resource in saline formations, oil and gas 

reservoirs, and unmineable coal. This 

CO2 storage resource could potentially 

store hundreds of years’ worth of 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Atlas 

IV states that more than 225 billion 

metric tons of storage resource has been 

identified in depleted oil and gas fields, 

which could accommodate storage of 

emissions from stationary sources while simultaneously improving the 

energy security of the United States by enhancing oil and gas recovery. 

Atlas IV was created by the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) National 

Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) with input from DOE’s seven 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs) and American 

Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded site characterization 

projects. The RCSPs are testing CO2 storage potential and investigating 

best practices for CO2 storage in a variety of geologic formations. The 

site characterization projects are furthering DOE efforts to assess the 

Nation’s CO2 storage resource by developing additional characterization 

data for possible storage reservoirs. The primary purpose of Atlas IV 

is to provide an update on the CO2 storage potential in the United 

States and to showcase updated information about the RCSPs’ field 

activities and new information from the site characterization projects. 

Atlas IV outlines DOE’s Carbon Storage Program and its carbon 

capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) collaborations, along with 

worldwide CCUS projects and CCUS regulatory issues. Atlas IV also 

presents updated information on the location of CO2 stationary source 

emissions and the locations and storage potential of various geologic 

storage sites, and it provides information about the commercialization 

opportunities for CCUS technologies. The complete version of Atlas 

IV is available for download at: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/

carbon_seq/refshelf/atlasIV/Atlas-IV-2012.pdf. The NATCARB Viewer 

is accessible from: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/

natcarb/index.html. December 19, 2012, http://www.fossil.energy.gov/

news/techlines/2012/12061-DOE_Releases_Carbon_Storage_Atlas.

html.

Sequestration in the News

Carbon Capture Journal, “UK Online CO2

Storage Database to be Launched.” 

The Energy Technology Institute (ETI) has agreed 

to a license with The Crown Estate and the British 

Geological Survey to host and further develop its 

Introduction

This Newsletter is created by the National Energy Technology 

Laboratory and represents a summary of carbon sequestration news 

covering the past month. Readers are referred to the actual article(s) for 

complete information. It is produced by the National Energy Technology 

Laboratory to provide information on recent activities and publications 

related to carbon sequestration. It covers domestic, international, public 

sector, and private sector news.

Highlights

Fossil Energy Techline, “DOE’s Carbon Utilization and Storage 

Atlas Estimates at Least 2,400 Billion Metric Tons of U.S. CO2

Storage Resource.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2012 United States 

Carbon Utilization and Storage Atlas (Atlas IV), the United States has at 

least 2,400 billion metric tons of potential carbon dioxide (CO2) storage

U.S. Department of Energy • Office of Fossil Energy • National Energy Technology Laboratory

January 2013

 What’s Inside?

Sequestration in the News

Announcements

Science

Policy

Geology

Technology

Terrestrial

Trading

Recent Publications

Legislative Activity

Events

Subscription Information
Sequestration in the News

(Continued)

United Kingdom (UK) CO2 Storage Appraisal project into a webenabled database of mapped UK offshore CO2 storage capacity. The 

online database contains geological data, storage estimates, risk 

assessments and economics of nearly 600 potential CO2 storage units 

of depleted oil and gas reservoirs, and saline formations around the 

UK. Interested stakeholders will be able to access information concerning

storage resource through the new, first-of-its-kind database, enabling 

them to make more informed, carbon capture and storage (CCS)-

related decisions. The database is expected to go live in early 2013. 

December 15, 2012, http://www.carboncapturejournal.com/displaynews.

php?NewsID=1070&PHPSESSID=l8dkjsha7qaa6s815mlrslvtq4.

Callide Oxyfuel Project Media Release, “Callide Oxyfuel Project 

Enters Demonstration Phase.”

Construction and commissioning of the coal-fired, low-emission Callide 

Oxyfuel Project has been completed, with the project now moving into 

the demonstration phase. The $208 million project aims to demonstrate 

how CCS technology can be applied to existing coal-fired power stations 

to produce electricity with lower emissions. The project is a joint venture 

between CS Energy, the Australian Coal Association Low Emission 

Technologies (ACALET), Xstrata Coal, Schlumberger, and Japanese 

participants (J-Power; Mitsui & Co., Ltd.; and IHI Corporation). 

Funding has been received from the Australian ($50 million under 

the Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund), Japanese, and 

Queensland governments, and the Japan Coal Energy Center (JCOAL) 

has provided technical support. December 15, 2012, http://www.

callideoxyfuel.com/Portals/0/News/Callide%20Oxyfuel%20Project%20

-%202012%20-%20OPENING%20EVENT%20-%20FINAL%20

-%20Media%20release%20-%2015%20December%202012.pdf. 

MiningWeekly.com, “SA and World Urged to Accelerate CarbonCapture Efforts.”

