas that warms against the incoming flue gas before venting. The 

CO2/contacting liquid slurry separates through a filter to produce a CO2 stream that warms to 233 K and 

partially flashes to provide a CO2-rich product. The CO2–rich product (99.2 [percent]) liquefies under 

pressure to form a product for EOR or [storage]. All contacting liquid streams cool and cycle back to the 

staged column. An internal CF4 refrigeration cycle transfers heat from melting CO2 to desublimating CO2

by cooling contact liquid. An external cooling loop of natural gas or other refrigerant provides the

additional heat duty to operate the cryogenic process. The nominal parasitic power loss of operating 

CCC-ECL is 82.6 MWe or about 15 [percent] of the coal-fired power plant’s rated capacity. In different 

units, the energy penalty of CCC-ECL is 0.74 MJe/kg CO2 captured and the resulting net power output is 

decreased to 467 MWe. Lab- and skid-scale measurements validate the basic operation of the process 

along with the thermodynamics of CO2 solids formation.” Mark J. Jensen, Christopher S. Russell, 

David Bergeson, Christopher D. Hoeger, David J. Frankman, Christopher S. Bence, and Larry L. 

Baxter, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

48

November 2015

“Efficient Electrochemical CO2 Conversion Powered by Renewable Energy.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “The catalytic conversion of CO2 into industrially relevant chemicals is one 

strategy for mitigating [GHG] emissions. Along these lines, electrochemical CO2 conversion technologies 

are attractive because they can operate with high reaction rates at ambient conditions. However, 

electrochemical systems require electricity, and CO2 conversion processes must integrate with carbonfree, renewable-energy sources to be viable on larger scales. [The authors] utilize Au25 nanoclusters as 

renewably powered CO2 conversion electrocatalysts with CO2 → CO reaction rates between 400 and 

800 L of CO2 per gram of catalytic metal per hour and product selectivities between 80 and 95 [percent]. 

These performance metrics correspond to conversion rates approaching 0.8–1.6 kg of CO2 per gram of 

catalytic metal per hour. [The authors] also present data showing CO2 conversion rates and product 

selectivity strongly depend on catalyst loading. Optimized systems demonstrate stable operation and 

reaction turnover numbers (TONs) approaching 6 × 106 molCO2 molcatalyst–1 during a multiday (36 h total 

hours) CO2 electrolysis experiment containing multiple start/stop cycles. TONs between 1 × 106 and 4 × 

106 molCO2 molcatalyst–1 were obtained when [the authors’] system was powered by consumer-grade 

renewable-energy sources. Daytime photovoltaic-powered CO2 conversion was demonstrated for 12 h 

and [the authors] mimicked low-light or nighttime operation for 24 h with a solar-rechargeable battery. 

This proof-of-principle study provides some of the initial performance data necessary for assessing the 

scalability and technical viability of electrochemical CO2 conversion technologies. Specifically, [the 

authors] show the following: (1) all electrochemical CO2 conversion systems will produce a net increase 

in CO2 emissions if they do not integrate with renewable-energy sources, (2) catalyst loading vs activity 

trends can be used to tune process rates and product distributions, and (3) state-of-the-art renewableenergy technologies are sufficient to power larger-scale, [metric ton] per day CO2 conversion systems.” 

Douglas R. Kauffman, Jay Thakkar, Rajan Siva, Christopher Matranga, Paul R. Ohodnicki, Chenjie 

Zeng, and Rongchao Jin, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. (Subscription may be required.)

“CO2 capture from humid flue gases and humid atmosphere using a microporous coppersilicate.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Capturing CO2 from humid flue gases and atmosphere with 

porous materials remains costly because prior dehydration of the gases is required. A large number of 

microporous materials with physical adsorption capacity have been developed as CO2-capturing 

materials. However, most of them suffer from CO2 sorption capacity reduction or structure decomposition 

that is caused by co-adsorbed H2O when exposed to humid flue gases and atmosphere. [The authors]

report a highly stable microporous coppersilicate. It has H2O-specific and CO2-specific adsorption sites 

but does not have H2O/CO2-sharing sites. Therefore, it readily adsorbs both H2O and CO2 from the 

humid flue gases and atmosphere, but the adsorbing H2O does not interfere with the adsorption of CO2. 

It is also highly stable after adsorption of H2O and CO2 because it was synthesized hydrothermally.” 

Shuvo Jit Datta, Chutharat Khumnoon, Zhen Hao Lee, Won Kyung Moon, Son Docao, Thanh Huu 

Nguyen, In Chul Hwang, Dohyun Moon, Peter Oleynikov, Osamu Terasaki, and Kyung Byung 

Yoon, Science. (Subscription may be required.)

“A meta-analysis of carbon capture and storage technology assessments: Understanding the 

driving factors of variability in cost estimates.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The 

estimated cost of reducing carbon emissions through the deployment of CCS in power systems vary by a 

factor of five or more across studies published over the past [eight] years. The objective of this paper is 

to understand the contribution of techno-economic variables and modeling assumptions to explain the 

large variability in the published international literature on cost of avoided CO2 (CACO2) using statistical 

methods. [The authors] carry out a meta-analysis of the variations in reported CACO2 for coal and 

natural gas power plants with CCS. [The authors] use regression and correlation analysis to explain the

variation in reported CACO2. The regression models built in [the authors’] analysis have strong predictive 

power (R2 > 0.90) for all power plant types. [The authors] find that the parameters that have high 

variability and large influence on the value of CACO2 estimated are levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) 

penalty, capital cost of CCS, and efficiency penalty. In addition, the selection of baseline technologies 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

49

and more attention and transparency around the calculation of capital costs will reduce the variability 

across studies to better reflect technology uncertainty and improve comparability across studies.” Oguz 

Akbilgic, Ganesh Doluweera, Maryam Mahmoudkhani, and Joule Bergerson, Applied Energy. 

(Subscription may be required.)

December 2015

“Geomechanical stability of CO2 containment at the South West Hub Western Australia: A 

coupled geomechanical-fluid flow modelling approach.” The following is the Abstract of this article: 

“An area in the Southern Perth Basin has been selected as a potentially suitable site for CO2 injection 

and storage as a part of the South West Hub Project (SW Hub), due to its proximity to major CO2

emission sources and the presence of potentially suitable geology. This 3D modelling study attempts to 

assess the geomechanical stability of faults and intact host rocks during CO2 injection at the SW Hub. 

The stratigraphy and fault structure of the 3D model are based on the architecture of an E–W cross

section in a pre-existing 3D geological model that represents a comprehensive synthesis of seismic, 

stratigraphic and structural data. In the models, the rocks and faults are simulated as Mohr–Coulomb 

elastic–plastic materials, and their geomechanical and hydrological properties are based on experimental 

data from the Harvey-1 drill core samples and also information from literature. A series of models are 

performed to assess five injection scenarios with injection rates of 1–5 million tonnes per year over a 

period of 20 years. The results show that the simulated CO2 injection scenarios would not lead to fault 

reactivation or breach the overlying Yalgorup or Eneabba Shale formations in the area. Some small 

smooth uplifts are recorded as a result of injection. In the models assuming weak faults, average ground 

surface uplifts are 0.4–1.8 cm for the injection rates of 1–5 million tonnes per year, over an area of 

approximately 2.5 km radius around the hypothetical injection site. Uplifts are marginally smaller when 

assuming strong faults.” Y. Zhang, L. Langhi, P.M. Schaubs, C. Delle Piane, D.N. Dewhurst, L. 

Stalker, and K. Michael, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be 

required.)

“Modelling CO2 migration in [formations]; considering 3D seismic property data and the effect of 

site-typical depositional heterogeneities.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Geological 

[storage] is one proposed measure for [GHG] mitigation; and deep, saline [formations] are considered to 

hold large storage potentials for CO2. The Johansen Formation has been suggested by Norwegian 

authorities as a potential reservoir candidate due to its relative proximity to land and point sources for 

CO2. Reservoir evaluations must consider the given premise of zero interference with ongoing gas 

production in the Troll Field, providing geographical constraints. Recent data contributions; new 3D 

seismic data, attribute analyses, and revision of the depositional model form the basis of this modelling 

study. Porosity distributions were generated from quantified relations with acoustic impedance. The 

reservoir quality varies according to sedimentary facies, and differentiated relative permeability curves 

were assigned accordingly. Effects of directional anisotropy and site-typical geological heterogeneities 

were considered through scenario-modelling. The potential for dissolution and residual trapping of CO2

varies according to migration paths; and was estimated to 50–80 [percent] of injected CO2 after 150 

years. [Immobilization] was more efficient with increased sweep through reservoir zones with high 

irreducible gas fractions, and in scenarios where plume separation occurred. The main determinant, 

however, for improving trapping efficiency is the well location and injection scheme.” Anja Sundal, 

Rohaldin Miri, Trude Ravn, and Per Aagaard, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)

January 2016

“Numerical analyses of the effects of nitrogen on the dissolution trapping mechanism of carbon 

dioxide geological storage.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Numerical simulations are 

carried out to investigate the effects of impurity on geological storage of CO2, in the context of [CCS]
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

50

which has been considered as one of the primary options for significantly reducing anthropogenic 

emissions of [GHGs] into the atmosphere. The CO2 streams captured from power plants or other large 

industrial processes contain a variety of impurities. This study investigates the effects of nitrogen (N2) on 

the dissolution trapping mechanism, which occurs when the injected CO2 mixture dissolves into the 

formation fluids. The density of the formation water/brine at the two-phase interface would increase in 

response to the dissolution of CO2. At favorable conditions, convection would be triggered and could 

greatly accelerate the dissolution rate of CO2. This density-driven convection process is beneficial for 

both storage security and permanence. However, N2 would lead to a density reduction of the aqueous 

phase when dissolved into the formation water/brine. The onset of convection would be delayed and the 

dissolution rate may be affected when co-injecting CO2 with N2. In addition, the spatial distribution of CO2

in the aqueous phase would also be different with varying amounts of N2 in the CO2 streams.” Didi Li, Xi 

Jiang, Qingliang Meng, and Qiyuan Xie, Computers & Fluids. (Subscription may be required.)

“Geochemical modeling of a sustained shallow [formation] CO2 [release] field study and 

implications for [release] and site monitoring.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “A 

geochemical numerical modeling study was conducted to constrain processes occurring in field and 

laboratory experiments, simulating CO2 [release] from geological storage on shallow potable 

[formations]. A [release] was previously physically simulated in a shallow potable [formation] at Vrøgum 

plantation, Western Denmark by injection of 1600 kg of gas phase CO2 over 72 days. Here, a 1-

dimensional reactive transport model was constructed based on field and laboratory results and 

subsequently used to explore the contributions of various geochemical processes to explain observed 

results from the carbonate free system. Finite gibbsite derived Al3+ driven cation exchange is able to 

explain the majority of water chemistry change observed at Vrøgum including: a pulse like effect showing 

a fast peak and return toward background levels for alkalinity and dissolved ion concentrations; and 

increasing and persistent acidification via buffering exhaustion. Model processes were supported further 

by simulation of a batch experiment conducted on the Vrøgum glacial sand, employing the same 

processes and sediment parameters. The fitted reactive transport model was subsequently used to 

extend predictions and explore various scenarios. Extended predictions suggest the pulse of elevated 

ions travels with advective flow succeeded by a zone of increasing acidification. Model runs at higher 

PCO2 (implying greater depths) suggest amplification of effects, i.e., greater peaks and more rapid and 

severe acidification. Calcite limits acidification, however, induces additional Ca driven ion exchange 

giving rise to more significant chemistry change. Although a site specific model, results have significant 

implications for risks posed to water resources from CCS [release] and implementation of [MVA]

programs.” Aaron G. Cahill and Rasmus Jakobsen, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)

February 2016

“Impact of wettability alteration on 3D nonwetting phase trapping and transport.” The following is

the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] investigate capillary trapping and fluid migration via x-ray 

computed microtomography (x-ray CMT) of nonwetting phase (air) and wetting phase (brine) in 

Bentheimer sandstone cores which have been treated to exhibit different degrees of uniform wettability. 

x-Ray CMT scans were acquired at multiple steps during drainage and imbibition processes, as well as 

at the endpoints; allowing for assessment of the impact of wettability on nonwetting phase saturation and 

cluster size distribution, connectivity, topology and efficiency of trapping. Compared with untreated 

(water-wet) Bentheimer sandstone, cores treated with tetramethoxylsilane (TMS) were rendered weakly 

water-wet, and cores treated with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) demonstrate intermediate-wet 

characteristics. As apparent contact angle increases, drainage flow patterns deviate from those derived 

for water-wet systems, total residual trapping and trapping efficiency decrease, and buoyancy plays a 

larger role during nonwetting phase mobilization; this has significant implications for CO2 migration and 

trapping during CO2 [storage] operations.” Anna L. Herring, Adrian Sheppard, Linnéa Andersson, 

and Dorthe Wildenschild, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be 

required.)
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

51

March 2016

“Solving the [CO2] buoyancy challenge: The design and field testing of a dissolved CO2 injection 

system.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Long-term security is critical to the success and 

public acceptance of geologic carbon storage. Much of the security risk associated with geologic carbon 

storage stems from CO2 buoyancy. Gaseous and supercritical CO2 are less dense than formation waters 

providing a driving force for it to escape back to the surface via fractures, or abandoned wells. This 

buoyancy can be eradicated by the dissolution of CO2 into water prior to, or during its injection into the 

subsurface. Here [the authors] demonstrate the dissolution of CO2 into water during its injection into 

basalts leading directly to its geologic solubility storage. This process was verified via the successful 

injection of over 175 t of CO2 dissolved in 5000 t of water into porous rocks located 400–800 m below the 

surface at the Hellisheidi, Iceland CarbFix injection site. Although larger volumes are required for CO2

storage via this method, because the dissolved CO2 is no longer buoyant, the storage formation does not 

have to be as deep as for supercritical CO2 and the [caprock] integrity is less important. This increases 

the potential storage resource substantially compared to the current estimated storage potential of 

supercritical CO2.” Bergur Sigfusson, Sigurdur R. Gislason, Juerg M. Matter, Martin Stute, Einar 

Gunnlaugsson, Ingvi Gunnarsson, Edda S. Aradottir, Holmfridur Sigurdardottir, Kiflom Mesfin, 

Helgi A. Alfredsson, Domenik Wolff-Boenisch, Magnus T. Arnarsson, and Eric H. Oelkers, 

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“Density Measurement and Modeling of CO2−Brine System at Temperature and Pressure 

Corresponding to Storage Conditions.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The densities of

CO2 solution of the brine from Teikoku Oil Field located at Niigata Prefecture in Japan are measured by a 

magnetic suspension balance at temperatures from 303.15 to 323.15 K, pressures from 10 to 20 MPa, 

and CO2 mole fractions of 0, 0.0038, 0.0040, 0.0087, 0.0100, and 0.0160. Results show that the 

densities of CO2–brine solution increase to 0.86 [percent] from that of brine and linearly increases with 

pressure at a gradient of 0.411 kg·m–3·MPa–1 and with CO2 mole fraction at an average gradient of 514 

kg·m–3·mol–1 at a temperature of 303.15 K. On the other hand, the density of CO2–brine solution 

decreases with increasing temperature at an average rate of −0.377 kg·m–3·K–1 under [the authors’] 

experimental conditions. The ePC-PSAFT model is applied to predict the data obtained from this study 

and those from literature. It is demonstrated that the model works well with average relative deviation 

(ARD) of 0.27 [percent]. A correlation of density ratio of CO2–brine solution to brine is provided and 

validated by data used in the ePC-PSAFT model, which is convenient for engineering application in 

comparison with that by the ePC-PSAFT. The ARDs for density ratio predicted by ePC-PSAFT and 

correlation are 0.075 [percent] and 0.019 [percent] for this work, respectively.” Yi Zhang, Tongtong Li, 

Baixin Chen, Masahiro Nishio, and Yongchen Song, J. Chem. Eng. Data. (Subscription may be 

required.)

April 2016

“Integration of SNG plants with Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies modeling.” The

following is the Abstract of this article: “Several power plant configurations have been recently studied as 

an alternative to conventional technologies in the field of energetic conversion of coal. The price of 

natural gas shows a volatile trend and when at its maximum promotes a renewed interest in technologies 

converting coal into synthetic natural gas (SNG). Moreover, in an low-carbon economy these processes 

include the capture of CO2 in the base plant configuration. This paper analyzes the possible integration 

of SNG plants with [CCS] Technologies. The studied SNG facilities are based on commercial coal 

gasification and methanation technologies currently available worldwide. The major problem in optimizing 

the methanation reaction, one of the most important stages of the whole process, is to achieve an 

efficient removal of the reaction heat to avoid catalyst sintering and prevent carbon particle formation. 

For this reason, in this study two different process configurations were compared. In the first 

configuration (case A), the removal of CO2 is operated before the methanation section and the reaction is 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

52

carried out in a series of adiabatic fixed bed reactors with inter-cooling and product recycle. In the 

second configuration (case B) the dilution of the methanation feed with CO2 and steam controls the heat 

of reaction, being CO2 captured downstream the process. For both the plant configurations, performance 

is analyzed and the energy penalty caused by the introduction of CCS is evaluated. Particular attention is 

devoted to heat integration between different sections of the plant. Results show similar efficiency in both 

the cases and that more than 50 [percent] of the input energy can be converted to [SNG]. The CCS 

integration leads to a slight efficiency reduction of about [one] percentage point. The selected plant 

configurations were tested and performance evaluated and compared in the Aspen Plus v. 8 simulation 

environment.” Claudia Bassano, Paolo Deiana, Lorenza Pacetti, and Nicola Verdone, Fuel. 

(Subscription may be required.)

“A model to calculate effects of atmospheric deposition on soil acidification, eutrophication and 

carbon [storage].” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Triggered by the steep decline in sulphur

deposition in Europe and North America over the last decades, research and emission reduction policies 

have shifted from acidification to the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition and climate change on plant 

species diversity and carbon (C) [storage] in soils and biomass. Consequently, soil-ecosystem models 

need to include detailed descriptions of C and N processes, and ideally provide output that link to plant 

species diversity models. [The authors] describe an extension of the Very Simple Dynamic (VSD) model, 

called VSD+, which includes an explicit description of C and N turnover. Model simulations for three 

forest stands, which differ in N deposition and soil C/N ratios, show that VSD+ can well predict both 

trends and absolute values of NO3 and NH4 concentrations in soil and stream waters, soil C/N ratios and 

pH, which makes VSD+ suitable for providing input for plant species diversity models.” Luc T.C. Bonten, 

Gert Jan Reinds, and Maximilian Posch, Environmental Modelling & Software. (Subscription may be 

required.)

“An integrated site characterization-to-optimization study for commercial-scale carbon dioxide 

storage.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Injection of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) 

into deep saline [formations] is considered a promising option to mitigate global climate change. At a 

storage site, the main objectives of [CO2 storage] are to maximize the volume of scCO2 injected and 

minimize the [release] risk, while effectively managing formation fluid pressure buildup and the brine 

displaced by scCO2. An integrated characterization-to-optimization study is carried out for potential 

commercial-scale deep saline [formation CO2] storage proposed in western Wyoming. A threedimensional heterogeneous reservoir model is built for which petrophysical and fluid flow parameters are 

populated using field characterization data and state-of-the-art laboratory measurements. The measured 

scCO2 relative permeability end point is low compared to previous measurements on similar sandstones, 

which poses a challenge for CO2 flow, formation pressure control, and storage efficiency. By carefully 

selecting a set of optimal well locations, perforation intervals, and bottomhole pressure constraints that 

lead to maximum CO2-in-place and minimal CO2 breakthrough at the producers, an injection rate ranging 

from 10.8 to 15.1 Mt/year is achieved for a duration of 50 years. After scCO2 injection ceases, up to 62

[percent] of the total injected scCO2 can be immobilized as residual scCO2 in 1000 years. Because of the 

low scCO2 relative permeability end point, post-scCO2-injection chase brine operation is not found to be 

an effective means of enhancing residual trapping. Instead, by modulating reservoir fluid pressure, 

boundary conditions of the reservoir exert a more significant impact on flow. Given the same well 

configuration and bottomhole pressure constraints, an open reservoir with lateral background flow allows 

40 [percent] additional scCO2 injection compared to a compartmentalized system without background 

flow. However, background flow leads to a lower trapping efficiency – after 1000 years post-scCO2-

injection, only 54 [percent] of the total injected scCO2 is immobilized as residual scCO2. This research 

suggests that a careful engineering design can contribute to significant CO2 storage at commercial 

scales while enhancing storage security. Site-specific multi-phase flow data should be measured for such 

a design, since for the study site, chase-brine operation is not effective when scCO2 relative permeability 

is low.” Shuiquan Li, Morteza Akbarabadi, Ye Zhang, and Mohammad Piri, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)
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53

May 2016

“Using pulse testing for [release] detection in carbon storage reservoirs: A field demonstration.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Monitoring techniques capable of deep subsurface detection 

are desirable for early warning and [release] pathway identification in geologic carbon storage 

formations. This work demonstrates the feasibility of a pulse-testing-based [release] detection procedure, 

in which the storage reservoir is stimulated using periodic injection patterns and the acquired pressure 

perturbation signals are analyzed in the frequency domain to detect potential deviations in the reservoir's 

frequency domain responses. Unlike the traditional well testing and associated time domain analyses, 

pulse testing aims to minimize the interference of reservoir operations and other ambient noise by 

selecting appropriate pulsing frequencies such that reservoir responses to coded injection patterns can 

be uniquely determined in frequency domain. Field demonstration of this pulse-testing [release] detection 

technique was carried out at a CO2 [EOR] site—the Cranfield site located in Mississippi, USA, which has 

long been used as a carbon storage research site. During the demonstration, two sets of pulsing 

experiments (baseline and [release] tests) were performed using 90-min and 150-min pulsing periods to 

demonstrate feasibility of time-lapse [release] detection. For [release] tests, an artificial [release] source 

was created through rate-controlled venting of CO2 from one of the monitoring wells because of the lack 

of known [release] pathways at the site. [The authors’] results show that [release] events caused a 

significant deviation in the amplitude of the frequency response function, indicating that pulse testing may 

be deployed as a cost-effective active monitoring technique, with a great potential for site-wide 

automated monitoring.” Alexander Y. Sun, Jiemin Lu, Barry M. Freifeld, Susan D. Hovorka, and 

Akand Islam, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“A review on well integrity issues for CO2 geological storage and enhanced gas recovery.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “The world’s rapid economic growth has contributed to the ever 

increasing demand for energy which results in the increase of fossil fuels usage. On the other hand, 

renewable energies, which are considered environmentally friendly, cannot replace the fossil fuels in the 

short term. For this, CCS technologies could work as transitional technology. To ensure a meaningful 

underground storage, well integrity is potentially the greatest challenge. On one hand, the injected CO2

may cause severe corrosion to metallic tubulars and cement in the wellbore. Identification, quantification 

and mitigation of this corrosion are the key to achieve satisfactory well conditions. On the other hand, the 

mechanical integrity loss due to cyclic and thermal loading in the well life will also occur, so to investigate 

and evaluate well integrity is of paramount importance to ensure a safe operation and storage. This 

paper presents a definition of well integrity in the scope of CSEGR as well as the mechanisms of well 

integrity loss. Overview on corrosion issues of metallic and cement corrosion along with the remedial 

measures is discussed. Through a thorough literature review, well integrity criteria for new and old wells 

are introduced to provide a guidance for material selection for the usage in CSEGR. Moreover, in order 

to evaluate the integrity of operational and abandoned wells, this paper provides a review on the existing 

monitoring methods, as well as risk based methods such as FEPs analysis, Performance and Risk 

Management, CO2-PENS, and put forward a new concept of well integrity evaluation.” Mingxing Bai, 

Zhichao Zhang, and Xiaofei Fu, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be 

required.)

