U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

NETL’S CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER

ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

October 2016 – September 2017
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

NETL’S CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER

ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

This Annual Index is a compilation of the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) monthly Carbon Storage Newsletters (CSN) published from October 2016 to September 2017. The CSN 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. Outdated information (e.g., conference dates, paper submittals, etc.) and 

duplicative stories have been removed. 

Note that all links were active at the time of publication.

A comprehensive archive of the CSN is available on the NETL website.

CONTENTS

DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS .....................................................................................................3

PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS .........................................................................5

LEGISLATION and POLICY..................................................................................................9

EMISSIONS TRADING ......................................................................................................12

CLIMATE and SCIENCE NEWS..........................................................................................14

JOURNAL ARTICLES........................................................................................................18

REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS ..........................................................................................35

ANNOUNCEMENTS..........................................................................................................42
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS

DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS

OCTOBER 2016

DOE-Funded Carbon Capture Technology Moves Forward 

to Large-Scale Testing.

A second-generation carbon dioxide (CO2) solvent technology project funded 

by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will begin testing at the Technology 

Centre Mongstad (TCM) in western Norway, DOE announced. DOE has a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Royal Norwegian Ministry 

of Petroleum and Energy that covers fossil energy-related research to leverage 

each countries’ investments in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). 

The ION Engineering project is the first project from DOE’s Carbon Capture 

Program to be located at an international host site. From energy.gov on October 12, 2016.

DOE Invests $6 Million to Accelerate Next-Generation Advanced 

Energy Systems.

DOE selected two projects to advance key technologies that enable development of next-generation advanced energy systems. The two projects, 

which will receive Phase II research funding from DOE with an approximate 

three-year performance period, were selected from five DOE-funded Phase I 

projects. Next-generation advanced energy systems include advanced combustion, chemical looping, gasification, turbines, fuel cells, gas cleaning and 

separation technologies, and CO2 separation technologies. Research and development (R&D) in these areas is supported by the Office of Fossil Energy’s 

(FE) Crosscutting Research Program, which aims to advance early stage R&D 

for innovative FE solutions to improve availability, efficiency, and environmental 

performance of advanced energy systems integrated with carbon capture and 

storage (CCS). From energy.gov on October 5, 2016.

NOVEMBER 2016

DOE, Natural Resources Canada Announce Pilot Plant 

to Advance Oxy-Combustion Carbon Capture.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Canada’s Natural Resources Canada 

(NRCan) will open a new facility to test oxy-fired pressurized fluidized bed combustion (oxy-PFBC) to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a coal-fired 

power plant. The 1-megawatt thermal (MWth) facility, located in Canoga Park, 

California, USA, will test oxy-PFBC as a means to more efficiently and economically capture CO2 and help advance the commercialization of carbon capture, 

utilization, and storage (CCUS). The test plant is part of an ongoing collaboration between DOE, NRCan, and CametEnergy (NRCan’s research and development [R&D] lab). The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)-managed 

project, which is being led by the Gas Technologies Institute (GTI), received 

funding from DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) Advanced Combustion Program. From energy.gov on October 18, 2016.

DECEMBER 2016

Energy Department Announces More Than $44 Million 

for CO2 Storage Projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced 

the selection of 16 carbon storage projects to receive funding for cost-shared 

research and development (R&D) as part of DOE’s Carbon Storage Assurance 

Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) initiative, which seeks to help mitigate carbon 

dioxide (CO2) emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The selected projects 

will address key research gaps in the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, as well as look to develop integrated CCS complexes 

that are constructed and permitted for operation in the 2025 timeframe over 

a series of sequential phases of development: Integrated CCS Pre-Feasibility, 

Storage Complex Feasibility, Site Characterization, Permitting, and Construction. The 16 selected projects, which apply to the first two of those phases, will 

build on lessons learned from the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships’ 

(RCSPs) large-scale field projects. From energy.gov on November 30, 2016.

JANUARY 2017

DOE Offers Conditional Commitment to Facility.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offered a conditional commitment to 

guarantee loans up to $2 billion for the construction of a methanol production facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA, that will employ carbon capture 

technology. The carbon dioxide (CO2) captured at the facility, which will be 

constructed by Lake Charles Methanol, LLC, will be transported, via pipeline, 

to oilfields in Texas, USA, where it will be utilized for enhanced oil recovery 

(EOR). The project is expected to result in the storage of approximately 4.2 

million metric tons of CO2 annually. DOE’s loan guarantee was made under the 

Advanced Fossil Energy Project solicitation issued by DOE’s Loan Programs 

Office (LPO). From energy.gov on December 21, 2016.