Following Cabinet endorsement in 2012 of the “Carbon Capture and 

Storage Roadmap,” developed by the South African Centre for Carbon 

Capture and Storage as one of the options for mitigating CO2 emissions, 

South Africa is working to raise the profile of its CCS initiatives in 2013. 

The endorsement followed a voluntarily commitment by South Africa 

to reduce CO2 emissions by 34 percent in 2020 and by 42 percent in 

2025 if technological and financial support is available. South Africa 

has already published a carbon atlas and initiated preparations for its 

first CO2 injection test by 2016. If feasible, the next step would be 

the development of a demonstration plant. The roadmap is available 

at: http://www.sacccs.org.za/roadmap/. On February 13-15, 2013, the 

European Commission (EC), along with Eskom and EcoMetrix Africa, 

will host a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, at ESKOM’s 

Academy of Learning in Midrand where information on the Octavius 

research program will be discussed. The Octavius project is dedicated to 

the demonstration of energy-efficient CO2 capture processes at industrial 

pilot plants. More information on the Octavius project is available 

at: http://www.octavius-co2.eu/Octavius/jcms/xnt_15158/octaviusfp7-project. January 9, 2013, http://www.miningweekly.com/article/

sa-and-world-urged-to-accelerate-carbon-capture-efforts-2013-01-09.

National Energy

Technology Laboratory

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dawn.deel@netl.doe.gov

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 Disclaimer

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States Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology 

Laboratory. Neither the United States Government nor 

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warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability for 

the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, 

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expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the United 

States Government or any agency thereof.

2
Announcements

DOE Approves Field Test for Promising Carbon Capture Technology.

DOE has approved a post-combustion membrane technology to advance to a large-scale field test. The technology successfully demonstrated 

the separation and capture of 90 percent of the CO2 from a pulverized coal plant. Membrane Technology and Research Inc. (MTR) will next 

begin fabricating a 1-megawatt (MW) system capable of meeting DOE’s program goals of capturing more than 90 percent of CO2 from flue 

gas with a less than 35 percent increase in cost of electricity. The 1-MW system will be tested at DOE’s National Carbon Capture Center 

(NCCC) in Wilsonville, Alabama. For more information, visit: http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2012/12057-DOE_Approves_

Carbon_Capture_Field_.html. 

2013 Midwest Carbon Sequestration Science Conference.

The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) has announced plans for their annual Project Advisory Meeting on October 7, 

2013, at the I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois. This conference will include a full day of Illinois Basin Decatur Project 

(IBDP) research presentations covering all aspects of the MGSC Phase III research activities. The conference will also include a Sequestration 

Training and Education Program (STEP)-sponsored workshop and an optional tour of the IBDP site. Full meeting details will be distributed 

in June, with registration opening in July. To visit the MGSC website, go to: http://www.sequestration.org/. 

12th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies.

GHGT-12 will be held on October 5-9, 2014, in Austin, Texas. This will be the first visit by the conference series to Austin, Texas, and more 

than 1,600 participants are expected to attend. The event will be hosted by the University of Texas at Austin and the International Energy 

Agency Greenhouse Gas (IEAGHG) R&D Program. An overview of GHGT-12 is available at: http://ghgt.info/index.php/Content-GHGT12/

ghgt-12-overview.html. 

Factbook – Bringing Carbon Capture and Storage to Market.

A factbook based on the September 2012 SBC Energy Institute report, titled, “Bringing Carbon Capture and Storage to Market,” has been 

released, summarizing the status of existing technologies and the main research and development (R&D) priorities. In addition, the factbook 

also analyzes the economics of the main large-scale demonstration and deployment projects and gives the SBC Energy Institute’s view of 

the future of CCS technologies and projects. To download the document, go to: http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/publications/factbookbringing-carbon-capture-and-storage-market. 

Short Course at SPE Americas.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is offering a one-day short course, titled, “GHG and CCS Regulatory and Legal Framework,” on 

March 17, 2013, at the Hilton Galveston Island Resort in Galveston, Texas. In addition to reviewing the evolving regulatory and legal frameworks 

that will govern GHGs and the CCS industry, the course will also cover topics such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 

Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, current international climate negotiations, surface and subsurface property rights issues for geologic 

storage, and remaining gaps in legislation and regulation. More information is available at: http://www.spe.org/training/courses/RLF.php. 

openCCS: A Collaboratively Developed Handbook for Delivering CCS Projects.

The Global CCS Institute (GCCSI) has released “openCCS,” a platform for sharing methodologies, best practices, and lessons learned from 

experience with each component of an integrated CCS project. GCCSI’s goal is for openCCS to improve over time through the contributions 

of CCS practitioners on topics such as: recommended project schedules, activities, and work breakdown structures; definitional pages to 

explain core CCS concepts; technical papers, methods, and guidelines; and aggregations of useful pages on other sites. To learn more, go 

to: http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/openccs. A slideshow overview of openCCS is available at: http://www.slideshare.net/globalccs/

introduction-to-openccs-15612962. 