“A novel sub-seabed CO2 release experiment informing monitoring and impact assessment for 

geological carbon storage.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “[CCS] is a mitigation strategy 

that can be used to aid the reduction of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This process aims to capture CO2

from large point-source emitters and transport it to a long-term storage site. For much of Europe, these 

deep storage sites are anticipated to be sited below the [seabed] on continental shelves. A key 

operational requirement is an understanding of best practice of monitoring for potential [release] and of 

the environmental impact that could result from a diffusive [release] from a storage complex. Here [the 

authors] describe a controlled CO2 release experiment beneath the seabed, which overcomes the 

limitations of laboratory simulations and natural analogues. The complex processes involved in setting up 

the experimental facility and ensuring its successful operation are discussed, including site selection, 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

54

permissions, communications and facility construction. The experimental design and observational 

strategy are reviewed with respect to scientific outcomes along with lessons learnt in order to facilitate 

any similar future.” Peter Taylor, Henrik Stahl, Mark E. Vardy, Jonathon M. Bull, Maxine Akhurst, 

Chris Hauton, Rachel H. James, Anna Lichtschlag, Dave Long, Dmitry Aleynik, Matthew 

Toberman, Mark Naylor, Douglas Connelly, Dave Smith, Martin D.J. Sayer, Steve Widdicombe, Ian 

C. Wright, and Jerry Blackford, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be 

required.)

June 2016

“Baking Soda ‘Sponge’ Could Capture Carbon Emissions.” Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore 

National Laboratory (LLNL) in California, USA, are testing sponges filled with baking soda as a way to 

capture CO2 emissions. According to the researchers, who have trialed microcapsules, the “baking soda 

approach” could be less expensive than currently available technology. The trailed microcapsules were 

created with a liquid solution of sodium carbonate at their core, surrounded by a polymer shell through 

which the CO2 can flow. From BBC News on May 31, 2016.

“Evaluation of hydraulic controls for [release] intervention in carbon storage reservoirs.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “Assuring the storage security of geologically [stored] CO2 is 

essential for proper project management and long-term emissions reductions. Storage security relies not 

only on comprehensive site characterization prior to injection and careful reservoir management, but also 

on having a suite of intervention and remediation strategies available to implement if [release] occurs. In 

this study sequential stages of intervention are analyzed and evaluated. The first step in halting [release]

is likely to be stopping CO2 injection in the vicinity of the [release] (also termed passive remediation). 

Results indicate that while passive remediation can reduce the [release] rate by an order of magnitude, 

completely stopping [release] may often require implementation of additional measures. Additional 

measures evaluated here focus largely on hydraulic controls, whereby water is injected or produced in or 

above the CO2 injection reservoir in order to terminate [release]. The degree of residual trapping 

determines the extent to which [release] is ultimately reduced. For example, water injection into the 

overlying [formation] directly above a fault was able to completely terminate [release] for as long as water 

injection continues. Remediation was even more effective when water injection above the fault was 

combined with reservoir fluid production. [The authors] also show that in addition to hydraulic control 

methods, extracting 15–25 [percent] of the injected CO2 can lead to permanent [release] termination. The 

role of reservoir heterogeneity on remediation efficacy was also examined and found to reduce the total 

amount of CO2 [released] compared to a homogeneous reservoir. Overall this study demonstrates that 

temporally limited, multi-stage intervention strategies such as hydraulic barriers can permanently stop 

CO2 [release] from storage reservoirs into overlying [formations].” Christopher Zahasky and Sally M. 

Benson, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“CO2 solubility measurements in brine under reservoir conditions: A comparison of experimental 

and geochemical modeling methods.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The dissolution of 

CO2 in brine (solubility trapping) is one of the most secure and permanent trapping mechanisms when 

considering CO2 [geologic] storage. In addition, CO2 dissolution in brine is an important mechanism of 

CO2 enhanced oil recovery [(EOR)] as it improves sweep efficiency and increases oil displacement. 

Currently, there is a range of experimental methods that has been used to measure CO2 solubility in 

brine and a critical review of these methods is presented here. Several different geochemical models that 

can be used to calculate CO2 solubility in brine are also reviewed and the importance of selecting the 

correct equation of state (EoS) is addressed. Furthermore, the validity of the experimental results was 

ascertained through a comparison of the published experimental results with those produced through 

geochemical modeling. The geochemical modeling software, HydraFLASH, can be used to accurately 

calculate CO2 solubilities under a number of conditions provided the correct EoS is selected. For the 

purpose of CO2-water systems, the Valderrama-Patel-Teja EoS is the most accurate as it is designed to 

be used for systems containing polar and non-polar compounds. The published experimental results 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

55

were compared with those obtained through the geochemical modeling, to ascertain the most accurate 

means of measuring CO2 solubility.” Luc Steel, Qi Liu, Eric Mackay, M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer, 

Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology. (Subscription may be required.)

July 2016

“The CO2 storage and EOR evaluation in Daqing Oilfield.” The following is the Abstract of this article: 

“Injecting CO2 into oil reservoirs could improve recovery and facilitate the storage of CO2. For developing 

countries, especially China, coupling enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 storage becomes an 

economical and environmentally safe method. Daqing Oilfield is the biggest oilfield in China. It has been 

operational for 50 years, and has faced many EOR challenges. In this study, a CO2 storage and EOR 

evaluation method is introduced to calculate the CO2 storage potential in the Daqing Oilfield. The stream 

tube simulation method and the mixed cell mesh method are adopted to determine the storage 

coefficient, recovery factor, and MMP (minimum miscible pressure). The evaluation results of the Daqing 

Oilfield show that most of the oilfields in Daqing can carry out CO2 immiscible flooding. For EOR effects, 

the CO2 miscible flooding can improve oil recovery by about [nine percent]. The average CO2 storage 

factors are 0.4 for miscible flooding while the immiscible flooding is 0.28; miscible flooding has better 

CO2 storage capacity and EOR potential. The results show that injecting CO2 into the reservoirs in 

Daqing Oilfield is a win-win technology.” Xiaoliang Zhao, Yuedong Yao, and Heng Ye, Greenhouse 

Gases: Science and Technology. (Subscription may be required.)

“Optimization of miscible CO2 EOR and storage using heuristic methods combined with 

capacitance/resistance and Gentil fractional flow models.” The following is the Abstract of this 

article: “Ongoing increase in worldwide oil demand and emission of [GHGs] persuades engineers to 

utilize new approaches to optimize enhanced hydrocarbon recovery operations so that the concentration 

of such gases in atmosphere is reduced, simultaneously. CO2 injection into geological formations could 

be a promising alternative for [EOR] and lessening anthropogenic CO2 emissions. It is [the authors]’

objective to employ Capacitance-Resistance Model (CRM) for characterization of inter-well interactions 

in two reservoir models, which experience miscible CO2 injection for combined EOR and storage 

purposes. Then, an efficient model is developed, on the basis of Gentil fractional flow model, coupled 

with CRM. The introduced strategy is applied to optimize miscible CO2 injection scenarios. The main goal 

in this research work is to minimize the fraction of cumulatively produced CO2 to cumulatively produced 

oil by varying injection rates pattern with the same total injection as history. Minimizing the produced CO2

ensures the increase of stored CO2 through the formation. The developed methodology is validated 

through comparison with the results obtained from reservoir production history. Three heuristic 

optimization methods utilized in this work are Artificial-Bee-Colony (ABC), Particle-Swarm-Optimization 

(PSO), and Genetic-Algorithm (GA). According to results of several simulations and optimizations and 

compared to reservoir history, amounts of stored CO2 and recovered oil increased, remarkably, for a real 

geological formation. In general, all optimization techniques result in favorable outcomes; however, ABC 

exhibits better performance, followed by PSO and GA. It was also found that well transmissibility is a vital 

factor to satisfy desired conditions for optimization process.” S. Ehsan Eshraghi, M. Reza Rasaei, and 

Sohrab Zendehboudi, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering. (Subscription may be required.)

August 2016

“Geochemical impact of O2 impurity in CO2 stream on carbonate carbon-storage reservoirs.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is regarded as an effective, 

large-scale mitigation technology for reducing CO2 atmospheric emissions from the use of fossil fuels. 

One of the major barriers for widespread deployment of the technology is the high cost of CO2 capture 

from the flue gas of fossil-fuel power plants and other industrial emitters. In general, the purer the desired 

captured CO2 stream, the more expensive the capture process. Coinjecting some of these impurities with 

CO2 can reduce the operational cost of CCS. Potential detrimental effects, if any, of impurities on storage 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

56

formations need to be identified and evaluated. Previous studies on the effects of impurities have 

focused on sandstone reservoir rocks and mudstone caprock, but little work has been done to evaluate 

potential impacts on carbonate reservoirs, which are major storage candidates. [The authors] conducted 

a series of autoclave experiments on Redwater Leduc limestone (Alberta, Canada) and SACROC 

dolostone (Texas, United States) to investigate the effect of O2 impurity on CO2–brine–rock interactions. 

A total of eight reaction experiments were conducted with or without O2 for ∼3 weeks each at 200 bar 

and 70°C or 100°C. Chemical analyses of the reaction fluids show that carbonate dissolution is the major 

mineral reaction caused by injection of CO2. The addition of 3.5 [percent] O2 had no significant impact on 

the limestone, whereas it led to precipitation of iron hydroxides in dolostone experiments that contained 

ankerite and a small amount of siderite. Porosity and permeability increased when CO2 was added, but 

the addition of O2 did not lead to notable changes. The results suggest that the addition of O2 impurity 

into the CO2 stream will not cause significant damage to carbonate formations, which potentially allows 

significant cost reduction by retaining a small O2 content in the injection gas stream.” Jiemin Lu, Patrick 

J. Mickler, Jean-Philippe Nicot, Changbing Yang, and Roxana Darvari, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

“CO2 huff and puff for heavy oil recovery after primary production.” The following is the Abstract of 

this article: “In this study, micromodel tests were performed to investigate the microscopic flow behavior 

during primary production and the subsequent CO2 huff and puff. A series of 12 tests was conducted in 

sandpacks to evaluate the effects of the injection and production parameters on the displacement 

efficiency of the CO2 huff and puff. The micromodel tests and sandpack tests showed that the flow 

characteristics of CO2 huff-and-puff process was significantly affected by the pressure of converting the 

solution gas drive to the subsequent CO2 huff and puff. A foamy oil flow could be more easily formed in 

the production period of the CO2 huff and puff with a higher conversion pressure. Foamy oil can reduce 

the mobility of gas and provide tremendous energy to the system, thereby improving the performance of 

the CO2 huff and puff. The sandpack flood results show that the oil recovery of the solution gas drive 

decreased as the conversion pressure increased, whereas the oil recovery of the CO2 huff and puff 

increased as the conversion pressure increased. The highest total oil recovery was obtained at the 

pseudo-bubblepoint pressure. The oil recovery of the CO2 huff and puff increased as the CO2 injection 

pressure and pressure decline rate increased. The oil recovery of CO2 huff and puff increased with the 

soaking time, and it exhibits a significant change when the soaking time ranges from 10 h to 24 h; above 

this value, the increase become slight.” Teng Lu, Zhaomin Li, Weiyu Fan, and Songyan Li, 

Greenhouse Gas Sci Technol. (Subscription may be required.)

“Integration of reservoir simulation, history matching, and 4D seismic for CO2-EOR and storage 

at Cranfield, Mississippi, USA.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “In this paper, [the authors]

compare 4D seismic interpretations of CO2 plume evolution with fluid-flow numerical simulation results 

for Cranfield, Mississippi. Historic pressure trends, oil and gas production rates, and current CO2-EOR 

production data from the field were history matched, and a tuned model was used for predictive 

simulations. For CO2-EOR operations, numerical simulation results of the CO2 plume distribution and 

CO2 first arrival (breakthrough) times in production wells were compared to the available field data. Three 

interpretations of 4D seismic data show discrepancies on the edges of the seismic survey, and along the 

sealing fault, where numerical simulations show high CO2 saturations. In areas between these two limits, 

the match between simulation and 4D seismic interpretation improves. In addition, for most of the 

production wells, comparison of the breakthrough time of CO2 showed a reasonable match. The tuned 

model was then used to predict reservoir response and storage capacity in different field development 

scenarios under CO2 injection. [The authors] compared hypothetical scenarios where the operator 

transitions from CO2-EOR to CO2 injection without oil production (CO2-EORT) when oil production is not 

economical anymore, to a scenario of continuing with CO2-EOR. [The authors’] results show that CO2-

EOR can store more CO2 and operations will last longer, whereas if switched to CO2-EORT, the field 

must be abandoned earlier because of spillover of the CO2 plume. However, the amount of CO2 stored 

per year is larger for CO2-EORT as compared to CO2-EOR.” Masoud Alfi and Seyyed A. Hosseini, 

Fuel. (Subscription may be required.)
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

57

“Design of CO2 Injection Pilot in Offshore Middle East Carbonate Reservoir.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “Carbon dioxide injection is considered to be a viable option for EOR and has 

already been implemented commercially for more than 40 years. However, the applications are limited to 

onshore and offshore application for EOR activities have not yet been implemented. This paper presents 

the subsurface evaluation using laboratory experiments (PVT and corefloods) and compositional 

modeling, the design and surveillance program of a CO2 pilot project planned in a carbonate reservoir 

located offshore Abu Dhabi. PVT and coreflood experiments demonstrate the local displacement 

efficiency of CO2 in tertiary mode due to gas-oil miscibility, swelling of oil and reduction in oil viscosity. 

The screening study performed using a tuned equation of state (EOS) predicts significant additional 

recovery in a previously waterflooded area. A pilot is planned in one of the reservoirs of the field, which 

has 40 years of peripheral seawater injection history. The pilot design is influenced by existing peripheral 

pressure gradient, and is located down-dip in the field that covers approximately 80 acres. The pilot 

location is selected based on geology, reservoir quality, maturity to waterflood and surface facility 

constraints. A comprehensive reservoir surveillance plan, including one to two observers well, is 

developed to monitor pilot performance. The planned pilot will reduce uncertainties and risk associated 

with CO2 injection and address bottleneck uncertainties in an offshore environment before large-scale 

application. The first offshore CO2 injection pilot is designed for implementation in a tertiary mode in a 

giant carbonate field, which is still under secondary recovery production, to minimize interaction with 

current production and impact on surface facility. The paper also presents the possible mitigation for 

various challenges identified like asphaltene, scaling, corrosion, impact on existing carbon steel well 

completion, etc. associated with CO2 injection. The methodology and technical analysis used to evaluate 

and design the CO2 pilot are applicable to other potential fields in the region.” Jitendra Kumar, Elyes 

Draoui, and Satoru Takahashi, Society of Petroleum Engineers. (Subscription may be required.)

September 2016

“Reducing costs of carbon capture and storage by shared reuse of existing pipeline—Case study 

of a CO2 capture cluster for industry and power in Scotland.” The following is the Abstract of this 

article: “The deployment of CCS is [recognized] as critical to delivering deep decarbonisation of energy 

and industrial processes. CCS clusters, where multiple CO2 emitting sources share CO2 transport and 

storage infrastructures, offer cost savings and enable smaller sources to undertake CCS, which are 

unlikely to be capable of justifying a stand-alone transport and storage system. Scotland has a legacy of 

onshore and offshore pipelines, which transported methane from producing regions. These can be reused to connect CO2 emitters to storage. Approximately 80 [percent] of large [stationary]-source CO2

emissions in Scotland are within 40 km of the Feeder 10 pipeline. Thirteen selected emitters are 

evaluated for potential CO2 capture volume, estimated capture project cost and cost of connection. 

Scenarios for sequential deployment show that Feeder 10 has capacity through known expansion 

potential for developments allowing capture volumes rising from 2 to 8 Mt yr−1 CO2.” Peter A. 

Brownsort, Vivian Scott, and R. Stuart Haszeldine, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)

“Comparison of geochemical data obtained using four brine sampling methods at the SECARB 

Phase III Anthropogenic Test CO2 injection site, Citronelle Oil Field, Alabama.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “The chemical composition of formation water and associated gases from the 

lower Cretaceous Paluxy Formation was determined using four different sampling methods at a 

characterization well in the Citronelle Oil Field, Alabama, as part of the SECARB Phase III Anthropogenic 

Test, which is an integrated [CCS] project. In this study, formation water and gas samples were obtained 

from well D-9-8 #2 at Citronelle using gas lift, electric submersible pump, U-tube, and a downhole 

vacuum sampler (VS) and subjected to both field and laboratory analyses. Field chemical analyses 

included electrical conductivity, dissolved sulfide concentration, alkalinity, and pH; laboratory analyses 

included major, minor and trace elements, dissolved carbon, volatile fatty acids, free and dissolved gas 

species. The formation water obtained from this well is a Na–Ca–Cl-type brine with a salinity of about 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Technology (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

58

200,000 mg/L total dissolved solids. Differences were evident between sampling methodologies, 

particularly in pH, Fe and alkalinity. There was little gas in samples, and gas composition results were 

strongly influenced by sampling methods. The results of the comparison demonstrate the difficulty and 

importance of preserving volatile analytes in samples, with the VS and U-tube system performing most 

favorably in this aspect.” Christopher H. Conaway, James J. Thordsen, Michael A. Manning, Paul J. 

Cook, Robert C. Trautz, Burt Thomas, and Yousif K. Kharaka, International Journal of Coal Geology. 

(Subscription may be required.)

“Seismic monitoring of CO2 [geostorage]: CO2CRC Otway case study using full 4D FDTD 

approach.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Stage 2C of the Otway project by CO2CRC 

Limited was designed as a feasibility study of seismic monitoring to detect and [characterize] small-scale 

[release] of CO2-rich gas into a saline [formation]. Design of the monitoring program is based on a series 

of simulations conducted in 2007–2014. The gas plume is likely to be small in size and the contrast in 

elastic properties is also predicted to be relatively low. To [maximize] the chances of detecting the lowamplitude time-lapse signal [the authors optimize] the current time-lapse processing workflow using 

synthetic datasets for the entire baseline and monitor surveys. The datasets were obtained by an elastic 

3D FDTD modelling approach for the actual field acquisition geometry and the most realistic model of the 

subsurface and distribution of elastic properties in the gas plume. To this end [the authors] built a fullearth static geological model of the Otway site with resolution typical for reservoirs in petroleum 

exploration. Distributions of the seismic properties were obtained from geostatistical interpolation 

between wells within the static model. The analysis of the synthetic datasets gives an estimate of the 

magnitude of the time-lapse signal and illustrates effects of the conventional processing procedures on 

the signal in the presence of the band limited random noise. [The authors] have found that the 

anticipated intensity of the time-lapse signal is comparable to the average intensity of the reflections 

observed within the target interval, and hence should be sufficient for the detection of the signal. [The 

authors] believe that the proposed modelling workflow is of methodological value since it provides a 

reliable basis for seismic feasibility studies and development of modelling-driven processing workflows.” 

Stas Glubokovskikh, Roman Pevzner, Tess Dance, Eva Caspari, Dmitry Popik, Valeriya 

Shulakova, and Boris Gurevich, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may 

be required.) 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Terrestrial (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

59

Terrestrial

September 2015

“Effects of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation on Drought Impacts in the United States.” The following is 

the Abstract of this article: “The authors present a method for analyzing the economic benefits to the 

United States resulting from changes in drought frequency and severity due to global GHG mitigation. 

The method begins by constructing reduced-form models of the effect of drought on agriculture and 

reservoir recreation in the contiguous United States. These relationships are then applied to drought 

projections based on two climate stabilization scenarios and two twenty-first-century time periods. 

Drought indices are sector specific and include both the standardized precipitation index and the Palmer 

drought severity index. It is found that the modeled regional effects of drought on each sector are 

negative, almost always statistically significant, and often large in magnitude. These results confirm that 

drought has been an important driver of historical reductions in economic activity in these sectors. 

Comparing a reference climate scenario to two GHG mitigation scenarios in 2050 and 2100, the authors 

find that, for the agricultural sector, mitigation reduces both drought incidence and damages through its 

effects on temperature and precipitation, despite regional differences in the sign and magnitude of 

effects under certain model scenarios. The current annual damages of drought across all sectors have 

been estimated at $6–$8 billion (U.S. dollars), but this analysis shows that average annual benefits of 

GHG mitigation to the U.S. agricultural sector alone reach $980 million by 2050 and upward of $2.2 

billion by 2100. Benefits to reservoir recreation depend on reservoir location and data availability. 

Economic benefits of GHG mitigation are highest in the southwestern United States, where drought 

frequency is projected to increase most dramatically in the absence of GHG mitigation policies.” Brent 

Boehlert, Ellen Fitzgerald, James E. Neumann, Kenneth M. Strzepek, and Jeremy Martinich, 

Weather, Climate, and Society. (Subscription may be required.)

October 2015

“Do protected areas reduce blue carbon emissions? A quasi-experimental evaluation of 

mangroves in Indonesia.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Mangroves provide multiple 

ecosystem services such as blue carbon [storage], storm protection, and unique habitat for species. 

Despite these services, mangroves are being lost at rapid rates around the world. Using the best 

available biophysical and socio-economic data, [the authors] present the first rigorous large-scale 

evaluation of the effectiveness of protected areas (PAs) at conserving mangroves and reducing blue 

carbon emissions. [The authors] focus on Indonesia as it has the largest absolute area of mangroves 

(about 22.6 [percent] of the world's mangroves), is one of the most diverse in terms of mangrove species 

and has been losing its mangroves at a very fast rate. Specifically, [the authors] apply quasiexperimental techniques (combining propensity score and covariate matching, differences-in-differences, 

and post-matching bias adjustments) to assess whether PAs prevented mangrove loss between 2000 

and 2010. [The authors’] results show that marine protected areas reduced mangrove loss by about 

14,000 ha and avoided blue carbon emissions of approximately 13 million metric tons (CO2 equivalent). 

However, [the authors] find no evidence that species management PAs stalled the loss of mangroves. 

[The authors] conclude by providing illustrative estimates of the blue carbon benefits of establishing PAs, 

which can be cost-effective policies for mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss.” Daniela A. 