FEBRUARY 2017

Post-Combustion Carbon Capture Project Begins 

Commercial Operation.

The post-combustion carbon capture Petra Nova project began commercial operation at the W.A. Parish Plant in Thompsons, Texas, USA, officials 

announced. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) provided funding and the 

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) provided project management 

support for the project, which demonstrates how carbon capture technologies 

can support the flexibility and sustainability of fossil fuels at a commercial 

scale. The Petra Nova project has the potential to capture 1.6 million tons of 

carbon dioxide (CO2) per year from an existing coal-fired power plant. From 

energy.gov on January 11, 2017. 

MARCH 2017

Department of Energy Invests in Projects to Advance Novel 

CO2 Utilization Strategies.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) selected 

seven projects to receive funding to focus on novel ways to use carbon dioxide 

(CO2) captured from coal-fired power plants. The selected research projects, 

which directly support the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) 

Carbon Storage Program’s Carbon Use and Reuse research and development 

(R&D) portfolio, fall under three technical 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 CO2. The portfolio will develop and test novel approaches that 

convert the captured CO2 to useable products, as well as explore ways to use 

the captured CO2 in areas where high-volume uses may not be optimal, such 

as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Each project will also include non-federal cost 

share of at least 20 percent. From energy.gov on February 22, 2017. 

APRIL 2017

DOE Announces Milestone for Industrial CCS Project.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Illinois Industrial 

Carbon Capture and Storage (ICCS) project has begun operation by injecting 

carbon dioxide (CO2) into a saline reservoir. Based in Decatur, Illinois, USA, 

and led by the Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), the DOE-funded, 

large-scale demonstration project is demonstrating an integrated system for 

collecting CO2 from an ethanol production plant and storing the CO2 in an 

underground reservoir. The CO2 will be stored in the Mt. Simon Sandstone in 

the Illinois Basin, and the project can store approximately 1 million tons of CO2

per year at depths of approximately 7,000 feet; however, researchers estimate 

the sandstone formation has the potential to store more than 250 million tons 

of produced CO2 each year. From energy.gov on April 7, 2017.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS

MAY 2017

Successful Completion of Carbon Capture Project Celebrated.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded Petra Nova Carbon Capture project located at the W.A. Parish power plant in Thompsons, Texas, USA, opened 

after being completed on-schedule and on-budget. The large-scale demonstration project was originally conceived as a 60-megawatt electric (MWe) 

capture project, but was expanded to a 240-MWe project without the need 

of additional federal investment. Performance testing of the project, which is 

a joint venture between NRG Energy and JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration 

Corporation, demonstrated a carbon dioxide (CO2) capture rate of more than 

90 percent. The CO2 captured from the project will be used for enhanced oil 

recovery (EOR). From energy.gov on April 13, 2017.

JUNE 2017

Successful Demonstration of NETL-Supported Project.

A National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)-supported project successfully concluded a six-month testing campaign at the Technology Centre Mongstad 

(TCM) in western Norway, a facility for testing and improving carbon dioxide 

(CO2) capture. The testing involved ION Engineering’s novel carbon capture 

system, which achieved all research objectives and represents progress toward commercialization. The system successfully captured more than 90 percent of CO2 from the flue gas during steady-state testing, with CO2 product 

purity greater than 99 percent. Approximately 14,000 metric tons of CO2 were 

captured during testing. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Royal 

Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy have a bilateral Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) covering fossil energy-related research to leverage each 

country’s investments in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). From 

energy.gov on June 7, 2017. 

JULY 2017

NETL’s Geologic Carbon Storage Risk Assessment Tools Recognized.

The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) recognized the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) as 

a project that contributes to the advancement of carbon capture and storage 

(CCS) technology deployment. NRAP is one of approximately 50 such projects 

worldwide to be recognized over the past decade by CSLF, an international, 

ministerial-level organization focused on the development of CCS technology. 

Led by the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), NRAP is a multi-lab partnership developing a defensible, science-based methodology and platform for quantifying risk at carbon dioxide 

(CO2) storage sites to guide decision-making and risk management. A reason 

NRAP was selected as a CSLF-recognized project is the internationally used 

NRAP toolset, which comprises simulation tools designed to help evaluate the 

performance of geologic carbon storage sites related to potential risks. For 

more information, visit the NRAP website. From energy.gov on June 13, 2017.