3

Sequestration in the News

(Continued)

The Korea Herald, “Korea to Establish Carbon Storage Technology 

Research Center.”

Korea’s leading research institution, the Korea Advanced Institute of 

Science and Technology, and oil developer Saudi Aramco signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to 

establish a research center to develop technologies to capture, store, 

and utilize CO2. The new facility will be located at the school’s campus 

in Daejeon, South Korea, and financed equally by the two sides; the 

collaboration will initially run for six years and could be extended. 

The organizations will work to develop commercially viable processes 

for CCS, as well as utilization technologies like using and converting 

CO2 to produce food, beverages, bio and renewable fuels, and 

chemical feedstock. January 9, 2013, http://www.eco-business.com/

news/korea-to-establish-carbon-storage-technology-research-center/. 
4

minimum cost associated with increasing energy demand whilst 

simultaneously meeting a given CO2 emissions target. Multiple tradeoff solutions so called Pareto optimal solutions can be generated using 

a range of emissions targets. The new graphical approach can be used 

to target CO2 emissions related to utility systems and energy resources 

networks. Two case studies are used to demonstrate this targeting 

method.” Mohmmad A. Al-Mayyahi, Andrew F.A. Hoadley, and G.P. 

Rangaiah, Applied Energy, Available in April 2013 edition, http://dx.doi.

org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.11.077, http://www.sciencedirect.com/

science/article/pii/S0306261912008872. (Subscription may be required.)

“The improvement of CO2 emission reduction policies based on 

system dynamics method in traditional industrial region with large 

CO2 emission.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Some traditional industrial 

regions are characterized by high industrial proportion and large CO2

emission. They are facing dual pressures of maintaining economic 

growth and largely reducing CO2 emission. From the perspective of 

study of typological region, taking the typical traditional industrial 

region—Liaoning Province of China as a case, this study establishes a 

system dynamics model named EECP and dynamically simulates CO2

emission trends under different conditions. Simulation results indicate, 

compared to the condition without CO2 emission reduction policies, 

CO2 emission intensity under the condition of implementing CO2

emission reduction policies of ‘Twelfth Five-Year Plan’ is decreased by 

11 [percent] from 2009 to 2030, but the economic cost is high, making 

the policies implementation faces resistance. Then some improved 

policies are offered and proved by EECP model that they can reduce 

CO2 emission intensity after 2021 and decrease the negative influence to 

GDP, realizing the improvement objects of reducing CO2 emission and 

simultaneously keeping a higher economy growth speed. The improved 

policies can provide reference for making and improving CO2 emission 

reduction policies in other traditional industrial regions with large CO2 

emission. Simultaneously, EECP model can provide decision-makers 

with reference and help for similar study of energy policy.” Fujia Li, 

Suocheng Dong, Zehong Li, Shantong Li, and Yongkun Wan, Energy 

Policy, Available in January 2013 edition, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.

enpol.2012.09.014, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/

S0301421512007720. (Subscription may be required.) 

Geology

“CO2 capture from ethanol production and storage into the Mt 

Simon Sandstone.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Under the Industrial 

Carbon Capture and Storage (ICCS) program, funded by ARRA, DOE 

is co-sponsoring the Archer Daniels Midland Company’s (ADM’s) 

large-scale CCS project in Illinois. FE’s NETL manages this project, 

which receives $141.4 million in ARRA funding and another $66.5 

million in private sector cost-sharing. This project, also referred to as 

the Illinois ICCS project, is under construction in Decatur, Illinois, and 

is scheduled to begin operations in 2013. The project team members are 

ADM, DOE, Schlumberger Carbon Services, Illinois State Geological 

Survey (ISGS), and Richland Community College (RCC). The Illinois

Science

Science Daily, “Researchers Find First Evidence of Ice Age Wolves 

in Nevada.”

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, have unearthed 

fossil remains from a dire wolf (an extinct, Ice Age wolf species) in 

northwest Las Vegas, revealing the first evidence that the mammal 

once lived in Nevada. The fossil, which geologists estimate to be 

in the range of 10,000 to 15,000 years old, was discovered near the 

proposed Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, an area 

known for Ice Age animal remains. The dire wolf is a larger relative 

of the gray wolf, and was present in North and South America for 

more than 1 million years; scientists believe the Ice Age mammal’s 

extinction was due to competition from other wolf species and potential 

food scarcity approximately 10,000 years ago. December 13, 2012, 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121213181107.htm. 

ClimateWire, “Warmest Year Ever Recorded in Lower 48 States 

Came in 2012.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

2012 was the warmest year ever recorded in the contiguous United 

States, as the average temperature in the lower 48 states reached 55.3 

degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature was more than the previous record 

set in 1998 by one degree. The contiguous United States endured a 

record warm spring, its second warmest summer, fourth warmest winter, 

and an above average autumn. The government’s temperature records 

for the contiguous United States date back to 1895. In addition, the 

research revealed that 2012 was the United States’ second most extreme 

weather year on record, according to the U.S. Climate Extremes Index. 