Miteva, Brian C. Murray, and Subhrendu K. Pattanayak, Ecological Economics. (Subscription may be 

required.)

November 2015

“The dynamic soil organic carbon mitigation potential of European cropland.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “Changes in soil organic carbon stocks depend on the management regime and a 
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60

variety of environmental factors including climatic conditions and soil properties. So far, the dynamics of 

soil organic carbon have not been explicitly represented in global economic land use optimization 

models. Here, [the authors] apply an approach to represent soil organic carbon dynamics explicitly in a 

global bottom-up recursive dynamic partial equilibrium model using carbon response functions simulated 

with a biophysical process-based model. [The authors] project soil organic carbon emissions from 

European cropland to decrease by 40 [percent] from 64 MtCO2 in 2010 to about 39 MtCO2 in 2050 

mainly due to saturation effect when soils converge toward their equilibrium after management, crop 

rotation, or land use change. Moreover, [the authors] estimate a soil organic carbon mitigation potential 

for European cropland between 9 and 38 MtCO2 per year until 2050 for carbon prices between 10 and 

100 USD/tCO2. The total European mitigation potential including co-benefits from the crop and livestock 

sector due to the carbon price is even higher with 60 MtCO2 equivalents (eq) per year. Thus carbon 

[storage] in soils could compensate 7 [percent] of total emissions from agriculture within the EU, 10

[percent] when including co-benefits from the crop and livestock sector. However, as production is 

reallocated outside Europe with increasing carbon prices, emissions decrease in Europe but increase in 

the rest of the world (20 MtCO2 eq). Preventing GHG emission [release] to the rest of the world would 

decrease the European soil organic carbon mitigation potential by around 9 [percent] and the total 

European mitigation potential including co-benefits by 16 [percent]. Nevertheless, the net global 

mitigation potential would still increase. [The authors] conclude that no significant contributions to 

emission reduction targets should be expected from the European cropland carbon [storage] options 

considered in this study.” Stefan Frank, Erwin Schmid, Petr Havlík, Uwe A. Schneider, Hannes 

Böttcher, Juraj Balkovič, and Michael Obersteiner, Global Environmental Change. (Subscription may 

be required.)

“Evolution and variation of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration over terrestrial 

ecosystems as derived from eddy covariance measurements.” The following is the Abstract of this 

article: “Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important anthropogenic [GHG] contributing to global climate 

change. Understanding the temporal and spatial variations of CO2 concentration over terrestrial 

ecosystems provides additional insight into global atmospheric variability of CO2 concentration. Using 

355 site-years of CO2 concentration observations at 104 eddy-covariance flux tower sites in Northern 

Hemisphere, [the authors] presented a comprehensive analysis of evolution and variation of atmospheric 

CO2 concentration over terrestrial ecosystem (ACTE) for the period of 1997–2006. [The authors’] results 

showed that ACTE exhibited a strong seasonal variations, with an average [seasonal] amplitude (peaktrough difference) of 14.8 ppm, which was approximately threefold that global mean CO2 observed in 

Mauna Loa in the United States (MLO). The seasonal variation of CO2 were mostly dominant by 

terrestrial carbon fluxes, i.e., net ecosystem procution (NEP) and gross primary production (GPP), with 

correlation coefficient(r) were −0.55 and −0.60 for NEP and GPP, respectively. However, the influence of 

carbon fluxes on CO2 were not significant at interannual scale, which implied that the inter-annual 

changing trends of atmospheric CO2 in Northern Hemisphere were likely to depend more on 

anthropogenic CO2 emissions sources than on ecosystem change. It was estimated, by fitting a 

harmonic model to monthly-mean ACTE, that both annual mean and seasonal amplitude of ACTE 

increased over the 10-year period at rates of 2.04 and 0.60 ppm yr−1, respectively. The uptrend of annual 

ACTE could be attributed to the dramatic global increase of CO2 emissions during the study period, 

whereas the increasing amplitude could be related to the increases in Northern Hemisphere biospheric 

activity. This study also found that the annual CO2 concentration showed large variation among 

ecosystems, with the high value appeared in deciduous broadleaf forest, evergreen broadleaf forest and 

cropland. [The authors] attribute these discrepancies to both differential local anthropogenic impacts and 

carbon [storage] abilities across ecosystem types.” Min Liu, Jiabing Wu, Xudong Zhu, Honglin He, 

Wenxiao Jia, and Weining Xiang, Atmospheric Environment. (Subscription may be required.)

December 2015

“Hydraulics are a first-order control on CO2 efflux from fluvial systems.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “Evasion of CO2 from fluvial systems is now recognized as a significant 
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61

component of the global carbon cycle. However, the magnitude of, and controls on, this flux remains 

uncertain, and improved understanding of both is required to refine global estimates of fluvial CO2 efflux. 

[Carbon dioxide] efflux data show no pattern with latitude suggesting that catchment biological 

productivity is not a primary control and that an alternative explanation for intersite variability is required. 

It has been suggested that increased flow velocity and turbulence enhance CO2 efflux, but this is not 

confirmed. Here using contemporaneous measurements of efflux (range: 0.07–107 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1), 

flow hydraulics (mean velocity range: 0.03–1.39 m s−1), and pCO2 (range: 174–10712 μatm) at six sites, 

[the authors] find that flow intensity is a primary control on efflux across two climatically different locations 

(where pH is not a limiting factor) and that the relationship is refined by incorporating the partial pressure 

of CO2 (pCO2) of the water. A remaining challenge is how to upscale from point to reach or river basin 

level. Remote imaging or river surface may be worth exploring if subjectivity in interpreting surface state 

can be overcome.” Hazel Long, Leena Vihermaa, Susan Waldron, Trevor Hoey, Simon Quemin, and 

Jason Newton, Journal of Geophysical Research. (Subscription may be required.)

January 2016

“Freshwater Sources Allow Escape for Terrestrial Carbon.” A new study published in the 

“Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” claims large amounts of CO2 may be escaping from 

forest soil to freshwater sources. According to researchers, freshwater rivers and streams transport more 

than 220 billion pounds of CO2 per year, which based on previous approximations may indicate that the 

current assessments of carbon storage in terrestrial landscapes may be overestimated by almost 30 

percent. The data used for the study, titled “Aquatic carbon cycling in the conterminous United States 

and implications for terrestrial carbon accounting,” was the result of four years’ worth of countrywide 

carbon assessment, where researchers gathered carbon data from freshwater rivers, lakes, and 

reservoirs around the United States. From R&D Magazine on December 28, 2015.

February 2016

“Economic value of carbon storage in U.S. National Wildlife Refuge wetland ecosystems.” The

following is the Abstract of this article: “The Third National Climate Assessment released in 2014 

provides further evidence of global warming and mitigation options [including carbon storage]. In this 

paper, [the authors] report on the quantity and economic value of carbon stored in wetlands ecosystems 

found in four U.S. National Wildlife Refuges. [The authors’] results suggest that wetlands in National 

Wildlife Refuges provide substantial carbon storage benefits to the [United States] and world.” Douglas 

Patton, John C. Bergstrom, Rebecca Moore, and Alan P. Covich, Ecosystem Services. (Subscription 

may be required.)

“Land use, land use change and soil carbon [storage] in the St. Johns River Basin, Florida, USA.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Land use change is widely recognized as a net source of 

[GHG] emissions at the global scale. Most of these emissions are attributed to losses from aboveground 

terrestrial pools such as deforestation. However, much less is known about the effects of land use 

change on soil carbon pools at regional scales. To address this problem, relationships between soil 

organic carbon (SOC), land use/land cover (LULC) classes, and LULC change were investigated at the 

regional scale. A legacy soil survey was used in conjunction with a new, contemporary sampling 

campaign to determine SOC change through time. Together, the two datasets cover an approximate 40-

year time period (1965 to 2009). The greatest densities of SOC were documented in wetland classes. 

Specifically, soils of Hardwood Swamp, Cypress Swamp, and Mixed Urban consisted of both residential 

Wetland Forest contained 9.8, 9.5, and 7.8 g C m− 2. In regard to absolute storage, or SOC stocks, 

Hardwood Swamp, Pineland, and Urban ranked highest and contained 14.4, 13.3, and 9.9 Tg C, 

respectively. The effect of LULC change was mixed, and resulted in both gains and losses of SOC at the 

field scale. At the regional scale, median SOC increased by 16.9 g C m− 2 yr− 1. Urbanization of natural 

landscapes resulted in the largest rate of [storage], which increased SOC by 37.1 g C m− 2 yr− 1. The 
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62

largest losses were documented in LULC classes converted from Improved Pasture to Rangeland, which 

decreased SOC by 8.5 g m− 2 yr− 1.” C. Wade Ross, Sabine Grunwald, David Brenton Myers, and 

Xiong, Geoderma Regional. (Subscription may be required.)

March 2016

“Villagers and Scientists [Collaborate in Mangrove Project].” A research project exploring

mangroves on the coasts of Kenya found that mangrove forests are being impacted by coastal 

development. Mangrove forests filter pollutants and can reduce the impact of CO2 emissions. The 

research, led by Edinburgh Napier University (UK) and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research 

Institute, has led to the conservation and restoration training of scientists, provided data for the Kenyan 

government’s conservation policies, and led to the creation of a Community Forest Association. Since it 

was initiated in 2010, the project has led to the restoration of 20 hectares of degraded land. From The 

Star on February 26, 2016.

“Aquatic carbon cycling in the conterminous United States and implications for terrestrial carbon 

accounting.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Inland water ecosystems dynamically process, 

transport, and [store] carbon. However, the transport of carbon through aquatic environments has not 

been quantitatively integrated in the context of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, [the authors] present the first 

integrated assessment, to [their] knowledge, of freshwater carbon fluxes for the conterminous United 

States, where 106 (range: 71–149) teragrams of carbon per year (TgC·y−1) is exported downstream or 

emitted to the atmosphere and sedimentation stores 21 (range: 9–65) TgC·y−1 in lakes and reservoirs. 

[The authors] show that there is significant regional variation in aquatic carbon flux, but verify that 

emission across stream and river surfaces represents the dominant flux at 69 (range: 36–110) TgC·y−1 or 

65 [percent] of the total aquatic carbon flux for the conterminous United States. Comparing [the authors’] 

results with the output of a suite of terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs), [the authors] suggest that within 

the current modeling framework, calculations of net ecosystem production (NEP) defined as terrestrial 

only may be overestimated by as much as 27 [percent]. However, the internal production and 

mineralization of carbon in freshwaters remain to be quantified and would reduce the effect of including 

aquatic carbon fluxes within calculations of terrestrial NEP. Reconciliation of carbon mass–flux 

interactions between terrestrial and aquatic carbon sources and sinks will require significant additional 

research and modeling capacity.” David Butman, Sarah Stackpoole, Edward Stets, Cory P. 

McDonald, David W. Clow, and Robert G. Striegl, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 

of the United States of America. (Subscription may be required.)

April 2016

“Carbon storage in a bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) plantation in the degraded tropical forests: 

Implications for policy development.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Tropical forests 

potentially contribute to global climate change mitigation through carbon [storage], hence a global carbon 

pool. In order to mitigate the global climate change impact, the Kyoto protocol developed the clean 

development mechanism (CDM) which supports carbon credits for plantation activities in developing 

countries. Unfortunately, none of the CDM forestry projects included bamboo as a carbon reservoir. 

Although bamboo is an integrating part of tropical forest ecosystems, it was overlooked in the initial 

negotiating process. The present study, therefore, investigated the carbon storage potential of a common 

bamboo species, Bambusa vulgaris at Lawachara forest reserve of Bangladesh. Results showed that

five-year-old B. vulgaris stand stored in total 77.67 t C ha−1 of which 50.44 t C ha−1 were stored in the 

above ground biomass (culms, branches and leaves), 2.52 t C ha−1 in the below ground biomass and 

24.71 t C ha−1 in the soils. This amount of carbon storage is much more promising than the carbon 

storage of many other tree species considered in the CDM projects. These findings demonstrate the 

potential of B. vulgaris to be considered in CDM projects as a plantation species and thereby mitigate 
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63

climate change impact more efficiently.” Md. Shawkat Islam Sohel, Mohammed Alamgir, Sayma 

Akhter, and Mizanur Rahman, Land Use Policy. (Subscription may be required.)

“Carbon storage and nutrient mobilization from soil minerals by deep roots and rhizospheres.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Roots mobilize nutrients via deep soil penetration and 

rhizosphere processes inducing weathering of primary minerals. These processes contribute to C 

transfer to soils and to tree nutrition. Assessments of these characteristics and processes of root 

systems are important for understanding long-term supplies of nutrient elements essential for forest 

growth and resilience. Research and techniques have significantly advanced since Olof Tamm’s 1934 

‘base mineral index’ for Swedish forest soils, and the basic nutrient budget estimates for whole-tree 

harvesting systems of the 1970s. Recent research in areas that include some of the world’s most 

productive and intensively managed forests, including Brazil and the USA, has shown that root systems 

are often several meters in depth, and often extend deeper than soil is sampled. Large amounts of 

carbon are also sometimes stored at depth. Other recent studies on potential release of nutrients due to 

chemical weathering indicate the importance of root access to deep soil layers. Nutrient release profiles 

clearly indicate depletion in the top layers and a much higher potential in B and C horizons. Reviewing 

potential sustainability of nutrient supplies for biomass harvesting and other intensive forest management 

systems will advance understanding of these important ecosystem properties, processes and services 

relevant for management.” Ingeborg Callesen, Robert Harrison, Inge Stupak, Jeff Hatten, Karsten 

Raulund-Rasmussen, James Boyle, Nicholas Clarke, and Darlene Zabowski, Forest Ecology and 

Management. (Subscription may be required.)

May 2016

“Global zero emissions scenarios: The role of biomass energy with carbon capture and storage 

by forested land use.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] investigate the 

prospects of three zero-emission scenarios for achieving the target of limiting global mean temperature 

rise to 2°C or below, and compare them with the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario involving no climate 

policy intervention. The ‘2100 zero’ emissions scenario requires zero emissions after 2100 until 2150. 

The ‘350 ppm zero’ emissions scenario entails zero emissions in the latter half of this century, which can 

be achieved by the cumulative emissions constraints of the Wigley–Richels–Edmonds (WRE) 350 from 

2010 to 2150. Finally, the ‘net zero’ scenario requires zero cumulative emissions from 2010 to 2150, 

allowing positive emissions over the coming several decades that would be balanced-out by negative 

emissions in the latter half of the century. The role of biomass energy carbon capture and storage 

(BECCS) with forested land is also assessed with these scenarios. The results indicate that the 2°C 

target can be achieved in the ‘net zero’ scenario, while the ‘350 ppm zero’ scenario would result in a 

temperature rise of 2.4°C. The ‘2100 zero’ scenario achieved a 4.1°C increase, while the BAU reached 

about 5.2°C. BECCS contributed to achieving zero-emission requirements while providing a limited 

contribution to energy supply. The findings indicate substantial future challenges for the management of 

forested land.” Koji Tokimatsu, Rieko Yasuoka, and Masahiro Nishio, Applied Energy. (Subscription 

may be required.)

“Long-term effects of crop rotation, manure and mineral fertilization on carbon [storage] and soil 

fertility.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Carbon [storage], recently advocated to mitigate 

climate change, needs a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC), whose study 

requires long-term experiments. A field trial started in 1967 is still in progress in the Southeast Po valley 

(Italy). It compares a [nine]-year rotation (corn–wheat–corn–wheat–corn–wheat–alfalfa–alfalfa–alfalfa), 

two [two]-year successions (corn–wheat and sugarbeet–wheat), continuous corn and continuous wheat. 

During the first 18 years (up to 1984) wheat crops were always followed by catch crops of silage corn. 

Within each rotation, three rates of cattle manure have been factorially combined with three mineral NP 

rates. In 1984 the highest manure application was stopped. Wheat straw and corn stalks have always 

been removed from the field. Since 1972 up to now every year [the authors] have determined the organic 

C and total N contents in soil samples collected from 0.40-m depth. During the first 18 years (in the 
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64

presence of the catch crop) SOC exponentially declined, probably as a consequence of the 

intensification of tillage depth and crop succession with respect to the previous conventional agriculture. 

The intensification regarded ploughing, which became deeper, the number of cropped species that in 

most treatments was reduced, and mineral N application, which, on average, increased. The drop was 

faster in the sugarbeet–wheat succession than in the [nine]-yr rotation and continuous wheat. After 1985, 

without the catch crop, SOC linearly increased, faster in the [nine]-yr rotation and continuous wheat than 

in sugarbeet–wheat. The results can be ascribed to the amount and C/N ratio of debris remaining in the 

field after each crop, even after having taken away wheat straw and corn stalks. The debris consisted of 

sugarbeet tops, with a low C/N ratio, and of roots and basal culms of the two cereal crops with higher 

C/N ratio. Mineral fertilizers significantly increased SOC, probably for the greater amount of cereal roots 

and sugarbeet tops in more fertilized plots. The influence of manure was less intense, but its benefits 

lasted longer than 18 years after its interruption. Soil N content was more related to accumulated organic 

matter than to mineral N fertilisation. In conclusion the highest C [storage] was obtained with manure 

addition, with the highest rate of mineral fertilizers, and in the rotation containing the alfalfa ley. The 

effects of these factors were not additive.” Loretta Triberti, Anna Nastri, and Guido Baldoni, European 

Journal of Agronomy. (Subscription may be required.)

June 2016

“Carbon [storage] potential of second-growth forest regeneration in the Latin American tropics.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Regrowth of tropical secondary forests following complete or 

nearly complete removal of forest vegetation actively stores carbon in aboveground biomass, partially 

counterbalancing carbon emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, burning of fossil fuels, and 

other anthropogenic sources. [The authors] estimate the age and spatial extent of lowland secondgrowth forests in the Latin American tropics and model their potential aboveground carbon accumulation 

over four decades. [The authors’] model shows that, in 2008, second-growth forests (1 to 60 years old) 

covered 2.4 million km2 of land (28.1 [percent] of the total study area). Over 40 years, these lands can 

potentially accumulate a total aboveground carbon stock of 8.48 Pg C (petagrams of carbon) in 

aboveground biomass via low-cost natural regeneration or assisted regeneration, corresponding to a 

total CO2 [storage] of 31.09 Pg CO2. This total is equivalent to carbon emissions from fossil fuel use and 

industrial processes in all of Latin America and the Caribbean from 1993 to 2014. Ten countries account 

for 95 [percent] of this carbon storage potential, led by Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. [The 

authors] model future land-use scenarios to guide national carbon mitigation policies. Permitting natural 

regeneration on 40 [percent] of lowland pastures potentially stores an additional 2.0 Pg C over 40 years. 

[The authors’] study provides information and maps to guide national-level forest-based carbon mitigation 

plans on the basis of estimated rates of natural regeneration and pasture abandonment. Coupled with 

avoided deforestation and sustainable forest management, natural regeneration of second-growth 

forests provides a low-cost mechanism that yields a high carbon [storage] potential with multiple benefits 

for biodiversity and ecosystem services.” Robin L. Chazdon, et al., Science Advances. (Subscription 

may be required.)

“CO2 emission and structural characteristics of two calcareous soils amended with municipal 

solid waste and plant residue.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “This investigation 

examines the effect of different amendments on selected soil physical and biological properties over a 

24-month period in two cropland fields. Urban municipal solid waste (MSW) compost and alfalfa residue 

(AR) were used as different organic amendments at the rates of 0 (control), 10 and 30 Mg ha−1 to a clay 

loam soil and a loamy sand soil in a semiarid region. Results showed that the soil improvement was 

controlled by the application rate and decomposability of amendments and soil type. The addition of 

organic amendments to the soils improved aggregate stability and consequently enhanced total porosity, 

especially macropore fraction. The increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and total porosity values as 

compared to the control treatment were greater in the loamy sand soil than in the clay loam soil. 

Moreover, compared to the microbial respiration of control plots, the application of MSW resulted in 

higher values of microbial respiration in the clay loam soil than in the loamy sand soil, whereas the 
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65

reverse was found for AR. Linear and power functions were provided for the relationships between 

microbial respiration and SOC in the loamy sand and clay loam soils, respectively. Also, CO2 emission 

was stimulated significantly as power functions of the total porosity and the ratio of macroporosity to 

microporosity. However, the soil microbial respiration and carbon storage improved aggregate stability 

and pore size distribution, and as a response, soil porosity, especially the macropore fraction, controlled 

CO2 flux.” N. Yazdanpanah, Solid Earth. (Subscription may be required.)

“Carbon [Storage] and Carbon Markets for Tree-Based Intercropping Systems in Southern 

Québec, Canada.” The following is from the Abstract of this article: “Since agriculture directly 

contributes to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, integrating trees into agricultural 

landscapes through agroforestry systems is a viable adaptive strategy for climate change mitigation. The 

objective of this study was to evaluate the carbon (C) [storage] and financial benefits of C [storage] 

according to Québec’s Cap-and-Trade System for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowances (C & T 

System) or two experimental 10-year-old tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems in southern Québec, 

Canada. [The authors] estimated total C stored in the two TBI systems with hybrid poplar and hardwoods 

and adjacent non-TBI systems under agricultural production, considering soil, crop and crop roots, 

litterfall, tree and tree roots as C stocks. The C [storage] of the TBI and adjacent non-TBI systems were 

compared and the market value of the C payment was evaluated using the net present value (NPV) 

approach. The TBI systems had 33 [percent] to 36 [percent] more C storage than adjacent non-TBI 

systems. The financial benefits of C [storage] after 10 years of TBI practices amounted to of [$1,763.88-

$2,153.51] ha−1 and [$1,224.33–$1,493.71] ha−1 for St. Edouard and St. Paulin sites, respectively. [The 

authors] conclude that valorizing the C [storage] of TBI systems could be an incentive to promote the 

establishment of TBI for the purpose of GHG mitigation in Québec, Canada.” Kiara S. Winans, Joann K. 

Whalen, David Rivest, Alain Cogliastro, and Robert L. Bradley, Atmosphere. (Subscription may be 

required.)

July 2016

“Researchers to Study How to Reduce Carbon Dioxide in Ranch Soil.” The U.S. Department of 

Agriculture is funding research to reduce GHG emissions emanating from soil. The three-year study will 

also offer the potential for cattle ranchers to receive credit for storing CO2. Scientists from the University 

of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will conduct the research, using lab and field 

studies to investigate how pasture management affects soil microbes, which produce CO2 when they eat 

plant litter and soil organic matter. From ScienceDaily on June 22, 2016.