The U.S. Climate Extremes Index tracks extreme weather activity by 

monitoring extremes of temperature and precipitation and tropical 

cyclones that make landfall. Finally, the researchers also stated that the 

global average temperature for 2012 appears to be the eighth warmest 

year in a record that goes back to 1880. January 9, 2013, http://www.

eenews.net/climatewire/2013/01/09/2. (Subscription may be required.)

Policy

“A novel graphical approach to target CO2 emissions for energy 

resource planning and utility.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Many optimization 

techniques, both numerical and graphical, have recently been introduced 

for CO2 emissions targeting. These targeting approaches have been 

applied to a wide range of applications including energy allocation 

and utility systems optimization. However, the trade-off between the 

operating cost and the associated CO2 emissions cannot be easily 

assessed. This paper presents a new simple graphical approach to 

target CO2 emissions associated with energy resources and utility 

systems. The principles of marginal energy cost and marginal 

CO2 emissions are employed to construct two composite curves 

to be used as targeting tools. The CO2 emissions composite curve 

(CO2CC) and cost composite curve (CCC) are used to determine the 
Geology (Continued)

ICCS project will demonstrate an integrated system for collecting 

up to 907,000 tonnes per year of CO2 from ADM’s ethanol plant in 

Decatur and geologically [storing] it in the Mt Simon Sandstone, a 

saline reservoir. The project scope includes the design, construction, 

and integrated operation of CO2 compression, dehydration, and injection 

facilities, and monitoring, verification, and accounting [MVA] of the 

stored CO2. Significant field work has been completed, i.e. design of the 

integrated CCS system, 3-D seismic survey and site characterization, 

and mechanical construction of the compression and dehydration 

facilities. This is the largest saline storage project under construction in 

the [United States]. This paper will provide an overview and benefits of 

the Illinois ICCS project, present the field work results, and highlight the 

current status and future plans.” Sai Gollakota and Scott McDonald, 

Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Available online October 

15, 2012, doi:10.1002/ghg.1305, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

doi/10.1002/ghg.1305/abstract. (Subscription may be required.))

“Common attributes of hydraulically fractured oil and gas 

production and CO2 geological [storage].”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Areal footprints of current 

and future hydraulically fractured oil and gas reservoirs and potential 

CO2 geological-[storage] intervals often overlap in sedimentary basins. 

Significant vertical separations between prospective subsurface volumes, 

however, will limit their interaction, particularly if the carbon-storage 

site is deeper than the hydrocarbon resource. Recent intense development 

of shale resources translates into a reduced need for [storage] capacity. 

It has also resulted in technological innovations directly transferable to 

the carbon-storage industry, in particular progress on well completion, 

such as new approaches to cementing, more mature horizontal drilling 

methods, and development of field-treatment techniques for saline 

water. In addition, knowledge collected by operators on stratigraphy 

and faults – for example, using 3D seismic – and on abandoned wells 

is directly useful in reducing risk in future carbon-storage projects. 

Both industries can benefit from development of regional transmission 

pipelines, pipeline rights-of-way, and a trained workforce. From a 

regulatory standpoint, hydraulic fracturing of shale and tight formations 

is not considered injection. Under the [U.S. Underground Injection 

Control (UIC)] program, because hydraulically fractured wells fall 

under the production category, they do not follow the same set of rules 

for protecting water resources as oil and gas industry disposal wells 

do (UIC Class II). Both subsurface uses share some risk elements, 

however. Environmental risks result mostly from abandoned wells and 

faults, poorly characterized for carbon storage, and from defective well 

completions and surface spills during oil and gas production. Operators 

of both fields are also concerned about disposal of large fluid volumes 

possibly generating seismic events.” Jean-Philippe Nicot and Ian J. 

Duncan, Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Available online 

September 14, 2012, doi:10.1002/ghg.1300, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.

com/doi/10.1002/ghg.1300/abstract. (Subscription may be required.)

“Characterizing CO2 storage reservoirs and shallow overburden 

for above-zone monitoring in Texas Gulf Coast EOR fields.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Enhanced oil 

5

recovery (EOR) through CO2 injection provides an excellent 

opportunity for commercial [storage] of anthropogenic CO2. A fluviodeltaic, deep-seated salt dome and a strand-plain, roll-over anticline 

from the Gulf Coast region are currently under investigation for the 

design and implementation of monitoring, verification, and accounting 

(MVA) plans, in coordination with the commercial surveillance of 

independent, large-volume (>1 million ton/year) CO2-EOR operations. 