“Assessing the carbon [storage] potential of poplar and black locust short rotation coppices on 

mine reclamation sites in Eastern Germany – Model development and application.” The following 

is the Abstract of this article: “In the temperate zone short rotation coppice systems for the production of 

woody biomass (SRC) have gained great interest as they offer a pathway to both sustainable bioenergy 

production and the potential [storage] of CO2 within the biomass and the soil. This study used the carbon 

model SHORTCAR to assess the carbon cycle of a poplar (Populus suaveolens Fisch. x Populus 

trichocarpa Torr. et Gray cv. Androscoggin) and a black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) SRC. The 

model was calibrated using data from established SRC plantations on reclaimed mine sites in northeast 

Germany and validated through the determination of uncertainty ranges of selected model parameters 

and a sensitivity analysis. In addition to a ‘reference scenario’, representing the actual site conditions, 

[seven] hypothetical scenarios, which varied in climate conditions, rotation intervals, runtimes, and initial 

soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, were defined for each species. Estimates of carbon accumulation 

within the biomass, the litter layer, and the soil were compared to field data and previously published 

results. The model was sensitive to annual stem growth and initial soil organic carbon stocks. In the 

reference scenario net biome production for SRC on reclaimed sites in Lusatia, Germany amounted to 

64.5 Mg C ha−1 for R. pseudoacacia and 8.9 Mg C ha−1 for poplar, over a period of 36 years. These 

results suggest a considerable potential of SRC for carbon [storage] at least on marginal sites.” A. 
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66

Quinkenstein and H. Jochheim, Journal of Environmental Management. (Subscription may be 

required.)

August 2016

“Spatio-Temporal Variation and Impact Factors for Vegetation Carbon Sequestration and Oxygen 

Production Based on Rocky Desertification Control in the Karst Region of Southwest China.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “The Grain to Green Program (GTGP) and eco-environmental 

emigration have been employed to alleviate poverty and control rocky desertification in the Southwest 

China Karst region. Carbon [storage] and oxygen production (CSOP) is used to indicate major ecological 

changes, because they involve complex processes of material circulation and energy flow. Using remote 

sensing images and weather records, the spatiotemporal variation of CSOP was analyzed in a typical 

karst region of northwest Guangxi, China, during 2000–2010 to determine the effects of the Chinese 

government’s ecological rehabilitation initiatives implemented in 1999. An increase with substantial 

annual change and a significant increase (20.94 [percent], p < 0.05) in variation were found from 2000 to 

2010. CSOP had a highly clustered distribution in 2010 and was correlated with precipitation and 

temperature (9.18 [percent] and 8.96 [percent], respectively, p < 0.05). CSOP was significantly 

suppressed by human activities (p < 0.01, r = −0.102) but was consistent with the intensity of GTGP 

(43.80 [percent] positive). The power spectrum of CSOP was consistent with that of the gross domestic 

product. These results indicate that ecological services were improved by rocky desertification control in 

a typical karst region. The results may provide information to evaluate the efficiency of ecological 

reconstruction projects.” Mingyang Zhang, Kelin Wang, Huiyu Liu, Jing Wang, Chunhua Zhang, 

Yuemin Yue, and Xiangkun Qi, Remote Sensing. (Subscription may be required.)

September 2016

The Terrestrial section was removed from the Carbon Storage Newsletter in September 2016. 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Trading (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

67

Trading

September 2015

“Trading Program Linked to Significant Emissions Reductions.” According to a new study, the 

RGGI emissions trading program in the northeastern United States that limits CO2 emissions is

responsible for approximately half of the region’s emissions reductions. The study, led by Duke 

University and published online in the journal “Energy Economics,” examined how RGGI performed once 

it was introduced in 2009 through 2012. The researchers then used various data from the 48 continental 

U.S. states from 1990 onward, allowing them to separate emissions reduction factors in RGGI states 

after the program went into effect from factors that affected emissions in other states and time periods.

The study found that RGGI was responsible for the largest emissions drop. The Abstract of the study, 

titled “Why Have Greenhouse Gas Emissions in RGGI States Declined? An Econometric Attribution to 

Economic, Energy Market, and Policy Factors,” is available below. From The Nicholas Institute for 

Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University on August 21, 2015.

“Why Have Greenhouse Emissions in RGGI States Declined? An Econometric Attribution to 

Economic, Energy Market, and Policy Factors.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “RGGI is a 

consortium of northeastern U.S. states that limit [CO2] emissions from electricity generation through a 

regional emissions trading program. Since RGGI started in 2009, regional emissions have sharply 

dropped. [The authors] use econometric models to quantify the emissions reductions due to RGGI and 

those due to other factors such as the recession, complementary environmental programs and lowered 

natural gas prices. The analysis shows that after the introduction of RGGI in 2009 the region’s emissions 

would have been 24 percent higher without the program, accounting for about half of the region’s 

emissions reductions during that time, which were far greater than those achieved in the rest of the 

United States.” Brian C. Murray and Peter T. Maniloff, Energy Economics. (Subscription may be 

required.)

“China Hubei Carbon Market Reports 100 [Percent] Compliance Rate.” All 138 companies obligated 

to reduce their CO2 emissions under the first year of Hubei’s carbon market complied in full. According to 

the China Hubei Emissions Exchange, participants reduced their CO2 emissions by 7.8 million metric 

tons during the trading year. China’s three-year pilot trading phase is set to expire in mid-2016; however, 

work is ongoing on preparing unified trading rules for the launch of a nationwide scheme (under the 

current phase, China’s seven pilot carbon markets operate independently). From Economic Times on 

August 21, 2015.

“China’s carbon-emissions trading: Overview, challenges and future.” The following is the Abstract 

of this article: “Because China has emerged as the largest GHG emitter in total annual emissions, to 

accelerate the pace of GHG emission reduction in China is important to the success of global efforts in 

addressing climate change. Carbon trading is a market mechanism and key instrument in the mitigation 

of climate change. This paper explores the policy process and development state to date of China’s 

carbon-trade market to understand the emergence and development of that market and to understand 

what barriers are hampering China’s carbon-trade market development. To achieve this goal, this paper 

introduces and analyzes China’s status in the international market, examines the factors driving carbonmarket launching by the Chinese government, and traces the development of mandatory carbonemission trading and voluntary emission trading. It is argued that China’s carbon-trading market is 

confronted with challenges such as the absence of a functional carbon-trading market, inaccuracy of the 

quota allocation, an imperfect trading mechanism, and lagging legislation. At the present stage, 

shortcomings such as having no real-time carbon price and dominated spot transactions differentiate 

China’s trade market substantially from a functional system. A quick market integration of China’s carbon 

market appears remote. It is suggested that specific measures be taken to promote the development of 
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68

the Chinese carbon-trading market.” Liwei Liu, Chuxiang Chen, Yufei Zhao, and Erdong Zhao, 

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

October 2015

“CO2 Allowances Sold for $6.02 in 29th RGGI Auction.” The states participating in the Regional 

Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced that 25,374,294 CO2 allowances sold in their 29th auction 

of CO2 allowances were sold at a clearing price of $6.02. The total allowances sold included both the 

initial offering of 15,374,294 CO2 allowances, as well as the 10 million additional Cost Containment 

Reserve (CCR) allowances. The CCR is a fixed supply of 10 million allowances only available for sale if 

CO2 allowance prices exceed certain price levels; there are no more CCR allowances available for 2015 

(the CCR will be replenished in 2016). In addition, the Auction Notice and application materials for the 

30th quarterly auction, to be held on December 2, 2015, were released. The Auction Notice for CO2

Allowance Auction 30 provides the information needed to submit a Qualification Application and indicate 

intent to bid. The RGGI states will offer 15,374,274 CO2 allowances for sale using a reserve price of 

$2.05. This will be the last quarterly auction in which states will offer CO2 allowances for purchase to 

meet CO2 interim compliance obligations for the 2015 interim control period, which began on January 1, 

2015. To date, RGGI CO2 allowance auctions have generated a total of more than $2.2 billion for 

reinvestment in strategic programs, such as GHG abatement and renewable energy programs. From 

RGGI on September 11, 2015, and October 5, 2015.

November 2015

“Government to Raise $22 Billion from Carbon Pricing in 2015: Report.” According to a new report 

from the Climate Markets and Investment Association (CMIA), carbon pricing schemes, such as taxes 

and emissions trading systems (ETS), will generate approximately $22 billion for their governments. The 

figure is up 46 percent from the estimated $15 billion raised in 2014, according to CMIA. The report, titled 

“Carbon Pricing Revenues,” is available on the CMIA website. From Reuters on October 28, 2015.

“[Vietnam] Approves Plan for $3.6M Carbon Market.” Vietnam has approved a project to create a 

carbon market. Funded by the World Bank and Vietnamese government, the project would help to set up 

a database of GHG emissions throughout the country; issue policies and state management tools related 

to the carbon market; implement the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) to create carbon 

credits; and assist Vietnam in building a roadmap to participate in the global carbon market. From 

Vietnam News on October 28, 2015.

“Carbon emissions and stock returns: Evidence from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “This paper provides an empirical investigation of the effect of the 

European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme on German stock returns. [The authors] find that, during 

the first few years of the scheme, firms that received free carbon emission allowances on average 

significantly outperformed firms that did not. This suggests the presence of a large and statistically 

significant ‘carbon premium,’ which is mainly explained by the higher cash flows due to the free allocation 

of carbon emission allowances. A carbon risk factor can also explain part of the cross-sectional variation 

of stock returns as firms with high carbon emissions have higher exposure to carbon risk and exhibit 

higher expected returns.” A. Marcel Oestreich and Ilias Tsiakas, Journal of Banking & Finance. 

(Subscription may be required.)

December 2015

“First California Cap-and-Trade Compliance Period Ends with 99 Percent Compliance.” The 

California Air Resources Board announced a 99 percent compliance rate for the first compliance period 

of the state’s cap-and-trade program. The program was initiated under the California Global Warming 
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69

Solutions Act of 2009 (AB 32), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions back to 1990 

levels by 2020. From California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resource Board News Release on 

November 4, 2015.

“World Bank Launches $500 [Million] Carbon Market Scheme.” The World Bank, with pledges from 

Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, has launched a $500 million carbon market scheme 

designed to help developing countries pay for CO2 emission reductions and address potential climate 

change. According to the bank, the scheme will reward countries for reducing emissions by paying a fee 

for each ton of CO2 reduced. The price-per-ton paid to the countries will be set on a case-by-case basis. 

From Reuters on November 30, 2015.

“China to Start Nationwide Emissions Trading Market in 2017.” Following the successful operation 

of seven pilot-scale schemes across the country, Chinese officials announced intentions to start a 

nationwide CO2 emissions trading market in 2017. According to China’s INDCs, the country is looking to 

cut CO2 emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 60 to 65 percent from the 2005 level by 

2030. From Xinhua News on November 19, 2015.

“Modeling the impacts of alternative emission trading schemes on international shipping.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “Various market-based measures have been proposed to reduce 

CO2 emissions from international shipping. One promising mechanism under consideration is the 

Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). This study analyzes and benchmarks the economic implications of two 

alternative ETS mechanisms, namely, an open ETS compared to a Maritime only ETS (METS). The 

analytical solutions and model calibration results allow [the authors] to quantify the impacts of alternative 

ETS schemes on the container shipping sector and the dry bulk shipping sector. It is found that an ETS, 

whether open or maritime only, will decrease shipping speed, carrier outputs and fuel consumption for 

both the container and dry bulk sectors, even in the presence of a ‘wind-fall’ profit to shipping companies. 

Under an open ETS, the dry bulk sector will suffer from a higher proportional reduction in output than the 

container sector, and will thus sell more emission permits or purchase fewer permits. Under an METS, 

container carriers will buy emission permits from the dry bulk side. In addition, under an METS the 

degree of competition within one sector will have spill-over effects on the other sector. Specifically, when 

the sector that sells (buys) permits is more collusive (competitive), the equilibrium permit price will rise. 

This study provides a framework for identifying the moderating effects of market structure and 

competition between firms on emission reduction schemes, and emphasizes the importance of 

understanding the differential impacts of ETS schemes on individual sectors within an industry when 

considering alternative policies.” Kun Wang, Xiaowen Fu, and Meifeng Luo, Transportation Research 

Part A: Policy and Practice. (Subscription may be required.)

January 2016

“China Sets CO2 Reporting Standards Ahead of Market Launch.” As part of their plan to launch a 

national carbon market by 2017, China has issued national standards for industrial firms to report their 

GHG emissions. Issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the standards 

will enable China to create a statistical system for GHG emissions and support the establishment of a 

national carbon trading scheme. The reporting rules cover 10 industries, including power generation and 

grids. By approximately 2030, China has pledged to reduce its carbon intensity from the 2005 level. From 

The Business Times on December 23, 2015.

“S. Korea, China Agree to Expand Cooperation in Carbon Trading.” Seoul’s carbon trading market 

operator announced plans for South Korea and China to expand their cooperation on emissions trading, 

including joint efforts to link their carbon trading markets. Under the Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) signed by the Korea Exchange (KRX) and the China Beijing Environment Exchange (CBEEX), 

the sides will exchange market information and share their experiences. The KRX launched their carbon 
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70

trading system in 2015; China, which currently has seven operators of regional carbon trading markets, 

plans to launch their nationwide scheme in 2017. From Yonhap News on December 21, 2015. 

February 2016

“Beijing Carbon Market to Extend Pilot Trading.” Beijing’s carbon market will continue to trade local

CO2 permits after their three-year pilot phase expires in June 2016, according to a statement released by 

the Beijing market regulator. In addition, the Beijing Development and Reform Commission has 

submitted plans to convert local permits into ones tradable on the nationwide exchange. To date, Beijing 

has traded approximately 5.7 million permits. From Reuters on January 27, 2016.

“EU and Switzerland Set to Link Carbon Markets...” The European Union (EU) and Switzerland

announced plans to link their respective emissions trading schemes, allowing covered entities in both 

systems to trade emissions permits. The Swiss scheme was set up in 2008, includes approximately 55 

companies, and covered 5.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions in 2015. EU’s Emission Trading 

Scheme (ETS) was initiated in 2005 and regulates approximately 11,000 power stations and 

manufacturing plants representing approximately 2 billion metric tons of carbon emissions. From 

International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development on January 26, 2016.

“Adjusting the CO2 cap to subsidized RES generation: Can CO2 prices be decoupled from 

renewable policy?” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The low prices in the EU ETS have 

triggered discussions of various possible reforms. One option is to decouple the CO2 prices from 

renewable energy policy by adjusting the emission cap to renewable energy investment overshoots. [The 

authors] introduce two ways of reducing the CO2 cap in response to overshoots of renewable policy 

investment over previously announced targets. [The authors] investigate these options with the agentbased model EMLab-generation. [The authors] find that both policy implementations are successful in 

restoring prices. They also ensure that making public investments that exceed policy targets contribute to 

carbon emission reduction, and that renewable policy does not benefit the most emission-intensive 

power plants. However, neither policy is suitable for achieving [specific] levels of prices or price volatility.” 

Jörn C. Richstein, Émile J.L. Chappin, and Laurens J. de Vries, Applied Energy. (Subscription may 

be required.)

March 2016

“[Ontario Releases Draft Cap-and-Trade Regulations].” The Ontario government proposed annual

emissions cuts of more than four percent for its cap-and-trade system in recently released draft 

regulations. Amendments to the regulations, which will undergo a period of public consultation, will allow 

for Ontario’s program to be connected to the cap-and-trade programs in California and Québec (once a 

linking deal has been agreed upon). The draft proposed to cap CO2 emissions for included sectors at 

142.332 million metric tons in 2017, when the scheme starts, falling more than four percent per year to 

124.668 million metric tons in 2020. From Carbon Pulse on February 26, 2016.

“Guangdong Becomes China’s First Carbon Market to Green-Light OTC Forward Trading.” The

Guangdong emissions exchange became China’s first carbon market to release rules for forward trading 

in carbon. Under the rules, published in a bid to formalize the practice, parties may negotiate forward 

trades of Guangdong Emissions Allowances (GDAs) and Chinese Certified Emissions Reductions 

(CCERs). From Carbon Pulse on February 3, 2016.

“An optimal control model for reducing and trading of carbon emissions.” The following is the

Abstract of this article: “A stochastic optimal control model of reducing and trading for carbon emissions 

is established in this paper. With considerations of reducing the carbon emission growth and the price of 

the allowances in the market, an optimal policy is searched to have the minimum total costs to achieve 
Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Trading (Sep 2015 – Sep 2016)

71

the agreement of emission reduction targets. The model turns to a two-dimension HJB equation problem. 

By the methods of reducing dimension and Cole–Hopf transformation, a semi-closed form solution of the 

corresponding HJB problem under some assumptions is obtained. For more general cases, the 

numerical calculations, analysis and comparisons are presented.” Huaying Guo and Jin Liang, Physica 

A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications. (Subscription may be required.)

April 2016

“[Results of 31st RGGI Auction Announced].” The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse

Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced the results of the 31st auction of CO2 allowances. A total of 14,838,732 

CO2 allowances were sold at a clearing price of $5.25. None of the 10 million cost containment reserve 

(CCR) allowances, a fixed additional supply of allowances that are only available for sale if CO2

allowance prices exceed certain price levels, were sold. The auction generated $77.9 million for 

reinvestment in strategic programs; to date, cumulative proceeds from all RGGI auctions exceeds $2.4 

billion. More information is available in the Market Monitor Report for Auction 31. In addition, the RGGI 

states also released the Auction Notice and application materials for their 32nd auction to be held June 1, 

2016, in which 15,089,652 CO2 allowances will be offered for sale at a reserve price of $2.10. The notice 

and materials provide potential auction participants with the information needed to submit a Qualification 

Application indicating their intent to bid. More information on CO2 Allowance Auction 32 is available on 

the RGGI website. From RGGI News Release on March 11, 2016.

“Role of carbon swap trading and energy prices in price correlations and volatilities between 

carbon markets.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “The present paper theoretically and 

empirically examines the role of carbon swap trading and energy prices in volatilities and price 

correlations between the [European Union (EU)] and Kyoto Protocol emissions trading schemes. A 

supply and demand based correlation model between [EU allowance (EUA)] and [secondary certified 

emissions reduction (sCER)] price returns is proposed in detail using inverse Box–Cox type marginal 

abatement cost (MAC) curves and simple emission reduction volume processes. The model includes 

financial players' EUA–sCER swap transaction in boom periods of carbon prices using the logit model for 

EUA and EUA–sCER swap volume correlations, and stronger energy price impacts on EUA prices than 

sCER prices using a mean-reverting lognormal process for energy prices. The empirical studies using 

EUA and sCER prices estimate the model parameters, resulting in a positive EUA volume impact on 

EUA–sCER swap transactions and a positive energy price impact on EUA prices. It is shown that high 

EUA–sCER price correlations during high EUA price periods stemmed from EUA–sCER swap 

transactions, whereas high EUA–sCER price correlations during the period of financial turmoil with low 

EUA prices came from the drop in energy prices. [The authors] also show that the leverage effects often 

observed in security markets exist in both the EUA and sCER markets according to the price–volatility 

relation.” Takashi Kanamura, Energy Economics. (Subscription may be required.)

May 2016

“Washington State Readies Revised CO2 Market Plan.” Washington State plans to unveil a revised 

CO2 market plan that could potentially limit out-of-state carbon credits and set new targets for industry. 

Once the plan is announced, the Washington State Department of Ecology will open a consultation and 

host webinars before adopting the measure. The revised scheme is designed to aid the state in reducing 

its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in half from 1990 levels by 2050. From Carbon Pulse on April 28, 

2016.

“How to improve the market efficiency of carbon trading: A perspective of China.” The following is 

the Abstract of this article: “Emissions trading scheme (ETS) is one of the effective measures to realize 

energy conservation and emission reduction. In order to set up a nationwide carbon emissions trading 

mechanism, seven ETS pilots have been launched in China. Firstly, based on empirical investigation and 
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72

research of seven pilots, this paper analyzed the market efficiency of ETS pilots from four aspects: 

carbon price, trading volume, market liquidity, and information transparency. The result showed that the 

market efficiency of ETS pilots is not satisfactory in spite of the fact that system designs of ETS have 

achieved preliminary result. Then, the reason for low market efficiency of ETS pilots was discussed from 

some factors such as institutional arrangements, market participants, the supply and demand, etc. 

Finally, this paper puts forward some policy suggestions to improve the market efficiency of China’s 

carbon trading market.” Xin-gang Zhao, Gui-wu Jiang, Dan Nie, and Hao Chen, Renewable and

Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

June 2016

“CO2 Allowances Sold for $4.53 in 32nd RGGI Auction.” The nine states participating in RGGI, the 

Nation’s first market-based regulatory program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, released 

results of their 32nd auction of CO2 allowances. A total of 15,089,652 CO2 allowances were sold at a 

clearing price of $4.53, with bids ranging from $2.10 to $12.65 per allowance. None of the 10 million cost 

containment reserve (CCR) allowances available were sold (CCR is a fixed additional supply of 

allowances only made available if allowance prices exceed certain levels). More information on Auction 

32, which generated a total of $68.3 million for reinvestment in strategic programs, such as energy 

efficiency and GHG abatement programs, is available in the “Market Monitor Report for Auction 32.” 

From RGGI News Release on June 3, 2016.

July 2016

“S. Korea, EU Join Hands to Promote Emissions Trading System.” South Korea and the European 

Union (EU) announced bilateral cooperation on potential climate change with the Seoul-Brussels joint 

emissions trading system cooperation project. According to Seoul’s finance ministry, the cooperation with 

EU’s cap-and-trade system will help South Korea further develop its emissions trading system (ETS) and 

reach its plan to reduce GHG emissions by 37 percent from the 2030 business-as-usual levels. From 

Yonhap News Agency on July 8, 2016.

“An optimal control model for reducing and trading of carbon emissions.” The following is the 

Abstract of this article: “A stochastic optimal control model of reducing and trading for carbon emissions 

is established in this paper. With considerations of reducing the carbon emission growth and the price of 

the allowances in the market, an optimal policy is searched to have the minimum total costs to achieve 

the agreement of emission reduction targets. The model turns to a two-dimension HJB equation problem. 

By the methods of reducing dimension and Cole–Hopf transformation, a semi-closed form solution of the 

corresponding HJB problem under some assumptions is obtained. For more general cases, the 

numerical calculations, analysis and comparisons are presented.” Huaying Guo and Jin Liang, Physica 

A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications. (Subscription may be required.)

“The effects of allowance price on energy demand under a personal carbon trading scheme.” The 

following is the Abstract of this article: “Personal carbon trading (PCT) is a downstream cap-and-trade 

scheme which could be used to reduce carbon emissions from the household sector. To explore the 

effectiveness of this scheme, it is necessary to investigate how consumers respond to allowance price 

change. In this paper, a general utility optimization (GUO) model and a constant elasticity of substitution 

(CES) utility function are proposed to examine the price, substitution and income effects of carbon 

allowance price changes. It is shown that higher income consumers are more sensitive to the allowance 

price changes than lower income consumers. Moreover, the short-run adjustment in consumers’ 

consumption of electricity in response to a change in allowance price would be lower than the long-run 

value. According to the sensitivity analysis, downward (upward) adjustments in the elasticity of 

substitution result in a positive (negative) effect on price effect. The findings in this study are used to 
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73

draw policy implications. Suggestions for future research are also provided.” Jin Fan, Jun Li, Yanrui 

Wu, Shanyong Wang, and Dingtao Zhao, Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

August 2016

“[RGGI States Initiate Auction Process for Auction 33].” The states participating in the Regional 

Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) released the Auction Notice and application materials for their thirdparty quarterly CO2 allowance auction. The CO2 Allowance Auction 33 Auction Notice provides potential 

auction participants with the information needed to submit a Qualification Application and indicate their 

intent to bid. Auction 33, scheduled for September 7, 2016, will offer 14,911,315 CO2 allowances for sale 

at a reserve price of $2.10. In addition, a 10 million CO2 allowance cost containment reserve (CCR) is 

available for this auction, which will be accessed if the interim clearing price exceeds the CCR trigger 

price of $8.00. From Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on July 11, 2016.

“Limited trading of emissions permits as a climate cooperation mechanism? US–China and EU–

China examples.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “Recent multilateral climate negotiations 

have underlined the importance of international cooperation and the need for support from developed to 

developing countries to address climate change. This raises the question of whether carbon market 

linkages could be used as a cooperation mechanism. Policy discussions surrounding such linkages have 

indicated that, should they operate, a limit would be set on the amount of carbon permits that could be 

imported by developed regions from developing countries. This paper analyzes the impact of limited 

carbon trading between an ETS in the EU or the US and a carbon market covering Chinese electricity 

and energy intensive sectors using a global economy-wide model. [The authors] find that the limit results 

in different carbon prices between China and Europe or the US. Although the impact on low-carbon 

technologies in China is moderate, global emission reductions are deeper than in the absence of 

international trading due to reduced carbon [release]. If China captures the rents associated with limited 

permit trading, [the authors] show that it is possible to find a limit threshold that makes both regions 

better off relative to carbon markets operating in isolation.” Claire Gavard, Niven Winchester, and 

Sergey Paltsev, Energy Economics. (Subscription may be required.)

September 2016

“Mexico Announces Launch of Cap-and-Trade Pilot Program.” Mexican officials announced the 

launch of a cap-and-trade simulation program as a test run for a national carbon market expected to 

launch in 2018. The pilot program, which will commence in November 2016, will provide up to 60 

voluntary companies the opportunity to adapt to a forthcoming carbon credit system. As part of the Paris 

climate agreement, Mexico expects to implement measures to reduce GHG emissions by 22 percent by 

2030. From Reuters on August 15, 2016.

“CO2 Allowances Sold for $4.54 in 33rd RGGI Auction.” The Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states 

participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced the results of their 33rd

auction, in which 14,911,315 CO2 allowances were sold at a clearing price of $4.54. None of the 10 

million cost containment reserve (CCR) allowances available were sold; the CCR is a fixed additional 

supply of allowances offered only if CO2 allowance prices exceed certain price levels ($8.00 in 2016). 

The third auction of 2016, Auction 33 generated $67.7 million for reinvestment in strategic programs, 

such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and GHG abatement. To date, total proceeds from all 

RGGI CO2 allowance auctions exceeds $2.58 billion. From RGGI News Release on September 9, 2016.

“The impact of verified emissions announcements on the European Union emissions trading 

scheme: A bilaterally modified dummy variable modelling analysis.” The following is the Abstract of 

this article: “Carbon trading scheme is easily subject to the shocks from vital information announcements 

or regulations modification due to its vulnerability as a man-made market. This paper investigates the 
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74

impact of verified emissions announcements, which are released annually by the European Commission 

and span three phases (2006–2013), on carbon price returns and volatility in the European Union 

emissions trading scheme (EU ETS), by constructing econometric model with bilaterally modified dummy 

variables of high adaptability. The results show that on average, verified emissions announcements have 

significant impact on carbon expected returns but show a week effect on price volatility; the separate 

examination for each announcement event indicates heterogeneous ex-ante and ex-post impacts over 

time in different market contexts, but the ex-post impact dominates obviously. The verified emissions 

announcement remarkably causes shocks to the market and the risk of prior information leakage 

although it facilitates the price discovery. Meanwhile, there is an obvious asymmetry between ex-ante 

and ex-post impacts that is triggered by market characteristics, and it generally takes more than seven 

days to absorb the ex-post impacts due to the intrinsic characteristics of the EU ETS. These findings 

could provide reference for market traders and regulators to make robust allowance management 

strategy and system design.” Jun-Jun Jia, Jin-Hua Xu, and Ying Fan, Applied Energy. (Subscription 

may be required.)
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75

Recent Publications

September 2015

“CCS Deployment in the Context of Regional Developments in Meeting Long-Term Climate 

Change Objectives.” The following is from the Executive Summary of this document: “According to the 

most recent assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), without additional 

efforts to reduce emissions, global mean surface temperatures are likely to increase between 3.7 and 

4.8°C by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. Scenarios that keep the atmospheric concentration of 

CO2 to around 450 ppm by 2100 (66 percent chance) are consistent with holding a rise in global 

temperatures to below 2°C – the long-term goal of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 

Change (UNFCCC). Such scenarios involve deep cuts in GHG emissions over the coming decades, 

requiring radical changes to energy systems and a step-change in the uptake of low carbon 

technologies. CCS represents a potentially important technology within a portfolio of abatement options 

available to help achieve the 2°C goal. The technology represents a key mitigation option in most of the 

emission reduction pathways described by the IPCC – as well as in other scenarios of global GHG 

mitigation such as the 2DS (2°C Scenario) developed by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Studies 

also show that both the total investment cost and the cost of emissions reduction are higher for scenarios 

that exclude CCS from the list of mitigation options. As alternative mitigation options are deployed over 

the coming decades, CCS will be increasingly needed to meet climate goals. Current forecasts assume 

fossil-based power generation and industrial output from major emitting sectors such as cement, and iron 

and steel to rise globally, driven by economic growth in emerging economies. CCS is the only technology 

available that can achieve deep cuts in CO2 emissions across fossil-fired power generation and many 

carbon-intensive industries - for example those where there are no realistic alternatives to using fossil

fuels, or to producing CO2 as part of the industrial process. Furthermore, CCS can be deployed with 

other low carbon technologies to achieve significant emissions reductions, including the potential for 

achieving so-called ‘negative emissions’, for example through the use of bioenergy combined with 

carbon capture and storage (BECCS or Bio-CCS). CCS projects are technically feasible at scale and 

have costs that are comparable with other mitigation technologies. A number of industries routinely 

capture and transport CO2 worldwide as part of their commercial activities. In North America for example, 

injection of CO2 into geological formations has successfully taken place over several decades, principally 

for the purposes of EOR. CCS involves integrating the separate components of the CCS chain (capture; 

transport; storage) into projects deployed at scale to move beyond the technical demonstration phase. 

There are currently 22 large-scale CCS projects in operation worldwide, capturing up to 40 million tonnes 

of CO2 per year across a range of sectors.”

“Projected emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases.” The following is the Executive Summary of 

this document: “This report presents the 2015 update to [the U.K.’s Department of Energy and Climate 

Change’s (DECC)] projections of non-CO2 [GHG] emissions for the UK, as well as the methodologies 

used to derive them and the associated uncertainties. The non-CO2 gases are methane (CH4), nitrous 

oxide (N2O) and the fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3). The projections are a best estimate 

of future emissions, accounting for expected technological developments, key drivers such as population 

and known policy commitments. It is important to note that policies affecting these projected emissions 

are still being developed and will be incorporated in future updates. All non-CO2 emissions sources are 

covered, with the exception of some non-CO2 emissions produced as a result of combustion activities. 

These projections feed into DECC’s Energy and Emissions Projections, which cover all UK GHG 

emissions and will be published later in the year. Total non-CO2 GHG emissions within the scope of this 

report were 95.8 million tonnes CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2013, which represented 17 [percent] of all 

GHG emissions. They are projected to reduce to 71.1 MtCO2e in 2035; a projected 26 [percent]

decrease between 2013 and 2035, or a 65 [percent] reduction on 1990 levels... Most of the projected 

reduction in emissions from 2013 to 2035 comes from decreases in CH4 emissions from gas network 

[release], CH4 emissions from landfill and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from refrigeration and air-
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conditioning. Since last year’s projections there have been significant changes to both the emissions

baseline, following the introduction of updated guidelines from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 

Change (IPCC), and also to the projection methodologies used... The 2015 projections start from a

higher baseline, but decrease more rapidly. The most significant changes to emissions projections since 

2014 have been to the agriculture, waste and F-gas projections.”

“Applying carbon capture and storage to a Chinese steel plant.” The following is description of this 

document: “The Global CCS Institute presents a feasibility study report on applying CCS to a steel plant 

in China. Toshiba was commissioned to conduct the study through its business partner Tongfang 

Environment in collaboration with Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel of China. The study examined 

the application of CCS onto the Caofeidian steel plant. The report covers the concept of capturing CO2

from a Chinese steel plant, transportation and potential storage in an oilfield for EOR. The study 

suggests that carbon capture in Chinese steel plants is a cost effective means of reducing carbon 

emissions compared with similar plants around the world. This report is authored by Toshiba for the 

Global CCS Institute.” 

October 2015

“An Executable Plan for enabling CCS in Europe.” The following is from the Executive Summary of 

this document: “Emitting CO2 to the atmosphere is currently much cheaper than storing it safely 

underground. Emitters can pay an ‘ETS wergild’ and are divorced from all the consequences of their

actions, yet if they try to [store] CO2 they risk taking on liability for decades under the CO2 Storage 

Directive. Those factors serve, along with the lack of a near-term business case, to prolong the current 

inertia on CCS in the [European Union (EU)]. Urgent action is now required to deliver CO2 storage 

projects and enabling infrastructure in preparation for commercial deployment. This requires an 

Executable Plan, owned by the European Commission. This note sketches the contours of such a plan, 

describing how the Commission can effectively and rapidly aid wide uptake of CCS in Europe; delivering 

additional CCS projects in power and industry; progressing the development of CCS hubs in Europe; and 

supporting the appraisal of storage capacity required for commercial CCS deployment. The Executable 

Plan has been prepared in response to discussion of the 5 Point Action Plan (ANNEX 1) for CCS [...] It 

draws solely on existing policies and public financing opportunities, with the aim to enable their most 

efficient and effective use. It is designed to feed into the SET Plan preparation and next steps on the 

Energy Union Strategy. The proposed plan builds on [Zero Emissions Platform’s (ZEP’s)] insights into

the principles for development of CCS in Europe, in particular the need to: decouple the capture of CO2

from transport and storage (T&S); develop CCS in phases through (expanding) infrastructure hubs; 

optimize available funding and create mechanisms to [commercialize] CCS; and engage [Member State 

(MS)] though 2050 decarbonisation plans to enable the development of T&S infrastructure.”

“[Optimizing] CO2 storage in geological formations; a case study offshore Scotland.” The 

following is from the Executive Summary of this document: “CCS is considered a key technology to 

provide a secure, low-carbon energy supply and reduce the [GHG] emissions that contribute to the 

adverse effects of climatic change. [Commercialization] projects for the permanent storage of CO2

captured at power plants are currently in the design stage for the Peterhead, White Rose, Caledonia 

Clean Energy and Don Valley projects. Storage of the CO2 captured by these projects is planned in 

strata deep beneath the North Sea in depleted hydrocarbon fields or regionally extensive sandstones 

containing brine (saline [formation] sandstones). The vast majority of the UK and Scotland’s potential 

storage resource, which is of European significance, is within brine-saturated sandstone formations. The 

sandstone formations are each hundreds to thousands of square [kilometers] in extent and underlie all 

sectors of the North Sea. The immense potential to store CO2 in these rocks can only be fully achieved 

by the operation of more than one injection site within each formation. Government, university and 

research institutes, industry, and stakeholder [organizations] have anticipated the need to inform a 

second phase of CCS developments following on from a [commercialization] project in Scotland. The

CO2 MultiStore study, led by SCCS, investigates the operation of more than one injection site within a 
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77

storage formation using a North Sea case study. The Captain Sandstone, within the mature oil and gas 

province offshore Scotland, contains the Goldeneye Field, which is the planned storage site for the 

Peterhead CCS project. Previous research was augmented by data from offshore hydrocarbon 

exploration and detailed investigation of the Goldeneye Field for CO2 storage...”

“CarbonNet storage site selection and certification: challenges and successes.” The following is 

from the Abstract of this document: “The CarbonNet Project is seeking CO2 storage sites in the 

nearshore area of the Gippsland Basin that provide permanent and safe storage for 25 to 125 Mt of CO2. 

The process used by CarbonNet for site selection follows international best practice, aligned to DNV GL 

Recommended Practice (DNV-RP-J203) to provide decision makers and stakeholders with independent 

expert assurance of environmentally safe, long-term [geologic] storage. The DNV-RP-J203 requires a 

systematic approach, based on understanding and minimizing storage risks and analysis of diverse 

geoscience and environmental factors. The main areas of investigation include: [selection and 

qualification of storage sites; documentation of site [characterization] and site development plans; risk 

management throughout the life cycle of CO2 [geologic] storage projects; monitoring and storage 

performance verification; well assessment and management planning; and planning for site closure and 

subsequent stewardship]. The CarbonNet Project reviewed more than twenty five storage concepts at 

fourteen locations, within 25km of the coastline. These were quantified for prospective storage volume 

and risk for capacity, containment, and injectivity. A portfolio of three sites was shortlisted. CarbonNet 

has had its storage site selection process endorsed by an Independent Scientific Peer Review and the 

site selection process was assessed by DNV GL and a Statement of Feasibility issued for the portfolio in 

January 2013. Detailed site-specific risk analyses and data gap analyses of key elements were prepared 

for each site. As a result, a [prioritized] site was selected for further analysis and the development of a 

site appraisal plan...” 

“Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in Canada.” The following is from the Executive Summary of this 

document: “In this second Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP) Canada report [the authors]

look outside of Canada’s borders to identify global decarbonization trends that will affect Canada and [its] 

ability to achieve deep decarbonization. [The authors] focus on identifying resilient pathways that policy

can target regardless of eventual ambition, whether it is tentative, short-term steps or longer-term shifts 

towards deeper reductions. Complementing this domestic focus is [the authors’] interactions with the 16 

other project teams in the DDPP. Through a series of meetings and working groups, [the authors] have 

collectively begun to coalesce around deep decarbonization pathways that are resilient across countries 

but also mitigation ambition. [The authors] observe that in virtually every country there are clean energy 

policies and technology drivers that are pushing global decarbonization trends, notably decarbonization 

of electricity production and energy-efficiency improvements in buildings and transport. Despite global

trends towards progress in reducing the emission intensity of electricity production, buildings and 

transport, however, significant gaps in global technology exist that pose a challenge for Canadian deep 

decarbonization efforts, especially in primary extraction but also for emission intensive heavy industries.

It is these twin themes that Canadian climate policy must now address: how to deepen and broaden 

current Canadian policy signals and technology deployment, and where policy attention will be required 

to push next generation decarbonisation technologies forward, particularly in liquid fossil fuels and 

industrial processes. [The authors’] analysis identifies six decarbonization pathways under three main 

themes that emerge from [their] analysis and modelling...” 

November 2015

“Assessing the Social Costs and Benefits of Regulating Carbon Emissions.” The following is the 

Executive Summary of this document: “U.S. government agencies are required to quantify the costs and 

benefits of regulations they propose. In the context of regulations pertaining to carbon emissions, the 

various agencies had been using differing (often implicit) estimates of the net social cost of carbon. In 

response, an Interagency Working Group was created in order to establish a consistent and objective 
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78

‘social cost of carbon’ (SCC). Although wide, the range of estimates of the social cost of carbon 

produced by the Interagency Working Group is both too narrow and almost certainly biased upwards. 

This is a consequence of using only three rather simplistic models, all of which use estimates of climate 

sensitivity that are likely too high and two of which likely overestimate the economic impact of climate 

change. Taking into account a wider range of climate models, impact evaluations, economic forecasts 

and discount rates, as well as the most recent evidence on climate sensitivity, this study finds that the 

range of social cost of carbon should be revised downwards. At the low end, carbon emissions may have 

a net beneficial effect (i.e. carbon should be priced negatively), while even at the high end carbon 

emissions are very unlikely to be catastrophic. Given this range of possible ‘damage functions,’ 

combined with significant uncertainty concerning the costs of limiting emissions of [CO2] and other 

[GHGs]—costs which may, among other things, slow down the rate at which poor countries develop,

thereby making the inhabitants of those countries more susceptible to climate and other changes—the 

social cost of carbon should be set at zero.” 

“Global CCS Institute CSS Legal and Regulatory Indicator.” The following is from the Executive 

Summary of this document: “The development of law and regulation to support the deployment of CCS 

has proven an important aspect of a national policy response to the technology. National regulators and 

regional legislatures in a number of jurisdictions globally have, in recent years, amended legislation or 

enacted legal and regulatory frameworks to address the technology. The Institute’s CCS Legal and 

Regulatory Indicator (‘the Indicator’) offers a more detailed examination and assessment of national legal 

and regulatory frameworks, by considering a broad range of legal and regulatory factors, which are likely 

critical in the regulation of the technology. A broad spectrum of administrative and permitting 

arrangements across the project lifecycle, including issues related to environmental assessments, public

consultation and long-term liability, have been considered. The resulting Indicator therefore represents a 

detailed assessment of each individual jurisdiction’s legal and regulatory frameworks for the technology, 

as well as offering a comprehensive model for tracking progress and opportunities for the development of 

legal frameworks worldwide.”

“Carbon Capture and Storage: The Lacq pilot – Project and injection period 2006-2013.” The 

following is from the Introduction of this document: “This book presents the results of a pilot project 

implementing for the first time the complete CCS chain in an industrial environment. This pilot was 

designed, built and operated by Total for more than three years. The CCS pilot project entailed the 

conversion of an existing air-gas combustion boiler into an oxygen-gas combustion boiler, using oxygen 

delivered by an air separation unit (ASU) to obtain a more CO2 concentrated (and easier to capture) flue 

gas stream. The 30 MWth oxy-boiler was able to deliver up to 38 t/h of steam to the high pressure (HP) 

steam network of the Lacq sour gas production and treatment plant. After quenching of the flue gas 

stream, the CO2 stream was compressed (to 27 barg), dried and transported in a gaseous phase via 

existing pipelines to the Rousse depleted gas field, 29 kilometers away, where it was injected. Over the 

injection period of 39 months, 51,340 metric tons of CO2 were injected. Total’s main objectives in this 

experiment were: [1] To demonstrate the technical feasibility and reliability of an integrated chain 

comprising CO2 capture, transportation and injection into a depleted gas reservoir; [2] To acquire 

operating experience and data to upscale the oxy-combustion technology from pilot (30 MWth) to 

industrial scale (200 MWth) while downscaling the ‘oxy-combustion’ capture cost compared to classical 

post capture technologies; [3] To develop and apply geological storage qualification methodologies,

monitoring methodologies and technologies on site to serve in future onshore storage monitoring 

programs that will be larger in scale, longer in time and economically and technically viable; [4] To 

promote CCS knowledge sharing among a range of stakeholders, from governments, public institutions, 

industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, to the local communities and the broader public, 

through an outreach and communication program of activities including face-to-face meetings, 

workshops and technical meetings, site visits, informative videos, open days with site tours and press 

releases. This book shares the project’s scientific results as well as the major achievements and lessons 

learnt.”
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“Prospects for CO2-EOR in the UKCS.” The following is from the Executive Summary of this 

document: “The UK’s oil and gas industry has made a significant contribution to UK GDP over the last 

fifty years. However, the North Sea basin is mature and is expected to see major decommissioning over

the next 10-15 years. Recovery of remaining oil reserves could be significantly improved by greater use 

of [EOR] techniques. One option involves injecting CO2 into the oil reservoirs to [mobilize] the remaining 

oil (CO2-EOR). It is a mature technology that has been used onshore in the USA for 40 years, where it 

has benefited from large natural sources of CO2. It has the additional benefit of providing low-cost 

storage space for CO2 emissions. An un-risked screening of technical EOR potential across the oil fields 

in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) identified a resource of up to 6 billion barrels of additional oil, with 

storage for [more than 1 billion metric tons] of CO2. However, CO2-EOR is untested at scale offshore, as 

yet, and therefore faces technical, commercial and economic risks. Less than a tenth of the un-risked 

potential is likely to be [realizable] when economic, commercial and operational risks are taken into 

account. Developing CO2-EOR could extend the life of the oil fields for up to 15 years, delivering a range 

of benefits including additional taxable oil revenues, delaying of decommissioning and sustaining the 

wider UK oil industry. By providing secure, low-cost CO2 storage, CO2-EOR will benefit the development 

of CCS, which, in turn, will reduce the cost of achieving the UK’s energy and carbon targets.

Furthermore, developing the CO2 transport infrastructure in the North Sea to supply CO2-EOR could help 

open up the best and largest CO2 storage assets in Europe. A new industry could be developed in the 

UK North Sea storing CO2 and providing opportunities to manage emissions from [neighboring] EU

member states.” 

“Methodology for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions from Carbon Capture and Storage 

Projects.” The following is the Background and Applicability section of this document: “CCS is the 

separation and capture of CO2 from the atmospheric emissions of industrial processes or the direct air 

capture (DAC) of atmospheric CO2 and the transport and safe, permanent storage of the CO2 in deep 

underground geologic formations. In CCS, CO2 that would otherwise have been emitted into the 

atmosphere or that currently resides in the atmosphere is captured and disposed of underground. By 

preventing CO2 from large-scale industrial facilities from entering the atmosphere or by removing the CO2

that currently resides in the atmosphere, CCS is a powerful tool for addressing potential climate change. 

Geologic storage is defined as the placement of CO2 into a subsurface formation so that it will remain 

safely and permanently stored. Examples of subsurface formations include deep saline [formations] and 

oil and gas producing reservoirs. The CO2 for geologic storage comes either from industrial facilities that 

emit large amounts of CO2, particularly those that burn coal, oil, or natural gas; or potentially directly from 

the atmosphere via large-scale chemical DAC facilities. Industrial facilities include power plants, 

petroleum refineries, oil and gas production facilities, iron and steel mills, cement plants, and various 

chemical plants. This methodology outlines the requirements and process for CCS Project Proponents 

that store CO2 in oil and gas reservoirs to qualify their projects for carbon credits under the American 

Carbon Registry® (ACR) program. The methodology is based on the accounting framework developed by 

the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change).”