Characterization with wireline logs demonstrates the vertical extent 

and areal continuity of reservoir sands and geometries of faults that 

offset the reservoir. To develop the monitoring plan, [the authors] 

focused on several elements: (i) characterization of the zones above the 

confining unit for above-zone pressure monitoring, (ii) collection and 

development of input data for ‘quick-look’ dynamic modeling of CO2 

plume extent and pressure elevation, and (iii) identifying intersections 

of faults with wellbores in intervals above the regional confining 

unit for thermal monitoring. Other uncertainties addressed during 

characterization are the upper extent of faults and the juxtaposition 

of layers to assess the potential for cross-fault fluid migration. 

Successful use of such techniques for MVA, based on uniting elements 

of existing regulatory monitoring expectations, would lead to the 

establishment of commercial best practices for effective and rapid 

characterization of EOR sites in the Gulf Coast region.” Khandaker 

M. Zahid, Seyyed A. Hosseini, Vanessa Nuñez-López, and Susan D. 

Hovorka, *UHHQKRXVH*DVHVScience and Technology, Available online 

December 19, 2012, doi:10.1002/ghg.1320, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.

com/doi/10.1002/ghg.1320/abstract. (Subscription may be required.)

Technology

“Measurement of CO2 Diffusivity for Carbon [Storage]: A 

Microfluidic Approach for Reservoir-Specific Analysis.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Predicting CO2 security 

and capacity in [storage] requires knowledge of CO2 diffusion into 

reservoir fluids. In this paper [the authors] demonstrate a microfluidic 

based approach to measuring the mutual diffusion coefficient of [CO2] 

in water and brine. The approach enables formation of fresh CO2–liquid 

interfaces; the resulting diffusion is quantified by imaging fluorescence 

quenching of a pH-dependent dye, and subsequent analyses. This 

method was applied to study the effects of site-specific variables—CO2 

pressure and salinity levels—on the diffusion coefficient. In contrast to 

established, macro-scale pressure–volume–temperature cell methods 

that require large sample volumes and testing periods of hours/days, this 

approach requires only microliters of sample, provides results within 

minutes, and isolates diffusive mass transport from convective effects. 

The measured diffusion coefficient of CO2 in water was constant (1.86 

[±0.26] × 10–9 m2/s) over the range of pressures (5–50 bar) tested at 

26°C, in agreement with existing models. The effects of salinity were 

measured with solutions of 0–5 M NaCl, where the diffusion coefficient 

varied up to [three] times. These experimental data support existing 

theory and demonstrate the applicability of this method for reservoirspecific testing.” Andrew Sell, Hossein Fadaei, Myeongsub Kim, 

and David Sinton, Environ. Sci. Technol., Available online October 

23, 2012, doi:10.1021/es303319q, http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/

es303319q. (Subscription required.) 
6

TechnoloGy (Continued)

“A study of the effects of friction, heat transfer, and stream 

impurities on the decompression behavior in CO2 pipelines.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “A transient multi-phase 

outflow model is employed to study the effects of heat transfer 

and friction on the decompression behavior in CO2 pipelines. The 

model’s predictions are compared to measurements obtained from 

a number of shock tube experiments for gaseous phase CO2 as well 

its various mixtures, typical of those found in the different capture 

technologies. Particular attention is paid to studying the impact 

of the stream impurities on the CO2 mixtures saturation pressures 

and the decompression wave speeds given their direct influence 

on the pipeline’s propensity to running ductile fractures.” Haroun 

Mahgerefteh, Solomon Brown, and Sergey Martynov, Greenhouse 

Gases:6FLHQFHDQG7HFKQRORJ\, Available online September 

24, 2012, doi:10.1002/ghg.1302, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

doi/10.1002/ghg.1302/abstract. (Subscription may be required.) )

“Model verification and evaluation of the rich-split process 

modification at an Australian-based post combustion CO2 capture 

pilot plant.”

The following is from the Abstract of this article: “The [Commonwealth 

Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)] is 

involved in three CO2 capture pilot plants operating at different 

coal-fired power stations throughout Australia. The most recently 

completed of these is the Tarong CO2 capture pilot plant located at 

Tarong power station, Nanango, Queensland. The first phase of the 

experimental program with this pilot plant included operation with 

monoethanolamine (MEA). This involved parametric studies, process 

modifications, and finally implementation of [24-hour] operation. 

Operation of the pilot plant has shown MEA to be effective in 

capturing CO2 from the flue gas from Tarong Power Station. CO2 

capture efficiencies of up to 94 [percent], and regeneration energies 

as low as 3.6 MJ/kgCO2 have been achieved...” Ashleigh Cousins, 

Aaron Cottrell, Anthony Lawson, Sanger Huang, and Paul H.M. 

Feron, Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Available online 

September 24, 2012, doi:10.1002/ghg.1295, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.

com/doi/10.1002/ghg.1295/abstract. (Subscription may be required.)