December 2015

“Leveling the Playing Field: Policy Parity for Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies.” The 

following is from the Executive Summary of this document: “Federal energy and environmental policy has 

severely tilted the energy playing field. Secretary Moniz has requested the National Coal Council (NCC) 

make recommendations to level the playing field for CCS and provide ‘policy parity.’ Existing incentives 

for CCS are simply too small to ‘bridge the chasm’ – as the NCC put it earlier this year – between the 

cost and risk of promising but immature CCS technologies and other technology alternatives. While CCS 

is commercially deployed in some industrial sectors and technically demonstrated at electric power 

plants, power generation with CCS remains expensive today compared to other technologies such as 

natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) or heavily subsidized renewables. DOE has stewarded a successful 

research and development program to spur early development of CCS technologies, but without 

sufficient government support and incentives, commercial CCS deployment has lagged. Absent 
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80

commercial-scale deployment, developers have no history to understand technical risks, frequency and 

duration of down time, and other critical factors that become known only with operation. Today, the 

world’s first and only operating commercial-scale power plant with CCS has successfully achieved a 

capture rate of 80 [percent] of the plant’s CO2, but has been unable to maintain that level of performance 

and has been operational just 40 [percent] of the time because of technical complications. With broad 

deployment, technological experience and confidence will rise, and costs will decline. Policy parity is 

essential to this progress. Coal and other fossil fuel use will keep rising globally as the world adds, per 

the United Nations, three billion more people to cities in the next 40 – 50 years. To achieve climate goals 

and address fossil emissions, the world must have CCS. Commercializing CCS requires a level playing 

field. Cross-functional experts within the NCC’s working groups have rigorously assessed the incentives

and policies needed to level the playing field. There is consensus among them that the recommendations 

in this report will bring needed advances to development and deployment of CCS technologies...” 

“Power sector scenarios for the fifth carbon budget.” The following is from the Executive Summary 

of this document: “This report sets out scenarios for the power sector in 2030 as an input to [the authors]

advice on the fifth carbon budget, which [will be published] in November. The fifth carbon budget will set 

a limit on UK emissions of [GHGs] over the period 2028 to 2032. It marks the halfway point from the first 

carbon budget (2008-12) to the UK’s statutory target for 2050 to reduce emissions by at least 80 

[percent] across the economy relative to 1990, as set out in the Climate Change Act. [The authors] are 

publishing these scenarios ahead of [their] November advice given the importance of the power sector to 

meeting the economy-wide emissions targets. It has been a common finding of [the authors’] previous 

work that meeting the 2050 target will require that emissions from energy use – power, heat and 

transport – are almost eliminated. To achieve this it is important to have low-carbon sources of energy 

that are low cost, secure, acceptable to the public and attractive to investors. A [decarbonized] power 

sector can provide that low-carbon energy source. [The authors’] scenarios set out possible futures for 

the UK power sector. They are not intended to set out a prescriptive path. The scenarios provide a tool 

for the Committee to verify that its advice can be achieved with manageable impacts for the criteria in the 

Climate Change Act, including competitiveness, affordability and energy security. [The authors] welcome 

comments and input on this analysis.” 

“The Global Status of CCS: 2015 Summary Report.” The following is a description of this document: 

“The Global Status of CCS: 2015 Summary Report provides an overview of the key findings contained in 

the package of Volumes and Reports that comprises The Global Status of CCS: 2015 release, as well as 

a set of actions that can accelerate the deployment of CCS globally.” 

“World Energy Outlook 2015.” The following is a description of this document: “The precipitous fall in 

oil prices, continued geopolitical instability and the ongoing climate negotiations are witness to the 

dynamic nature of energy markets. In a time of so much uncertainty, understanding the implications of 

the shifting energy landscape for economic and environmental goals and for energy security is vital. The 

World Energy Outlook 2015 (WEO-2015) presents updated projections for the evolution of the global 

energy system to 2040, based on the latest data and market developments, as well as detailed insights 

on the prospects for fossil fuels, renewables, the power sector and energy efficiency and analysis on 

trends in CO2 emissions and fossil-fuel and renewable energy subsidies.”

“The CarbonNet Project: integrity of wells in the near-shore area Gippsland Basin Victoria.” The 

following is the Abstract of this document: “The CarbonNet Project is investigating CO2 storage sites in 

the nearshore area of the Gippsland Basin of Victoria, Australia. The project objective is to provide 

permanent and safe storage for 25 to 125 Mt of CO2. The integrity of legacy or existing wells (which 

includes abandoned, production, injection, mineral/water bores and Measurement, Monitoring and 

Verification [MMV] wells) is [recognized] around the world as one of the most significant operational risks 

to CO2 storage projects. The number of wells and quality of completions can vary significantly in different 

basins and jurisdictions. Furthermore, the drilling and completion requirements for onshore and offshore 

wells are subject to various regulatory, industry and operator standards and practices. The Gippsland 
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81

Basin has been an active oil and gas production province since the 1960’s and there is a reasonable 

database of well data and parameters to assess well integrity. In the nearshore area of the Gippsland 

Basin, the integrity of fourteen wells has been assessed by CarbonNet and risks were identified. The 

assessment was based on existing documentation lodged with the regulator under Australia's 

comprehensive offshore petroleum legislation. The assessment concludes that the risk of [release] to 

surface from the fourteen legacy wells reviewed is very low. At an intraformational level, some wells are 

less securely completed and therefore appropriate mitigation measures are proposed – generally, to 

avoid intraformational storage concepts at these sites and locations. Ultimately for any CO2 storage 

project, there is a requirement to demonstrate how to safely monitor legacy wells. In an Australian 

regulatory context, the requirement is to demonstrate they are not active [release] pathways and to 

outline plans for remediation of wells if they are shown to have problems. Options are discussed for 

completion and monitoring of future petroleum wells and other boreholes to avoid any new risks.” 

January 2016

“Carbon Capture and Storage – The vital role of CCS in an effective COP21 agreement.” The 

following is a description of this document: “The report ‘Carbon Capture and Storage – the vital role of 

CCS in an effective COP21 agreement’ provides an overview of the road so far and calls for key policy 

initiatives to support the greater global deployment of CCS technology. Key [World Coal Association 

(WCA)] policy recommendations include: [1] Policy parity - CCS must receive the same policy support 

that has benefitted renewable technologies in recent decades. This is vital to facilitate the lowest cost 

pathway to [decarbonization]. [2] Governments must articulate how they plan to drive CCS deployment 

beyond the demonstration phase towards [commercialization]. [3] Solutions to reducing emissions will 

require global action, CCS deployment requires international incentives.” 

“Carbon Capture and Storage: A vital low carbon technology that can deliver on economic 

development, energy security, and climate goals.” The following is from the Executive Summary of 

this document: “The global energy landscape is changing and policy makers have important choices to 

make. Energy markets are in transition with technology innovations tapping unconventional oil supplies,

improving efficiency, and generating lower carbon electricity, but not at a rate fast enough to seriously 

address climate concerns. Energy investments are shifting from developed countries to emerging 

economies with rapid energy demand growth. Yet, reliance on fossil fuels continues. At present, around 

80 [percent] of the world’s primary energy and 65 [percent] of global electricity generation is supplied 

from fossil fuels and they are projected to dominate for decades. As part of a portfolio of low carbon 

emissions technologies, CCS, a vital technology that can address large-scale cuts in CO2 emissions from 

fossil fuel power plants and industrial facilities, can deliver on climate goals and in many countries

simultaneously meet energy security and sustainable economic development goals. Given these

potential benefits, policy makers must take urgent action to accelerate commercial deployment and build 

on the successes of the past two decades.”

“North Sea to the Rescue: The commercial and industrial opportunities of CO2 storage in the 

North Sea.” The following is from the Introduction of this document: “CCS delivers very substantial CO2

reductions from large industrial and energy facilities. CCS is not a peripheral [decarbonization] 

technology. CCS is an indispensable component of national and global [decarbonization] pathways as 

[recognized] by the IPCC, the IEA, and the European Commission. The EU 2050 Energy Roadmap relies 

heavily on the deployment of CCS to meet EU wide [decarbonization] goals. CCS deployment provides a 

huge opportunity for Europe to meet its energy, climate and societal goals, in particular to achieve its 

GHG emissions reduction targets at lower cost while satisfying energy security. The North Sea has a 

critical role in the permanent storage of CO2 from many of Europe’s emitters. The North Sea has

immense secure CO2 storage capacity and indigenous offshore industries with the capability to develop 

and operate CO2 storage complexes. The development and operation of transport and storage 

infrastructure has the potential to become a new industry for the North Sea, eclipsing declining 

hydrocarbon production. Countries that act now to remove commercial barriers and [incentivize] the 
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sectors development will foster highly skilled employment attract industrial activity and enable the 

development of technology and service sectors. Using estimates of the CO2 required to be stored in the 

North Sea for Europe to reach its 2050 [decarbonization] objectives, Bellona has estimated the size of 

the future North Sea CO2 storage sector. [Carbon dioxide] storage will require the characterization of 

storage sites, the drilling of appraisal and injection wells, the emplacement of CO2 platforms, along with 

engineering, fabrication and logistics. [Carbon dioxide] storage requires many of the same skills and 

infrastructure now underemployed or to be decommissioned. The CO2 storage sector has the potential to 

become a major North Sea enterprise, employing 22,000 people by 2030. Countries surrounding the 

North Sea basin must act to encourage the sectors development and to enable Europe to [decarbonize]

effectively.”

February 2016

“No-Impact Threshold Values for Groundwater Reduced-Order Models.” The following is from the

Executive Summary of this National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP; an initiative within 

DOE/NETL) document: “The purpose of this study was to examine methodologies for establishing 

baseline data sets and statistical protocols for determining statistically significant changes between 

background concentrations and predicted concentrations that would be used to represent a 

contamination plume from geologic storage of CO2 in the second-generation hydrologic models being 

developed by the National Risk Assessment Partnership’s (NRAP) Groundwater Protection Working 

Group. This could then be used to help quantitatively evaluate the impact of [releasing] fluids on a 

groundwater system. The initial effort examined selected portions of two [formation] systems: the urban 

shallow-unconfined [formation] system of the Edwards-Trinity [Formation] System (being used to develop 

the reduced-order model for carbonate-rock [formations]), and a portion of the High Plains [Formation] 

(an unconsolidated and semi-consolidated sand and gravel [formation] being used to develop the 

reduced-order model for sandstone [formations]). No-impact threshold values were determined for 

cadmium, lead, arsenic, pH, and total dissolved solids that could be used to identify potential areas of 

contamination in overlying [formations] predicted by numerical models of [CO2] storage reservoirs. Noimpact threshold values were later determined for chromium specifically to support the reduced-order 

model being developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for the High Plains 

[Formation]. These threshold values are based on an interwell approach for determining background 

groundwater concentrations as recommended in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Unified 

Guidance for Statistical Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities...”

“Roadmap for carbon capture and storage demonstration and deployment in the People's 

Republic of China.” The following is from the Introduction of this Global CCS Institute document: 

“Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion account for the largest share of [GHG] 

emissions by far. In the People’s Republic of China (PRC), CO2 emissions have risen in tandem with its 

rapid economic growth for the past three decades due to its carbon-intensive coal dominated energy mix. 

Accelerated efforts to reign in growing CO2 emissions in the PRC, the world’s largest energy consumer 

and largest emitter of CO2, are of paramount importance to global climate change mitigation efforts. 

Consistent with its aim to peak out CO2 emissions by 2030, the Government of the PRC is implementing 

strong measures to transform its energy to a lowcarbon mix. But coal is expected to remain a pillar of its 

energy security even in the long-term, with a large share in the energy mix. As a result, for the PRC to 

move from its current CO2 emission reduction trajectory to a more ambitious one, CO2 abatement from 

coal-based industrial production and power generation is crucial. CCS is the only currently available 

technology that can cut up to 90 [percent] of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants and industries. 

Many studies have highlighted CCS as an essential part of a portfolio of technologies that are required to 

achieve cost-effective long-term CO2 mitigation. Yet, many perceived and real risks and barriers are 

delaying CCS demonstration and deployment, risking the attainment of CO2 mitigation objectives...”

“Scottish CO2 Hub – A unique opportunity for the United Kingdom.” The following is from this

Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (SCCS) document: “The unique importance of a Scottish CO2 Hub is 
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as the ‘downstream’ component of a Europe-wide CO2 capture, transport and storage system, 

complementing the ‘upstream’ collection and dispatch hubs envisaged for mainland Europe, Scandinavia 

and England by providing access to low risk, high capacity and cost-effective CO2 storage. This can be 

achieved economically and rapidly by re-use of existing on- and offshore transport and storage 

infrastructure to reduce costs, and potentially through value generation from CO2 [utilization] in CO2-

EOR. A flexible shipping solution can transport CO2 from eastern England and Europe with low initial 

capital investment and allow sequential, project-by-project expansion of the system. A CO2 capture 

cluster in central and eastern Scotland involving both power and industrial emitters can be established 

using existing transport and storage infrastructure allowing rapid deployment of the whole-chain CCS 

system for sequential expansion as import volumes from European and other UK CO2 hubs become 

available. Although small by European standards, this capture cluster would be significant for Scottish 

emissions, realistically able to halve Scottish industrial emissions and reduce total Scottish emissions 

from all sources by c.20 [percent].”

March 2016

“A User’s Guide to DFNGen.” The following is the Executive Summary of this NRAP document (NRAP

is an initiative within DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory [NETL]): “This report is the user 

manual for the initial release of the computer code [Discrete Fracture Network Generator Interface 

(DFNGen)]. DFNGen is a graphical user interface for the computer code FracGen and several 

supplementary (‘ancillary’) programs developed at NETL in Morgantown, West Virginia. The intent of 

DFNGen is to facilitate use of FracGen, to increase the understanding of FracGen’s input options and to 

reduce errors in input. DFNGen is a Windows-based interface, which allows for the generation and 

control of input files using specially-created forms (windows). DFNGen runs FracGen as a background 

process and can analyze the resulting output using a range of options. The code also allows the import 

of input files from prior versions of FracGen. The analysis options in DFNGen allow the user to examine 

fracture length, fracture orientation, scanline spacing, and the spatial distribution of fracture center points. 

DFNGen implements a special version of FracGen, termed version 14M (i.e., FracGen version 2014, 

modified for current application), which has a revised input format. FracGen 14M, as with other versions 

of FracGen, incorporates three fracture “models” (Model1, Model2, Model3) to simulate randomly located 

fractures, randomly-located swarms or clusters of fractures and regularly-distributed cluster zones. 

Another option (termed Model0) permits the input of fracture data collected along boreholes, cores or 

outcrop scans by the user. Of importance for flow modeling, the generated fractures of the network can 

be subsequently adjusted for varying connectivity by several approaches, including synthetic annealing, 

to facilitate flow modeling with a network with a sparse number of fractures. This user guide provides an 

essential, but directed summary of DFNGen operation. For more details on FracGen, NFflow, or the 

ancillary codes, the user is referred to the user guide for these codes.” 

“Key Factors for Assessing Potential Groundwater Impacts Due to [Release] from Geologic 

Carbon [Storage] Reservoirs.” The following is from the Executive Summary of this NRAP document:

“NRAP is developing a science-based toolset for the analysis of potential impacts to groundwater 

chemistry from CO2 injection should [release] from a deep storage reservoir occur. The toolset adopts a 

stochastic approach in which predictions address uncertainties in shallow groundwater and [release] 

scenarios. It is derived from detailed physics and chemistry simulation results that are used to train more 

computationally efficient models, referred to here as reduced-order models (ROMs), for each component 

system. In particular, these tools can be used to help regulators and operators understand the expected 

sizes and longevity of plumes in pH, [total dissolved solids (TDS)], and dissolved metals that could result 

from a [release] of brine and/or CO2 from a storage reservoir into [formations]. This information can 

inform, for example, decisions on monitoring strategies that are both effective and efficient. This 

approach was used to develop predictive ROM for two common types of [formations], but the approach 

could be used to develop a model for a specific [formation] and/or other common types of [formations].” 
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“Coupled Inversion of Hydrological and Geophysical Data for Improved Prediction of Subsurface 

CO2 Migration.” The following is from the Executive Summary of this NRAP document: “This report is

one of two deliverables resulting from a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) NRAP project 

that aimed at developing, testing, and applying novel methods for modeling geologic storage of CO2 and 

jointly inverting monitoring data for [release] detection. This first NRAP report summarizes the method for 

jointly inverting hydrological and geophysical monitoring data. The ability to identify potential [release] 

pathways with monitoring data and continually monitor localized [release] of CO2 and/or brine is essential 

for the science-based quantitative risk assessment at the core of the mission of NRAP. The second 

NRAP report describes the development, demonstration, and application of an inversion-based 

methodology for early [release] detection using pressure and surface deformation monitoring data.”

“Future of carbon capture and storage in the UK.” The following is from the Summary of this UK

Energy and Climate Change Committee document: “Meeting the UK’s climate change commitments will 

be challenging if [CCS is not applied] to new gas-fired power stations and to energy intensive industries. 

Building the transport and storage infrastructure needed for CCS requires large upfront investments, but 

costs of later projects are expected to fall rapidly once this primary infrastructure is in place. Without CCS 

it may be necessary to find large and potentially more expensive carbon savings to meet the legally 

binding targets set out in the Climate Change Act as well as the more recent challenging ambitions set 

out at the Paris climate summit.”

April 2016

“NETL’s ARRA Site Characterization Initiative: Accomplishments.” The following is from the

Executive Summary of this NETL document: “NETL's Storage Program received approximately $100 

million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). These funds were 

distributed among nine projects with a focus on characterizing high-priority formations that have potential 

for future commercial-scale geologic CO2 storage. The formations studied are representative of different 

depositional environments and geologic settings that have significant potential for carbon storage. The 

projects targeted not only the development of individual sites for carbon storage, but also the regional 

characterization of distinct high-potential geologic formations. Characterizing these formations provides 

greater insight into the capabilities of similar geologic formations across the United States to safely and 

permanently store CO2. Knowledge gained from these efforts may be applied to similar settings with 

potential for carbon storage and, thus, contribute valuable information for future commercial-scale carbon 

storage projects within the study areas. In addition, baseline subsurface conditions must be 

characterized and subsurface response to injection of large quantities of CO2 must be assessed as part 

of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI 

regulatory framework. Class VI permits are required prior to any CO2 injection in the United States that is 

part of a carbon storage project. These characterization data contribute to the development of best 

practices for safe, long-term storage of CO2.” 

“Parameter Sensitivity Analysis with the Seismicity Simulation Program RSQSim.” The following is

the Abstract of this NRAP document (NRAP is an initiative within DOE/NETL): “Earthquake simulations 

performed using the program RSQSim as part of the NRAP probabilistic seismic risk analyses depend on 

several parameters that are subject to degrees of uncertainty. In the current study, the sensitivity of

simulation outputs to uncertainty in key RSQSim input parameters was analyzed using the Lawrence 

Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) code PSUADE (Computer Code of Problem Solving Environment 

for Uncertainty Analysis and Design Exploration). A total sensitivity analysis was first performed to rank 

the parameters in terms of sensitivity, and then a detailed individual sensitivity analyses of the top-ranked 

parameters was conducted. The metric used to assess sensitivity is the Gutenberg-Richter b-value.”

“Induced Seismicity and Carbon Storage: Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies.” The

following is the Abstract of this NRAP document (NRAP is an initiative within DOE/NETL): “Geologic 

carbon storage (GCS) is widely recognized as an important strategy to reduce atmospheric CO2
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85

emissions. Like all technologies, however, [storage] projects create a number of potential environmental 

and safety hazards that must be addressed. These include earthquakes—from microseismicity to large, 

damaging events—that can be triggered by altering pore-pressure conditions in the subsurface. To date, 

measured seismicity due to CO2 injection has been limited to a few modest events, but the hazard exists 

and must be considered. There are important similarities between CO2 injection and fluid injection from 

other applications that have induced significant events—e.g. geothermal systems, waste-fluid injection, 

hydrocarbon extraction, and others. There are also important distinctions among these technologies that 

should be considered in a discussion of seismic hazard. This report focuses on strategies for assessing 

and mitigating risk during each phase of a CO2 storage project. Four key risks related to fault reactivation 

and induced seismicity were considered. Induced slip on faults could potentially lead to: (1) infrastructure 

damage, (2) a public nuisance, (3) brine-contaminated drinking water, and (4) CO2-contaminated 

drinking water. These scenarios lead to different types of damage—to property, to drinking water quality,

or to the public welfare. Given these four risks, this report focuses on strategies for assessing (and 

altering) their likelihoods of occurrence and the damage that may result...” 

“Global storage portfolio: a global assessment of the geological CO2 storage resource potential.”

The following is a summary of this document: “The primary purpose of the Institute’s Global Storage 

Portfolio is to collate and [summarize] published regional assessments of key nations. The Portfolio also 

[summarizes] key data on a nation’s readiness to host a commercial, large-scale project. For this reason, 

only proven storage scenarios including deep saline formations (DSF), depleted/depleting oil and gas 

fields (DGOF) and enhanced oil recovery using CO2 (CO2-EOR) are considered. The analysis has found 

that: [1] Substantial storage resources are present in most key regions of the world. [2] Reliable 

methodologies to determine and classify regional storage resources are available and have been widely 

applied, although there is no formally [recognized] international standard. [3] The level of resource 

assessment undertaken and the availability of [characterization] data is highly variable across regions. [4] 

The level of detail a regional resource assessment has progressed as well as the policy, legal and 

regulatory frameworks are key criteria that can be used to gauge the readiness of any given nation to 

deploy a CCS project. The storage resources are grouped into five regions: [(1) Asia-Pacific (fourteen 

countries); (2) Americas (five countries); (3) Middle East (three countries); (4) Europe and Russia (EU 

plus three countries); and (5) Africa (four countries)]. The resulting portfolio will enable the reader to 

rapidly establish a snapshot of a country’s storage resource and potential to deploy a large-scale 

project.”

May 2016

“Modeling the Impact of Carbon Dioxide [Release] into an Unconfined, Oxidizing Carbonate 

[Formation].” The following is the Abstract of this Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) 

document: “Multiphase, reactive transport modeling was used to identify the mechanisms controlling 

trace metal release under elevated CO2 conditions from a well-characterized carbonate [formation]. 

Modeling was conducted for two experimental scenarios: batch experiments to simulate sudden, fast,

and short-lived release of CO2 as would occur in the case of well failure during injection, and column 

experiments to simulate more gradual [releases] such as those occurring along undetected faults, 

fractures, or well linings. Observed and predicted trace metal concentrations are compared to 

groundwater concentrations from this [formation] to determine the potential for [releasing] CO2 to 

adversely impact drinking water quality. Finally, a three-dimensional multiphase flow and reactivetransport simulation of CO2 [release] from an abandoned wellbore into a generalized model of the 

shallow, unconfined portion of the [formation] is used to determine potential impacts on groundwater 

quality. As a measure of adverse impacts on groundwater quality, both the EPA’s MCL limits and the 

maximum trace metal concentration observed in the [formation] were used as threshold values.”

“Analysis Of Options For Funding Large Pilot Scale Testing Of Advanced Fossil-Based Power 

Generation Technologies With Carbon Capture And Storage.” The following is a description of this 

document: “[The Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC)] and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial 
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86

Technology Development Organization (NEDO) released a study titled Analysis of Options for Funding 

Large Pilot Scale Testing of Advanced Fossil-Based Power Generation Technologies with Carbon 

Capture. The paper is the product of an effort led by CURC pursuant to a contract with NEDO of Japan 

and as a component of the continuing collaboration between NEDO and [DOE]. Other participants to the 

study include Natural Resources Canada and the Korean Institute of Energy Research of the Republic of 

Korea.” 