“Upscaling and its application in numerical simulation of longterm CO2 storage.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Numerical simulations 

of long-term geological CO2 storage could be particularly useful 

in predicting the capacity, security, and other consequences of 

CO2 [storage]. The physics of this flow is essentially a multiphase 

multicomponent phenomenon in a strongly heterogeneous medium 

necessitating the need for a computationally prohibitive resolution 

to capture the various physical processes at all scales. Upscaling 

is an important step in these simulations when going from 

geostatistical models featuring strong heterogeneities to the simulation 

models which in practice are limited because of computational 

restrictions. Although many different upscaling techniques exist, 

including dynamic and steady-state methods, thorough analyses

of their application to CO2 [storage] are not yet established. This 

review aims to highlight the recent developments in the application 

of upscaling to the modeling of long-term CO2 storage and provide 

insights into aspects that could prove valuable to numerical 

simulations.” Wasim A. Akber Hassan and Xi Jiang, Greenhouse 

Gases: 6FLHQFHDQG7HFKQRORJ\, Available online October 26, 

2012, doi:10.1002/ghg.1306, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

doi/10.1002/ghg.1306/abstract. (Subscription may be required.)

Terrestrial

“CO2 uptake by a soil microcosm.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[Storage] of CO2 via 

biological [formations] is a matter of great scientific importance 

due to the potential lowering of atmospheric CO2. In this study, 

a custom built incubation chamber was used to cultivate a soil 

microbial community to instigate chemoautotrophy of a temperate 

soil. Real-time atmospheric CO2 concentrations were monitored and 

estimations of total CO2 uptake were made. After careful background 

flux corrections, 4.52 ± 0.05 g CO2 kg−1 dry soil was [stored] from 

the chamber atmosphere over 40 [hours]. Using isotopically labeled 

13CO2 and GCMS–IRMS, labeled fatty acids were identified after 

only a short incubation, hence confirming CO2 [storage] for soil. The 

results of this in vivo study provide the ground work for future studies 

intending to mimic the in situ environment by providing a reliable 

method for investigating CO2 uptake by soil microorganisms.” Kris 

M. Hart, Seth F. Oppenheimer, Brian W. Moran, Christopher C.R. 

Allen, Vassilis Kouloumbos, Andre J. Simpson, Leonid A. Kulakov, 

Leon Barron, and Brian P. Kelleher, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 

Available in February 2013 edition, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.

soilbio.2012.10.036, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/

article/pii/S0038071712004154. (Subscription may be required.)

Trading

Commodities Now, “Carbon Market Activity Highest on Record.” 

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, carbon market 

transaction volumes across the world grew by 26 percent in 2012 

to approximately 10.7 billion metric tons, which is equivalent to 

approximately one-third of the world’s total emissions of CO2. 

Trading activity has increased by approximately 25 percent each 

year since 2010 and trading in the last quarter of 2012 increased 

70 percent compared to the average of the three previous quarters 

(2012 Q4 accounted for 36 percent of the total annual volume). The 

increase in trading activity in the European Union Emission Trading 

Scheme (EU ETS) was caused by increased use of auctioning to 

distribute allowances and increased volatility resulting from the 

European Commission’s attempts to support prices in the EU ETS by 

withholding allowances from the market. The increase in trading of UN 

offsets was attributable to the rush to acquire these credits before the
7

Recent Publications

“2012 United States Carbon Utilization and Storage Atlas.”

The following is the Foreword of this document: “[DOE/NETL] is proud to release the fourth edition of the United States Carbon Utilization 

and Storage Atlas (Atlas IV). Production of Atlas IV is the result of collaboration among carbon storage experts from local, State, and 

Federal agencies, as well as industry and academia. Atlas IV provides a coordinated update of CCUS potential across the United States 

and other portions of North America. The primary purpose of Atlas IV is to update the CO2 storage potential for the United States and to 

provide updated information on the RCSPs field activities and new information on the [ARRA-funded] Site Characterization projects. In 

addition, Atlas IV outlines DOE’s Carbon Storage Program, DOE’s CCUS collaborations, worldwide CCUS projects, and CCUS regulatory 

issues; presents updated information on the location of CO2 stationary source emissions and the locations and storage potential of various 

geologic storage sites; and further provides information about the commercialization opportunities for CCUS technologies from RCSPs. A 

key aspect of CCUS deals with the amount of carbon storage potential available to effectively help reduce GHG emissions. As demonstrated 

in Atlas IV, CCUS holds great promise as part of a portfolio of technologies that enables the United States and the rest of the world to 

effectively address climate change while meeting the energy demands of an ever increasing global population. Atlas IV includes the most 

current and best available estimates of potential CO2 storage resource determined by a methodology applied consistently across all of the 

RCSPs. A CO2 storage resource estimate is defined as the fraction of pore volume of porous and permeable sedimentary rocks available 

for CO2 storage and accessible to injected CO2 via drilled and completed wellbores. Carbon dioxide storage resource assessments do not 

include economic or regulatory constraints; only physical constraints are applied to define the accessible part of the subsurface. Economic 

and regulatory constraints are included in geologic CO2 capacity estimates. The data in Atlas IV is current as of November 2012. It will 

be updated every two years as new data are acquired and methodologies for CO2 storage estimates improve. Furthermore, it is expected 

that, through the ongoing work of the RCSPs, data quality and conceptual understanding of the CCUS process will improve, resulting in 

more refined CO2 storage resource estimates.” The full Atlas is available at: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/refshelf/

atlasIV/Atlas-IV-2012.pdf.

“Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for Coal-Fired Plants – Opportunity Assessment and Key Country Analysis to 2025.”

The following is the Summary of this document: “This report provides the retrofit potential and new market potential for the global 

CCS market in terms of revenues and capacity. It also discusses the key drivers and restraints impacting the market. The report provides 

an in depth analysis of key global CCS markets– the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Poland, Australia, China and Japan. It provides 

the retrofit potential and new market potential for CCS and the regulations in each of these countries. The report also provides an 

overview of key players in global CCS market.” The full report is available for purchase at: http://www.reportlinker.com/p01057651-

summary/Carbon-Capture-and-Storage-CCS-for-Coal-Fired-Plants-Opportunity-Assessment-and-Key-Country-Analysis-to.html.

Trading (Continued)

end of the year and to take advantage of low prices. Bloomberg New 

Energy Finance expects the value of the market to return to approximately 

$105 billion in 2013 (a similar level to 2009 and 2010). January 

3, 2013, http://www.commodities-now.com/news/environmentalmarkets/13450-carbon-market-activity-highest-on-record.html.

Business Green, “California Carbon Trading Scheme Gets Underway.” 

California’s emissions cap-and-trade scheme officially went into effect 

on January 1, 2013. The trading scheme establishes a statewide limit 

on total emissions of 162.8 million metric tons of CO2 and imposes 

emission allowances on approximately 350 companies generating 

more than 25,000 metric tons of CO2 a year. Each of the companies 

covered by the scheme must carry allowances. The majority of the 

allowances will be provided to companies for free, but some allowances 

will be auctioned. Any firm that exceeds the emissions cap would be 

required to purchase additional allowances. The scheme is central to 

California’s plans to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the end 

of the decade. January 3, 2013, http://www.eco-business.com/news/

california-carbon-trading-scheme-gets-underway/http://www.ecobusiness.com/news/california-carbon-trading-scheme-gets-underway/.

“CCS projects as Kyoto Protocol CDM activities.”

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The December 2011 decision 

by the meetings of the UNFCCC in Durban, South Africa, to adopt 

modalities and procedures for [CO2] capture and geological storage as 

clean development mechanism (CDM) project activities under the Kyoto 

Protocol was the culmination of many years of international negotiation. 

The Durban CCS decision establishes a practical international standard 

for managing CCS projects that ensures a high level of environmental 

protection. It is an important official recognition by the UNFCCC that 

CCS is a technology capable of achieving deep cuts in [GHG] emissions 

in developing countries and sets an important precedent for the inclusion 

of CCS projects within emerging international markets and other 

financing and technology support mechanisms outside of the CDM. 

This paper analyses the Durban CCS decision and the implications for 

project proposals.” Tim Dixon, Gregory Leamon, Paul Zakkour, 

and Luke Warren, presented at the 11th Greenhouse Gas Control 

Technologies conference held at the Kyoto International Conference 

Center, Japan, November 18-22, 2012, https://www4.eventsinteractive.

com/iea/viewpdf.esp?id=270035&file=%5C%5CDCFILE01%5CE

P11%24%5CEventwin%5CPool%5Coffice27%5Cdocs%5Cpdf%5

Cghgt%2D11Final00641%2Epdf. (Subscription may be required.) 
8

Legislative Activity

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders News Release, “Congress Must Act 

on Global Warming: Sanders Cites Record U.S. Heat in 2012.”

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said that he plans to introduce 

legislation to address potential climate change. The legislation would

include a transparent fee on GHG emissions and call for investment in 

efficiency, sustainable energy, advanced transportation infrastructure, 

and clean energy R&D. The legislation also would end fossil fuel 

subsidies and tax breaks. The plan follows an early announcement by 

the National Climatic Data Center that the annual U.S. temperature 

in 2012 was 55.32 degrees Fahrenheit, one degree warmer than the 

old record set in 1998. January 9, 2013, http://www.sanders.senate.

gov/newsroom/news/?id=98fbf36e-0ac2-4702-b6ef-08a2c3a0a5d5. 

Recent Publications (Continued)

“Development of a measurement, monitoring and verification technical framework for geological storage of CO2 in Australia: 

Feedback report.”