“Carbon Capturing & Storage Technology Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, 

Trends and Forecast 2014 – 2020.” The following is from a description of this document: 

“Governmental agencies of developed economies are accelerating their drive to combat climatic 

changes, specifically focusing on the power sector as it is a major source of CO2 emissions. [CCS]

technology might play an essential role in establishing the emission reduction targets set by different 

countries. This technology is designed to capture the [CO2] emissions which are primarily produced from 

the use of fossil fuels in industrial process and electricity generation. The captured [CO2] can then be 

transported by ships and pipelines for safe storage enclosures. The stored [CO2] can also be utilized for 

several commercial purposes such as [EOR] techniques. The [CCS] technology is still in the stages of 

development and the European Union has planned to implement this technology in large scale in 2015. 

Though this method has been technologically proven to work, it is not yet commercially viable on a large 

scale in several circumstances. The market for [CCS] technology is expected to grow at a considerable 

rate in future years owing to increasing investment in emission reduction technologies.” 

June 2016

“Annual Energy Outlook 2016 Early Release: Annotated Summary of Two Cases.” The following is 

a description of this U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIS) document: “The Annual Energy 

Outlook 2016 (AEO2016) Early Release features two cases: the Reference case and a case excluding 

implementation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP). [1] Reference case: A business-as-usual trend estimate, 

given known technology and technological and demographic trends. The Reference case assumes CPP 

compliance through mass-based standards that establish caps on CO2 emissions from fossil-fired

generators covered by the CPP. The mass-based standards are modeled using allowances with 

cooperation across states at the regional level, with all allowance revenues rebated to ratepayers. [2] No 

CPP case: A business-as-usual trend estimate, but assumes that CPP is not implemented.”

 

“Progressing Development of the UK’s Strategic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resource.” The following 

is from the Executive Summary of this ETI document: “CCS is widely recognized as a critical technology 

to meet the 1.5/2°C ambitions agreed at the Paris COP 21 meeting. Much progress is being made on

carbon capture technologies, with mature industrial scale projects having been in operation for many 

years. Whilst the use of CO2 for [EOR] is commonplace in some parts of the North America, CO2 storage 

at industrial scale has only been demonstrated at a small number of sites around the world. Two of these 

sites are located offshore in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea at Sleipner and Snøhvit, with Sleipner 

reaching a key milestone in 2016 of 20 years of offshore CO2 storage operations. The UK is fortunate to 

have completed three large [front-end engineering design (FEED)] study projects for offshore CO2

storage, all of which are already or will be placed in the public domain. These were for storage sites 

called Hewett, Goldeneye and Endurance. Enabling CCS in the UK requires the rapid assembly of

mature plans for further offshore CO2 storage sites around the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). 

Collectively, these plans will contribute towards supporting investor confidence around large energy and 

industrial CCS systems by assuring the presence, location and cost base of high quality offshore CO2

storage site development options. This will support the early industrial [mobilization] of full chain CCS 

technology.” 

“Can technology unlock unburnable carbon?” The following is a description of this white paper: “To 

stay within the 2°C carbon budget, a very significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption is required. [If 

the carbon budget is to be met,] the majority of global fossil fuel reserves cannot be combusted: the 
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unburnable carbon. The role of technologies such as CCS may be critical in enabling a greater quantity 

of fossil fuel to be combusted within a low-carbon framework. However, the potential for CCS to alleviate 

the carbon constraint is still controversial and uncertain, with a number of studies reaching different 

conclusions. This extensive review paper will assess the current state of knowledge regarding the 

‘unburnable carbon’ issue, and attempt to provide clarity by quantitatively defining the potential role of 

CCS in unlocking the unburnable carbon over the next 85 years.”

July 2016

“Clean Energy Resource Options for Massachusetts to Meet GHG Reduction Goals under the 

Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).” The following is the Introduction of this white paper: “The 

long-term energy policy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been hotly debated for the past few 

years. During the current legislative session, Massachusetts policymakers will be deciding how the 

Commonwealth will enact policies to guide the development of clean energy resources to meet the nearterm and long-term GHG emissions reductions of the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act (‘GWSA’) while 

providing reliable electricity at a reasonable cost. The purpose of this paper is to inform the 

Massachusetts policy makers of the resource options and the key policy considerations.”

“Energy Technology Perspectives 2016.” The following is the Executive Summary of this International 

Energy Agency (IEA) document: “The agreement reached at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) 

in Paris could prove to be a historic turning point for reversing the currently unsustainable trends in the 

global energy system, provided that this heightened low-carbon ambition is translated into fast, radical 

and effective policy action. Even in the context of low fossil fuel prices, policy support for low-carbon 

technologies should [mobilize] all levers available to accelerate research, development, demonstration 

and deployment (RDD&D) to make decarbonisation the preferred development path. Chief among such 

levers is governments’ support for urban energy transitions, a conclusion that is supported by the 

analysis of Energy Technology Perspectives 2016 (ETP 2016), which shows the vast number and size of

cost-effective, sustainable energy opportunities available in cities. [Realizing] this potential, and the 

multiple non-climate benefits it presents, will require national and local governments to work together 

effectively.”

“Tees Valley: Opportunity Unlimited.” The following is a description of this Independent Report from 

the UK Department for Communities and Local Government: “This is Lord Heseltine’s independent 

review of the Tees Valley following a range of discussions with local private and [public] sector leaders 

and businesses to identify opportunities to unlock, promote and support economic growth. Building on 

the momentum provided by the Tees Valley devolution deal and the new Combined Authority, the report 

makes recommendations to further develop the Tees Valley area with the emphasis on creating the 

conditions for a sustainable prosperous future. Lord Heseltine worked closely with local leaders to bring 

forward the creation of the new South Tees Development Corporation, which will set the future vision for 

the SSI site and surrounding area. This will be the first Mayoral Development Corporation outside of 

London.” 

“Achieving a low-carbon society: CCS expertise and opportunity in the UK.” The following is a 

description of this Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS) document: “This report, published on 23 

March 2016, derives from the SCCS 2015 Conference, which brought together policymakers, industry, 

academia and representatives from Scottish, UK and European governments. It presents the UK’s 

unique set of assets and opportunities that can create a viable route to a zero-carbon economy. These 

include: [1] Retaining skilled jobs and creating new industries at clusters of industrial emitters around the 

UK coastline, with plans already developed for shared-cost CCS ‘hubs’ [2] A globally significant and 

exceptional North Sea geological asset for CO2 storage [3] An oil and gas workforce that routinely 

delivers high-quality infrastructure and could build a new offshore CCS industry serving the UK and 

Europe [4] An enviable [R&D] community with its amassed knowledge and strategic international 

collaborations [5] Large-scale CCS projects poised to [decarbonize] industry and power generation.”
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“Lessons Learned – Lessons and Evidence Derived from the UK CCS [Program], 2008 – 2015.”

The following is from the Executive Summary of this Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) 

document: “Following the decision of the UK Government (HMG) to cancel the UK CCS 

[Commercialization Program] in November 2015, it became clear that there was a need to identify and 

collate the key lessons learned by those who have sought to develop CCS. It is hoped that making these 

lessons available will help to inform the future development and deployment of CCS in the UK... 

Interviews were conducted with CCS project developers and a selection of other CCS stakeholders 

between January and April 2016. Views were sought on the recent UK CCS [Commercialization

Program] (2012 – 2015); and more generally around experiences with developing CCS projects in the 

UK and Europe over the last decade. This exercise was evidence-based. The document identifies 36 key 

lessons based on evidence provided by participants. This document aims to avoid advocacy, and does 

not provide any specific recommendations; however readers should be able to draw a number of 

important conclusions from the evidence.”

August 2016

“Carbon Dioxide Incubator Market - Global Trends, Market Share, Industry Size, Growth, 

Opportunities, and Market Forecast - 2015 – 2022.” The following is a description of this document: 

“Research Corridor recently added new report titled ‘Carbon Dioxide Incubator Market - Global Trends, 

Market Share, Industry Size, Growth, Opportunities, and Market Forecast - 2015 – 2022’ to its repertoire. 

This latest industry research study scrutinizes the Carbon Dioxide Incubator market by different 

segments, companies, regions and countries over the forecast period 2015 to 2022. The report titled 

‘Carbon Dioxide Incubator Market - Global Trends, Market Share, Industry Size, Growth, Opportunities, 

and Market Forecast - 2015 – 2022’ offers a primary overview of the Carbon Dioxide Incubator industry 

covering different product definitions, classifications, and participants in the industry chain structure. The 

quantitative and qualitative analysis is provided for the global Carbon Dioxide Incubator market 

considering competitive landscape, development trends, and key critical success factors (CSFs) 

prevailing in the Carbon Dioxide Incubator industry.” 

“Developing the Public Engagement Strategy for the Guangdong CCUS Demonstration Program.”

The following is from the Introduction of this document: “The China Resources Power (Haifeng) and 

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Integrated Carbon Capture and Sequestration 

Demonstration Project (CRP Power Project) and the UK-China (Guangdong) CCUS Centre are 

committed to understanding and implementing CCS public engagement best practice throughout the 

lifecycle of the CRP Power Project as well as sharing the experience with the wider CCS community.

This report presents an analysis of work undertaken by the CRP Power Project and the UK-China

(Guangdong) CCUS Centre which will help guide the project’s future work program. It may also be useful 

to other CCS project proponents in China who are considering the development of a public engagement 

strategy. This undertaking is the first of its kind in China and is an ongoing process. To date, the majority 

of CCS public engagement project case studies have [analyzed] activity that has taken place in Europe, 

North America and Australia. An important next step is to reflect on how current best practice may apply 

in other regional contexts. The UK-China (Guangdong) CCUS Centre is actively investigating this topic 

and this report seeks to capture the processes and analysis that have occurred so far.” 

“Approaches to Address Potential CO2 Emissions [Release] to New Sources under the Clean 

Power Plan.” The following is from the Introduction and Summary of this document: “To guide state 

implementation of the Clean Power Plan, [the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] has 

proposed a model rule for states that regulates only existing affected generating units on a mass basis. 

The model rule also is expected to form the basis for a [Federal] plan. The model rule, when finalized, 

would be presumptively approvable for states. [The authors’] comments are presented as 10 

recommendations that are organized in three groups: [(1) Allowance Allocation; (2) Requirements for 

State Compliance Plans; and (3) EPA Implementation of the Clean Power Plan. The authors’] summarize 
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89

the recommendations in this introduction. [The authors’] comments focus on the emissions outcome that 

can be achieved under the mass-based proposed model rule and the cost of achieving those emissions 

reductions. A state’s choosing an emissions cap that covers only existing sources raises generation 

costs relative to costs of new sources that are excluded from the cap. This may cause generation to shift 

from existing to new sources with an associated increase in emissions outside the emissions cap. This 

emissions [release] can be reduced by lowering the costs for existing sources so they are more 

competitive with new sources. Greater utilization of existing sources will reduce the use of new sources 

and help reduce [release].” 

“Effective enforcement of underground storage of carbon dioxide.” The following is from the 

Executive Summary of this Global CCS Institute Document: “The perception of an effective enforcement 

regime that ensures the secure and safe storage of CO2 in underground geologic formations will be 

crucial in increasing public and industry confidence in CCS as a viable low-carbon technology. An 

effective enforcement regime for underground storage of CO2 has the following key features: [1] 

comprehensive obligations that address the key risks of underground storage of CO2; [2] comprehensive 

monitoring and verification (M&V) requirements, including baseline monitoring, M&V obligations during 

the injection phase and M&V obligations post-injection; [3] enforcement mechanisms that are risk-based, 

layered and flexible, grounded in science and fact-based decision-making, and include the ability to deal 

with 'serious situations' (such as unintended releases and CO2 not behaving as predicted); and [4] a 

clear allocation of roles and responsibilities for enforcement.” 

September 2016

“CCS Forum Report.” The following is from the Executive Summary of this document: “The three-day 

CCS Forum, held in London, hosted delegates from academia, industry, and government to discuss the 

future of CCS and, in particular, to identify the key research challenges to be addressed in the near-tomedium term. In all sectors pertaining to CCS, it was agreed that translating major research findings to 

the market often takes many years and that developing a systematic procedure for the acceleration of 

the transition of academic research to pilot- and demonstration-scales is essential. Over the course of 

the three days, the applications of CO2 capture technologies to the power and industrial sectors were 

discussed in detail, as was the subsequent geological storage of the CO2. In addition to the [utilization] of 

the CO2 in enhanced hydrocarbon recovery, the mineral carbonation of industrial wastes and also the 

potential for the further conversion of CO2 into chemicals was discussed. Furthermore, the role of policy 

measures to enable the deployment of CO2 to the power and industry sectors was discussed. The critical 

needs identified have been summarized in the Executive Summary and the detailed insights are included 

in each section throughout the remainder of the document.”

“Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Market Analysis: By Technology (Post Combustion, Pre 

Combustion, Oxy Fuel Technology); By Storage (Geological, Ocean and Mineral); By End User 

(Chemical, Fertilizer, Iron and Steel, Oil & Gas) – Forecast (2016 – 2021).” The following is a 

description of this report: “CCS technology has emerged as critical technical component in the combined 

efforts of various nations to combat climate change. [CCS] refers to the capturing of [CO2] from different 

sources of emission, separating it from other gases and transporting to a suitable location for storage. 

Considering the cumulative commitment of disparate industrial stakeholders in curbing CO2 emissions 

coupled with ongoing dominant role of fossil fuels in energy generation, the [CCS] technology is being 

adopted and employed across the globe. The report explains that global [CCS] market is segmented on 

the basis of type of capture technology, storage technology and geography. Based on capture 

technology, market is classified into: [Post Combustion Capture, Pre Combustion Capture, Oxy Fuel 

Technology and Others.] Also, based on the storage methods, the market has been categorized into:

[Geological Storage, Mineral Storage, Ocean Storage and Others. CCS] technology finds its applications 

into a variety of end user industries which include: [Chemical Production, Fertilizer Production, Iron and 

Steel, Oil & Gas, Power generation and Others.] Each of these segments is further broken down to give 

an in-depth analysis of the market. The [CCS] market report analyses the applications in disparate end 
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90

user industries coupled with market demand from across the regions. The growth in [CCS] market is 

driven from Non Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) countries with a 

strong economic growth and industrialization. The increase of energy consumption is projected from 

renewable energy and nuclear power, presently contributing 2.5 [percent] growth to the market per year. 

Policies and regulations governing usage of fossil fuels and [CO2] emissions fuel are set to increase the 

market growth. The increase in usage of biofuels resulted in the increase of energy consumption.”

“A need unsatisfied: Blueprint for enabling investment in CO2 storage.” The following is the 

Executive Summary of this Deloitte LLP document: “The Crown Estate commissioned Deloitte LLP to 

project manage and participate in a collaborative study that investigated the risks of offshore CO2

storage development and identified potential commercial models for public and private investment in CO2

transport and offshore storage infrastructure. Storage rights on the UK continental shelf are owned by 

The Crown Estate... The conclusions and recommendation in this report are intended to: move forward 

discussion between policy makers and industry participants form full-chain CCS projects [and] provide a 

suitable framework that enable CO2 storage projects to be developed and which can serve the needs of 

both power stations and industrial emitters.”
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Legislative

September 2015

“Carbon Tax Bill Introduced Into Assembly.” A bill that would tax carbon emissions in New York State 

was entered into the Assembly. The carbon tax bill would implement a tax starting at $40 per metric ton 

of CO2, increasing in $10 annual increments up to $180 per metric ton. In addition, the bill proposed to 

refund approximately 60 percent of its revenue to lower-income classes; the remaining 40 percent would 

be utilized to support the transition to clean energy within the state. From PR Newswire on August 28, 

2015.

October 2015

“[Senators] Offer Pathway to a Cleaner Energy Future and Economy.” A group of Senators released 

a national energy bill, the American Energy Innovation Act of 2015, that addresses the creation of new 

jobs, updated infrastructure, and technological innovation through programs in the energy sector that 

modernize infrastructure, reduce CO2 emissions, invest in clean energy, and support research and 

development (R&D). Specifically, the bill includes provisions such as: reducing GHG emissions and 

securing CO2 reduction targets from other countries; investing in energy storage; implementing 

recommendations from DOE’s Quadrennial Energy Review; and investing in clean energy technologies. 

For more information, view the bill text and the bill summary. From U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & 

Natural Resources on September 22, 2015.

November 2015

“South Africa Consults On Carbon Tax Legislation.” South Africa’s National Treasury has published 

draft carbon tax legislation for public comment. The South African government has committed to reduce 

its GHG emissions below current levels by 34 percent by 2020, and by 42 percent by 2025. The carbon 

offsets are expected to enable firms to cost-effectively lower their carbon tax liability while incentivizing 

investment in GHG emission-reduction projects. From Tax-News on November 5, 2015.

December 2015

“[Senators] Introduce Bill to Help Finance Carbon Capture and Storage Projects.” The Carbon 

Capture Improvement Act of 2015 was introduced to help power plants and industrial facilities finance the 

purchase of CCS equipment by allowing businesses to use tax-exempt private activity bonds (PABs) to 

finance the upfront capital costs associated with installation of the equipment. In addition to making CCS 

projects more economically feasible through the use of PABs, the bill will also look to boost oil production 

through EOR operations. From U.S. Senator Rob Portman Press Release on November 19, 2015. 

“[Irish] Government to Introduce Legislation to Combat Climate Change – Taoiseach.” The Irish 

government announced it will introduce legislation to combat potential climate change. According to 

government officials, the climate bill would set out plans in four areas (agriculture, energy, buildings, and 

transport), as well as increase financial contributions to developing nations. From independent.ie on 

November 30, 2015. 

“Russia Lays Foundations for Carbon Regulation...” Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and 

Environment has published a draft law that introduces a baseline for controlling CO2 emissions by 

creating a legal definition of GHGs and setting rules on how to measure, regulate, and report CO2

emissions. From Reuters on November 5, 2015.
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“The political economy of passing climate change legislation: Evidence from a survey.” The 

following is from the Abstract of this article: “Climate change is now a major aspect of public policy. There 

are almost 500 identified climate change laws in the world’s leading economies. This paper reviews the 

main domestic factors that drive this legislation. The analysis is based on a unique dataset of climate 

legislation in 66 national jurisdictions for the period 1990–2013. [The authors] find that the passage of 

new climate laws is influenced by several factors. One important factor is the quantity and quality of 

previous legislation: the propensity to pass more laws decreases non-linearly with the stock of existing 

legislation, but increases in the presence of a strategic ‘flagship law’ that sets an overall framework for 

climate policy. Contrary to widespread belief, political orientation is not a decisive factor...” Sam 

Fankhauser, Caterina Gennaioli, and Murray Collins, Global Environmental Change. (Subscription 

may be required.)

January 2016

“[California Announces Climate Legislation at COP21].” At the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) 

meeting in Paris, France, the California delegation announced a climate change proposal that will set 

targets to achieve, among other targets, a 50 percent reduction in black carbon emissions in the state of 

California by 2030. The “Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act of 2016” will require the California 

Air Resources Board (CARB) to approve and implement, by January 1, 2018, a strategy to reduce 

statewide emissions of short-lived climate pollutants to achieve a reduction in emissions of methane by 40 

percent, F-gases by 40 percent, and black carbon by 50 percent below 2013 levels by the year 2030. The 

legislation is expected to be formally introduced in early 2016. From U.S. Senator Ricardo Lara Press 

Release on December 8, 2015.

February 2016

“[CO2 Capture Technology Amendment Included in Energy Bill].” The U.S. Senate passed the clean

air technology amendment (S.A. 3017) to the Energy Policy Modernization Act. The program, established 

by a Federal commission under DOE, will award public and private entities that design technology to 

remove CO2 from the atmosphere and permanently store CO2. Once the technology is developed, the 

intellectual property rights would be shared by the United States and the inventor. From U.S. Senator 

John Barrasso News Release on January 28, 2016.

“Climate Change Package Passes Massachusetts Senate.” The Massachusetts State Senate passed

legislation requiring the state to develop a climate change mitigation plan and to meet long-term carbon 

emissions reduction benchmarks. The bill, S. 2092, would set new targets between the goal of reducing 

Massachusetts’ emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and reducing it to 80 percent below 

1990 levels in 2050. In addition, the bill, which was sent to the Massachusetts House for consideration, 

would establish benchmarks of 35 to 40 percent below 1990 levels in 2030, and 55 to 65 percent below 

1990 levels in 2040. From NewBostonPost on January 28, 2016.

March 2016

“[Carbon Capture Bill Introduced].” A group of lawmakers proposed a bill supporting deployment of

carbon capture equipment at coal facilities for EOR. The measure would make permanent the existing 

CCS incentive (known as the 45Q tax credit), which is set to expire once reaching 75 million tons of CO2. 

Under the proposal, the credit value for CO2 storage through EOR or other types of geologic storage 

would be gradually increased from $10 and $20 per ton, respectively, to $30 per ton by 2025. From Utility 

Dive on February 26, 2016.
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April 2016

“[Maryland Governor Signs Bills to Reduce GHG Emissions].” The Governor of Maryland signed an

environmental bill that reauthorizes and sets new targets for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, which 

was originally passed in 2009 and required Maryland to reduce GHG emissions to 25 percent below 

2006 levels by 2020. The new target aims for a GHG emissions reduction to 40 percent below 2006 

levels by 2030. More information is available via the Governor’s press release. From The Washington 

Post on April 4, 2016.

May 2016

“[U.S.] Senate OKs Bill to Promote Wide Variety of Energy Sources.” The U.S. Senate approved a 

wide-ranging energy bill that encourages clean coal technology, including coal-fired power plant carbon 

capture projects, and a variety of energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, natural gas, hydropower, 

geothermal). The measure would cost approximately $32 billion over five years. From The Pittsburgh 

Post-Gazette on April 20, 2016.

June 2016

“Ontario Passes Landmark Climate Change Legislation.” The government of Ontario passed the 

Climate Change Mitigation and Low-Carbon Economy Act, which lays the groundwork for the province to 

link its program to a carbon cap-and-trade market set up by Québec and California. Under the legislation, 

Ontario will deposit allowances under its cap-and-trade program into the “Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Account,” which invests in initiatives that reduce GHG emissions. From Government of Ontario News 

Release on May 18, 2016.

July 2016

“South Africa Proposes Carbon Tax Relief in Draft Law.” The South African National Treasury has 

published draft regulations on a potential carbon offset in a step to implement their government’s carbon 

tax into law by January 2017. The carbon offset regulations, if enacted, will set procedures for taxpayers 

to use carbon offsets to reduce liability and reinvest in areas such as energy efficiency and renewable 

energy. From International Tax Review on June 27, 2016.