The following is from the Introduction of this document: “Primary objectives of this report are to: (1) provide feedback on the input and 

discussions involving selected stakeholders regarding issues associated with the development of a nationally consistent [measurement, 

monitoring, and verification (MMV)] technical framework in Australia, and (2) present options for addressing the identified key issues and 

potential implications for the development of a national MMV technical framework. The report is structured as follows: summary of the 

key findings of the literature review; summary of the key findings of the stakeholder engagement activities on the issues and challenges 

for a national framework; options for addressing the key issues associated with the development of a national MMV technical framework; 

conclusions on the level of support and how to progress for the development of a national MMV technical framework; the Consolidated 

Literature Review is included in Appendix A; and a list of stakeholder organizations that attended the workshop, participated in interviews, 

and responded to questionnaires is included in Appendix B.” The report is available for download at: http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/

publications/development-measurement-monitoring-and-verification-technical-framework-geological.

Events

February 7-9, 2013, International Conference on Energy Resources and Technologies for Sustainable Development, Howrah (near 

Kolkata), West Bengal, India. The theme of the conference is the utilization of energy resources through alternative energy technologies 

for cleaner environment and sustainable development. Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to: energy resources; clean coal 

technology and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC); combustion system modeling and analysis; and energy policy, planning, 

and economics. To learn more, visit the conference website at: http://www.icertsd.com/. 

February 14-16, 2013, The International Conference on Climate Change and Local Wisdom: Living in Harmony within Our Built 

Environment, Training Center Auditorium, Alauddin Islamic State University, Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia. Several issues 

will be examined in this conference, including: expressing the value of local wisdom in design and collaboration with technology in the 

anticipation of potential climate change; mainstreaming the education of local wisdom to optimize preservation; and how the government, 

other formal institutions, and Islamic values accommodate and contribute to the adaption to potential climate change. More information 

is available at: http://genius-loci-conference.com/.

February 28, 2013, Westminster Energy Environment and Transport Forum, Central London, UK. This forum will cover the options 

for taking carbon capture and storage technology forward as part of the wider work that is being undertaken to secure future energy 

supplies and to reduce carbon emissions. Planned sessions include examining the progress and next steps in technology development, 

deployment costs, the barriers to successful commercialization, and the wider impact and deployment of the technology. To download the 

latest agenda, visit: http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/event.php?eid=487.
9

For subscription details...

Please visit http://listserv.netl.doe.gov/mailman/listinfo/sequestration, enter your email address, and create a password. This will enable 

you to receive a pdf version of the Carbon Sequestration Newsletter at no cost.

To view an archive with past issues of the newsletter, see: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/refshelf/subscribe.html. 

To learn more about DOE’s Carbon Storage Program, please contact Traci Rodosta at traci.rodosta@netl.doe.gov, or Dawn Deel at dawn.

deel@netl.doe.gov.

Events (Continued)

March 7-9, 2013, 2013 NELA National Conference: Delivering a Low Carbon Future, The Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, 

Australia. This National Environmental Law Association (NELA) conference brings together different aspects of clean energy law, such 

as environment and climate change lawyers and those involved in environment protection, resources and energy regulation and planning, 

carbon and biodiversity credits, and emissions trading. Topics to be discussed include the role of state governments in planning a lowcarbon future. To download the full program, visit the conference website at: http://nelaconference.com.au/.

March 20-21, 2013, RECS Market Meeting 2013, Hotel Melia Berlin, Berlin, Germany. The third edition of this annual event offers 

insight into the renewable energy market in Europe. Included in the program is a pre-conference workshop explaining the workings of the 

electricity tracking and certificate system in the renewable energy market. The meeting itself includes a panel discussion and will cover 

topics such as new policy and national developments, corporate social responsibility, and the voluntary market. For the complete program, 

visit the conference website at: http://www.recsmarket.eu/Home.aspx. 

May 13-16, 2013, 12th Annual Conference on Carbon Capture, Utilization & Sequestration, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. This conference will provide a forum for the exchange of experience among U.S. and international scientific 

and engineering communities working on such technology and systems; facilitate the necessary dialogue between technology developers/

purveyors, industry, and the public on the development and deployment of viable technologies; and share experience on developing the 

necessary capacity within the public and private sector to move the technology base forward. More information is available at: http://

www.carbonsq.com/.

May 27-30, 2013, Impacts World 2013, Potsdam, Germany. This conference aims to develop a new vision for potential climate impact 

research by laying the foundations for regular, community-driven synthesis of potential climate change impact analyses. As a discussionbased conference, scientists and decision makers from local and international levels will be brought together to initiate a coordinated 

climate impact research agenda. To learn more, click: http://www.climate-impacts-2013.org/index.php?article_id=1. 

June 4-6, 2013, 7th Trondheim CCS Conference (TCCS-7), Trondheim, Norway. The 7th Trondheim Conference will focus on R&D 

regarding CCS. The objective of the conference is to bring forward, present, and discuss work undertaken within R&D institutions, 

universities, and industry. Topics include: pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture, CO2 utilization and industrial CO2 applications, 

transport, storage, novel technologies, public acceptance and communication, and CCS value chain issues. For more information, please 

visit: http://www.sintef.no/Projectweb/TCCS-7/.