“Effectiveness of greenhouse-gas Emission Trading Schemes implementation: a review on 

legislations.” The following is the Abstract of this article: “[Due to potentially rising global temperatures], 

controlling [GHG] emissions has become an emerging topic around the world. This situation has led to 

the implementation of legislations, forcing companies to implement innovations and strategies to prevent 

and reduce carbon emissions. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of implementing these strategies and the 

estimation to fulfill Kyoto Protocol's 2020 target Emission Trading Schemes needs to be further 

[analyzed] and discussed. This paper reviews the existing [GHG]-emission legislations, as well as carbon 

offset programs worldwide. A detailed analysis on carbon emissions trends related to emissions 

penalties is shown for six major countries. The optimal penalty for emissions trading schemes is also 

analyzed and discussed. Future changes that could be made to the existing programs for enhancing their 

effectiveness are also suggested. It was found that carbon emissions decreased around 1.58 [percent]

per year since Emission Trading Schemes implementation. Around 23.43 [percent] of CO2 reduction can 

be reached after 10 years of Emission Trading Schemes implementation, compared to the trend when 

Emission Trading Schemes was not implemented. Despite Emission Trading Schemes implementation is 

extremely recent, based on the existing data a first estimation of the optimal penalty in achieving the 

maximum carbon reduction it was found around US$90.22 per [metric ton]. However, as the 

implementation period of Emission Trading Schemes is still limited for most countries, it is necessary to 

explore similar analysis as future work.” Paola Villoria-Sáez, Vivian W.Y. Tam, Mercedes del Río 
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Merino, Carmen Viñas Arrebola, Xiangyu Wang, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be 

required.)

August 2016

“[Senators] Introduce Bill to Support Carbon Capture Utilization [and] Storage.” Two U.S. 

Senators introduced a bill to incentivize development and use of carbon capture, utilization, and storage 

(CCUS) technologies and processes. The bill would promote carbon capture technologies by extending 

the 45Q tax credit, which encourages investment in carbon capture, utilization, and storage. In addition, 

the bill would also utilize the credit system to encourage innovation and the use of CO2 in EOR. For more 

information, refer to the press release, or read the bill, titled “Carbon Capture and Utilization Act of 2016.” 

From U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp Press Release on July 13, 2016.

September 2016

“California Legislature Passes Climate Change Bills.” The California Senate voted to extend the 

state’s climate change efforts, setting a target of reducing emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 

2030. California is currently on track to meet its 2020 goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels. The bill, 

which extends the current efforts through 2030, was passed following a linked bill that increases 

legislative oversight of the climate change programs managed by the California Air Resources Board. 

From Reuters on August 24, 2016.
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Announcements 

September 2015

U.S., China Sign Memorandum of Understanding. At the U.S.-China Clean Coal Industry Forum 

(CCIF) in Billings, Montana, USA, DOE and China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) finalized a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue ongoing collaboration on fossil energy technologies, 

including CCS. U.S. and Chinese partners are currently advancing six CCS pilot projects in China and 

Chinese companies have invested in CCS projects in the United States. 

DOE/NETL Funding Announcements. The Carbon Capture Program will fund 8 projects for reducing 

the cost of CO2 capture and compression, 16 projects for the development and testing of 

transformational CO2 capture systems, and 4 projects to assess the geologic storage potential of 

offshore subsurface depleted oil and natural gas reservoirs and saline formations. Furthermore, six 

projects will receive funding through NETL’s University Coal Research Program, administered by the 

Crosscutting Technology Research Program, and 12 projects will receive funding through DOE/NETL’s

Crosscutting Research Program’s Transitional Technology Development to Enable Highly Efficient 

Power Systems with Carbon Management initiative. Project descriptions are available via the above 

links.

New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme Reports Released. New Zealand’s Environmental 

Protection Authority issued their annual data reports on the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme 

(ETS), providing information on the businesses involved in the ETS, including greenhouse gases (GHGs) 

emitted and reduced, as well as year-by-year comparisons. The three ETS reports issued are available 

for download.

Report Released on Secondary Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances. On behalf of the states 

participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), independent marketing monitor Potomac 

Economics released the “Report on the Secondary Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: Second Quarter 

2015.” 

Pact Signed to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Six New England governors and five premiers of 

Eastern Canadian Provinces agreed to set a new goal for reducing GHG emissions by 2030. According 

to the agreement, the respective governments will look to reduce CO2 emissions in the range of 35 to 45 

percent below 1990 levels by 2030. 

October 2015

DOE/NETL Funding Announcement. DOE/NETL’s Carbon Storage Program will fund nine projects to 

research new CO2 storage technologies devoted to intelligent monitoring systems and advanced well 

integrity and mitigation approaches. The selected projects focus on the following three research 

priorities: (1) CCS-specific intelligent systems for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing CO2 injection 

operations; (2) diagnostic tools and methods capable of characterizing borehole release pathways or

fluid flow in existing wells; and (3) next-generation materials and methods for mitigating wellbore release. 

Quest CCS Project Set to Launch. Shell announced that its Quest CCS project, which is expected to 

store approximately 1 million metric tons of CO2 per year from the Scotford Upgrader, will officially launch 

in November 2015. The Quest project will capture and compress the CO2 produced by the Upgrader, 

then transport it via underground pipeline to three injection wells. Quest’s underground CO2 storage will be 

monitored through a measurement, monitoring, and verification program.
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November 2015

NETL’s 2015 Carbon Storage Atlas Shows Increase in U.S. CO2 Storage Potential. DOE/NETL 

released the fifth edition of the Carbon Storage Atlas (Atlas V), which shows prospective CO2 storage 

resources of at least 2,600 billion metric tons – an increase over the findings of the 2012 Atlas. Atlas V 

highlights potential CO2 storage resources in saline formations, oil and natural gas reservoirs, and 

unmineable coal seams. This edition also presents a detailed look at the RCSP Initiative’s large-scale 

field projects, which are uniquely tailored to address technical and non-technical challenges within their 

respective regions. 

DOE Selects Five Projects to Produce Fresh Water from CO2 Storage Sites. DOE/NETL selected 

five projects to develop and validate strategies to manage pressure and the flow of CO2 in saline 

formations through a Brine Extraction Storage Test (BEST). The projects will be managed under the 

Carbon Storage Program and will support the clean energy and climate goals announced by the U.S. 

and Chinese governments in November 2014. 

ION Engineering Successfully Completes Pilot-Scale Testing of Carbon Capture Technology. ION 

Engineering announced the successful completion of the first pilot-scale testing of its solvent and 

process technology for the removal of CO2 from large stationary sources. The project involved 1,200 

hours of continuous testing at the 0.6-Megawatt equivalent (MWe) Pilot Solvent Test Unit (PSTU), 

located at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) in Wilsonville, Alabama, USA. More than 99 

percent of the CO2 was captured from the facility’s flue gas.

Cambridge Draft Climate Change Strategy Open for Consultation. Cambridge City Council (in the 

United Kingdom) produced a draft “Climate Change Strategy 2016 to 2021,” providing a framework for 

addressing potential climate change from April 2016 through March 2021. Public consultation on the draft 

strategy is being accepted, via survey, through January 12, 2016. 

December 2015

Underground CO2 Storage, Natural Gas Recovery Targeted by Virginia Tech/NETL Researchers.

Researchers from DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Virginia Polytechnic 

Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) are investigating the feasibility of permanently and safely 

storing CO2 underground while simultaneously recovering natural gas. Virginia Tech’s Virginia Center for 

Coal and Energy Research (VCCER) initiated the injection of up to 20,000 tons of CO2 into a coalbed 

methane field in Buchanan County, Virginia, USA, in July 2015. Researchers will use a state-of-the-art 

monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) program to monitor and collect data as the CO2 is injected 

into the coal seams.

RGGI Completes 30th Auction of CO2 Allowances. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s (RGGI) 

30th auction of CO2 allowances was completed, with 15,374,274 CO2 allowances selling at the clearing 

price of $7.50. This was the fourth and final auction of 2015 and generated $115.3 million for 

reinvestment in strategic programs, such energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement 

programs. In addition, the states participating in RGGI also released the “Report on the Secondary 

Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: Third Quarter 2015.”

6th Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum Minister’s Meeting Held in Saudi Arabia. The 6th CSLF 

Ministerial Meeting, co-hosted by the United States and Saudi Arabia, was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

The meeting focused on the role of CCS technologies.

CSLF Recognizes CO2 Capture Project for Work in CCS. CSLF recognition for the CO2 Capture 

Project (CCP) includes a Global Achievement Award for the third phase of the CCP Program (CCP3 – 
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2009-2014), as well as Recognized Project Status for its current, fourth phase of the program (CCP4 – 

2014-2018). 

Sembcorp Joins Industrial CCS Scheme. Sembcorp Utilities UK, an industrial energy and water 

services provider, has joined the Teesside Collective, an industrial CCS scheme. The first phase of the 

scheme could be up and running by 2024.

January 2016

Underground CO2 Storage, Natural Gas Recovery Targeted by Virginia Tech/NETL Researchers.

Researchers from DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Virginia Polytechnic 

Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) are investigating the feasibility of permanently and safely 

storing CO2 underground while simultaneously recovering natural gas. Virginia Tech’s Virginia Center for 

Coal and Energy Research (VCCER) initiated the injection of up to 20,000 tons of CO2 into a coalbed 

methane field in Virginia, USA. Researchers will use a state-of-the-art monitoring, verification, and 

accounting (MVA) program to monitor and collect data as the CO2 is injected into the coal seams.

DOE-Funded Research Yields U.S. Patent for Use of CO2 in Concrete Curing. The United States 

Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for a new process, funded by DOE’s NETL, which uses 

CO2 to cure pre-cast concrete. The process uses CO2 instead of water to cure pre-cast concrete, 

reducing curing time to less than 24 hours. For more information, visit NETL’s Carbon Use and Reuse 

Webpage. 

February 2016

DOE Co-Sponsors Workshop. DOE and the UAE Ministry of Energy co-sponsored a CO2 utilization

workshop examining the technological and economic factors for CO2 utilization to recover oil and water in 

the Gulf Region. The workshop, which took place at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, 

brought together government and industry technical experts from the Middle East and the United States 

to discuss the full lifecycle of carbon capture, utilization, and storage. The workshop furthers ongoing 

collaboration under the U.S.-UAE Strategic Energy Dialogue and in the Carbon Sequestration 

Leadership Forum (CSLF). 

RGGI Auction 31. The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s (RGGI) 2016

auctions released the Auction Notice and application materials for their upcoming quarterly CO2

allowance auction. The CO2 Allowance Auction 31 will be held March 9, 2016.

Canada Pledges Funds to Reduce Carbon Emissions. The Government of Canada announced

funding to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), which have a shorter lifespan compared to 

greenhouse gases (GHGs). A portion of the funding will be used for projects that aim to reduce black 

carbon emissions to benefit the Arctic.

World Bank to Buy Carbon Credits. The World Bank announced it has committed to buy carbon

credits from the Philippines, potentially purchasing approximately 1.7 million carbon credits until 2020.

GCCSI Introduces CCS Fellowship Program. The Global CCS Institute (GCCSI) appointed the first

legal Fellow to their CCS Fellowship Program. The Institute, whose mission is to accelerate the 

development, demonstration, and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS), introduced the CCS 

Fellowship Program to recruit international experts to help advance CCS in Asia Pacific. 
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March 2016

RGGI Releases Reports. The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

released the “Report on the Secondary market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: Fourth Quarter 2015” and the 

“2015 Interim Compliance Summary Report.” The Secondary Market Report contains information on the 

secondary market for RGGI carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances from October through December 2015. 

The Interim Compliance Report contains CO2 allowance data to meet 2015 interim control period 

compliance.

Scientists Collaborate on CCS Research. The University of Edinburgh (UK) and the University of

Regina (Canada) signed a Memorandum of Understating (MOU) focused on strategic international 

research on CCS. The MOU will establish up to three scholarships each year; successful students will be 

accepted as visiting graduate students at Regina following the completion of two semesters for the 

University of Edinburgh’s Master of Science (MSc) in CCS.

MITEI Announces Partnership to Support Low-Carbon Future. The Massachusetts Institute of

Technology’s Energy Initiative (MITEI) will partner with national energy provider Exelon to advance 

technologies to address potential climate change through MITEI’s eight Low-Carbon Energy Centers. 

Each center focuses on advancing research in a specific technology area, such as carbon capture, 

utilization, and storage.

CCS Technical Advisor Named to Gassnova. AGR, a well construction and engineering project

management company, will act as technical advisor to the Norwegian state-owned Gassnova, which 

focuses on the research, development, and implementation of CCS technology in Norway. As part of the 

agreement, AGR will offer technical expertise across geoscience, reservoir, and drilling disciplines, as 

well as facilities and cost engineering.

April 2016

Tools to Monitor Carbon Storage Released. Simulation tools developed by the DOE-led National Risk

Assessment Partnership (NRAP) are under review by members of industry, regulatory agencies, 

universities, and other organizations, such as the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs). 

The successful deployment of the tools will enable users to predict the safety and permanence of carbon

storage systems. Following review, the NRAP project team will implement improvements based on the 

feedback, with the final tool release expected in late 2016. For more information on NRAP and the new 

tool set, visit the NRAP website. 

U.S. to Lead International Carbon Capture Test Network. The International Test Center Network

(ITCN), a global consortium of facilities conducting research and development (R&D) on carbon capture

technologies, will be led by the United States (represented by FE). The ITCN was formed by the DOEsponsored National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) and Norway’s Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) 

to facilitate knowledge transfer from carbon capture test facilities around the world. 

Global CCS Institute Releases Global Storage Portfolio. The Global CCS Institute published a new

report summarizing regional storage resource assessments. Designed as a regularly updated reference 

containing the latest assessment of geological storage in regions around the world, the Global Storage 

Portfolio summarizes storage resource potential of nations that have published regional assessments. A 

summary of the portfolio is available in the Recent Publications section of this newsletter. 

Western Australia Project Releases Well Data. The South West Hub Carbon Capture and Storage

(CCS) project released new well data to aid research in the feasibility of storing carbon dioxide (CO2) in 

underground formations. More information is available via the Government of Western Australia’s 

Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) website. 
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May 2016

DOE-Supported Research Has Potential to Reduce CO2 Emissions. Research under a National 

Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)-sponsored Small Business Technology Transfer Project has led 

to a discovery that may reduce CO2 emissions from power plants through a new process called “solution 

precursor plasma spray” (SPPS). The process provides a thermal barrier coating (TBC) with a potential 

for use at 1,500°C, which is a 300°C temperature advantage compared to current state-of-the-art air 

plasma-sprayed TBCs.

Wyoming Integrated Test Center Groundbreaking. Construction has begun on Wyoming’s Integrated 

Test Center, a laboratory where researchers will test new carbon-conversion technologies on a coal-fired 

power plant. Wyoming has pledged $15 million toward construction of the laboratory. Construction of the 

Integrated Test Center, located at Basin Electric’s Dry Fork Station coal-fired power plant near Gillette, 

Wyoming, USA, is expected to be completed in 2017. 

Shell Publishes 2015 Sustainability Report. Royal Dutch Shell published its Sustainability Report for 

2015, detailing its focus on energy transitions, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), as well as 

other investments in low-carbon technologies. 

June 2016

U.S., Saudi Arabia Announce International Collaboration. The United States and the Kingdom of 

Saudi Arabia announced plans to establish an international consortium to promote research, 

development, and demonstration (RD&D) of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles. The 

collaboration between the United States and Saudi Arabia builds on actions by both nations to advance 

sCO2 technologies to reduce technical barriers and risks to commercialization of the sCO2 power cycle. 

Other countries that are pursuing sCO2 research and development (R&D), including the Republic of 

Korea, will be invited to join the new consortium.

UK Center for Applied Energy Research Receives Grant for U.S.-China Clean Energy Research 

Center. DOE selected the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) for a 

renewal of its U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) grant. The five-year DOE grant will 

support CAER efforts to develop advanced coal technologies. CERC, created in 2009 by DOE, the China 

Ministry of Science and Technology, and the China National Energy Administration, facilitates joint R&D 

on clean energy by research teams from the United States and China. 

 

DOE-Supported Research Has Potential to Reduce CO2 Emissions. Research under an NETLsponsored project has led to a discovery that may reduce CO2 emissions from power plants through a 

new process called “solution precursor plasma spray” (SPPS). The process provides a thermal barrier 

coating (TBC) with a potential for use at 1,500°C, which is a 300°C temperature advantage compared to 

current state-of-the-art air plasma-sprayed TBCs.

NETL Researchers Develop New CO2 Conversion Process. A new process developed by an NETLled research team uses gold nanoparticles to convert CO2 into usable chemicals and fuels. If 

implemented on a commercial scale, the new process has the potential to reduce atmospheric CO2

emissions. The research team estimates that renewable energy sources can efficiently power large-scale 

CO2 conversion systems to convert CO2. 

Annual Report on Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances Released. In reviewing the four Regional 

Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) CO2 allowance auctions held in 2015, an independent market monitor 

found no material concerns regarding the auction process, barriers to participation, or competitiveness. 
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According to the report, titled “Annual Report on the Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: 2015,” the 

average auction clearing price increased 29 percent ($4.72 in 2014 to $6.10 in 2015), and the volumeweighted average prices in the secondary market increased to an average of $6.48 in 2015. In addition, 

the average number of auction participants increased from 45 in 2014 to 50 in 2015.

July 2016

DOE Awards $10 Million to Small Businesses for Fossil Energy Research and Technology 

Transfer. DOE selected 10 research projects to be funded under the Small Business Innovative 

Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs through DOE’s Office of 

Science. Of the 10 selected projects, 8 were made under Topic Area 1: Clean Coal and Carbon 

Management, and include key R&D programs, such as carbon storage technologies in the area of 

wellbore release pathway detection techniques. 

DOE Selects Projects to Demonstrate Feasibility of Producing Usable Water from CO2 Storage 

Sites. DOE selected two projects to test enhanced water recovery (EWR) technologies for their potential 

to produce useable water from CO2 storage sites. The two projects, which will be managed by DOE’s 

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), were selected from the five Brine Extraction Storage 

Test (BEST) projects awarded in September 2015. 

NETL Launches University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research. Pennsylvania State University 

(PSU) will serve as the lead institution for DOE/NETL’s University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research. 

The Coalition brings together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from different universities to 

address the research challenges of fossil energy-based technologies, including CCS. The six-year 

initiative is expected to help accelerate the development and deployment of fossil fuel-based 

technologies in a cost-effective and environmentally safe manner. 

Reports Highlight CCS Technology. The Global CCS Institute released two public information reports 

that highlight the long-term application of CCS technology in a variety of industrial sectors. The first 

report, titled “Introduction to Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage,” summarizes 17 CCS projects 

across multiple sectors. The second report, titled “Understanding Industrial CCS Hubs and Clusters,” 

explores the economic benefits of building shared infrastructure.

August 2016

NETL Technologies Named Finalists for Awards. The Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI) 

Toolset was one of four NETL-developed technologies named finalists for this year’s R&D 100 Awards, 

presented annually by R&D Magazine in recognition of the top technologies and services across multiple 

categories. The CCSI Toolset is a suite of computational tools and models tailored to help maximize 

learning and reduce potential risk during scale-up of carbon capture technologies.

NETL Releases CCS Education Videos. NETL released two educational videos on the safe and 

permanent storage of CO2. The first video describes the National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP), 

an NETL-led initiative within DOE’s FE that applies science-based prediction for engineered-natural 

systems to the long-term storage of CO2. The second video discusses NETL’s advances and innovation 

in cost-effective and safe CCS strategies. 

DOE Announces Funding to Advance Safe and Permanent Storage of CO2. DOE announced 

funding for cost-shared R&D projects focused on the safe and permanent storage of CO2 during CCS 

operations. The Carbon Storage Assurance and Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) initiative is intended to 

develop integrated CCS storage complexes, which will be constructed and permitted for operation in the 

2025 timeframe following a series of developmental phases. 
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DOE to Invest in Advanced Turbine and Supercritical CO2-Based Power Cycles. DOE’s NETL 

selected six Phase II projects to further develop innovative technologies for advanced gas turbine 

components and supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles. 

PTRC and CO2CRC Agree to Collaborate on Carbon Management. The Petroleum Technology 

Research Center (PTRC) and the CO2 Commonwealth Research Center (CO2CRC) signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Aquistore, an integrated CO2 storage project associated with 

an industrial-scale coal-fired power plant. The MOU represents efforts to prepare and execute joint 

research; facilitate the exchange of scientists and technical personnel; and encourage dedicated CO2

storage on regional, national, and international scales.

September 2016

NETL’s 2016 Carbon Storage and Oil and Natural Gas Technologies Review Meeting Materials 

Available Online. Proceedings of the 2016 Carbon Storage and Oil and Natural Gas Technologies 

Review Meeting, held August 16-18, 2016, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, are available. Plenary 

sessions included an international offshore carbon storage panel discussion and updates on Regional 

Carbon Sequestration Partnership (RCSP) projects. Poster presentations are also available for 

download. 

DOE Announces Funding to Advance Cleaner Fossil Fuel-Based Power Generation. DOE selected 

14 research and development (R&D) projects to advance energy systems that will enable costcompetitive, fossil fuel-based power generation with near-zero emissions. The National Energy 

Technology Laboratory (NETL)-managed projects will accelerate the scale-up of coal-based advanced 

combustion power systems; advance coal gasification processes; and improve the cost, reliability, and 

endurance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) will fund the projects.

DOE Investing in Advanced Geologic Carbon Storage and Geothermal Exploration. DOE selected 

eight R&D projects to receive federal funding under its Subsurface Technology and Engineering 

Research, Development, and Demonstration (SubTER) Crosscut initiative. The projects will be funded by 

FE’s Carbon Storage Program and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE)

Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO).

Texas CO2 Capture Demonstration Project Hits Milestone. A CCS project sponsored by DOE and 

managed by NETL successfully captured and transported 3 million metric tons of CO2 via pipeline. The 

project demonstrates the implementation of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.’s vacuum swing adsorption 

technology into a hydrogen production facility, and verifies the effective use of CO2 enhanced oil 

recovery (EOR) for permanently storing CO2. The project is supported through DOE’s Industrial Carbon 

Capture and Storage (ICCS) Program. 
1450 Queen Avenue SW 

Albany, OR 97321-2198

541-967-5892

420 L Street

Suite 305

Anchorage, AK 99501

907-271-3618

3610 Collins Ferry Road

P.O. Box 880

Morgantown, WV 26507-0880

304-285-4764

626 Cochrans Mill Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940

412-386-4687

13131 Dairy Ashford Road

Suite 225 

Sugar Land, TX 77478

281-494-2516

Contact:

Traci Rodosta

U.S. Department of Energy

National Energy Technology Laboratory

3610 Collins Ferry Road

P.O. Box 880 

Morgantown, WV 26507

Phone: (304) 285-1345

Fax: (304) 285-4638

traci.rodosta@netl.doe.gov

For more information on the Carbon Storage Program, please visit:

DOE’s Carbon Storage Program 

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