DOE Investment in Carbon Storage.

DOE’s FE announced the availability of funds to advance new carbon storage 

projects that enable safe, cost-effective, and permanent geologic storage of 

CO2. Specifically, two Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) under FE’s 

Carbon Storage Program will look to advance the development and validation 

of storage technologies associated with enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations or injection into a saline reservoir. The FOA “Partnership for Offshore Carbon Storage Resources and Technology Development in the Gulf Mexico” will 

look to facilitate offshore geologic CO2 storage in the Gulf of Mexico by combining the capabilities and experience of industry, academia, and government. 

The FOA “Technology Development to Ensure Environmentally Sustainable CO2

Injection Operations” will look to advance capabilities to assess CO2 stored in 

the deep subsurface by addressing key knowledge and experience gaps in 

carbon storage technology. From energy.gov on June 16, 2017.

AUGUST 2017

NETL Releases Latest Best Practice Manuals for Geological Storage.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) released three 2017 revised edition Best Practice Manuals (BPMs) 

for geologic storage projects (“Public Outreach and Education for Geologic 

Storage Projects”; “Risk Management and Simulation for Geologic Storage 

Projects”; and “Site Screening, Site Selection, and Site Characterization for 

Geologic Storage Projects”). The BPMs provide a holistic approach to carrying out a geologic storage project from inception to completion. The revised 

BPMs were developed in conjunction with the Regional Carbon Sequestration 

Partnerships (RCSPs), an initiative launched by DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy 

(FE) and NETL in 2003 to develop and test the best technologies for safe and 

permanent storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). RCSP experts worked with DOE 

on the latest updates by incorporating knowledge gained in their respective 

partnership projects. The 2017 revisions include new information learned as 

the RCSPs progressed to large-scale Development Phase field projects, as well 

as a variety of carbon storage scenarios at different geologic and geographic 

settings across the United States. From DOE/NETL News Release on July 17, 

2017.

SEPTEMBER 2017

DOE Invests in Projects to Advance Beneficial Use of CO2.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) selected five 

projects to receive funding to investigate novel uses of carbon dioxide (CO2) 

captured from coal-fired power plants. The newly selected projects fall under 

three technical 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. 

The five projects join seven previously selected projects under the “Applications for Technologies Directed at Utilizing Carbon Dioxide from Coal-Fired 

Power Plants” Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). All 12 projects selected under the FOA support FE’s Carbon Storage Program’s Carbon Use and 

Reuse research and development (R&D) portfolio. From energy.gov on August 

10, 2017.

NETL Releases Updated BPMs for Geologic Carbon Storage.

DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) announced the release 

of the final two of five 2017 revised edition best practice manuals (BPMs) for 

geologic carbon storage projects. The final two BPMs (“Operations for Geologic 

Storage Projects” and “Monitoring, Verification, and Accounting (MVA) for Geologic Storage Projects”) join the three BPMs released in July 2017 to provide 

a holistic approach to carrying out a geologic storage project from inception to 

completion. The revised BPMs were developed in conjunction with the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs) and include new information 

learned as the RCSPs progressed to large-scale Development Phase field projects, as well as a variety of carbon storage scenarios at different geologic and 

geographic settings across the United States. From energy.gov on September 

1, 2017.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

OCTOBER 2016

Quest Carbon Capture and Storage Project Reaches Significant 

One-Year Milestone.

Shell Canada’s Quest carbon capture and storage (CCS) project successfully 

captured and stored 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) after one 

year of operation, the company announced. In collaboration with the Alberta 

and Canadian governments, the intellectual property and data generated (including the detailed engineering plans) have been made publicly available to 

reduce future CCS implementation costs and spur interest across the industry. 

One of the lessons learned was the achievement of cost savings through joint 

transportation and storage facilities. From Shell Canada News Release on September 14, 2016. 

Canadian Government Invests in Carbon Reduction Research.

The Canadian government announced funding for the University of Calgary to 

research the reduction of CO2 emissions during unconventional oil and gas operations. The funding will be used to develop more efficient ways of extracting 

oil and gas, as well as to potentially improve the efficiency of carbon capture 

and conversion and eliminate the release of CO2 by developing new means of 

extracting energy from carbon fuels. The research will be conducted in partnership with researchers from Mexico, China, and Israel. From CBC News on 

September 6, 2016.

CO2CRC Limited Opens New CCS Laboratories.

CO2CRC Limited announced the opening of new CCS laboratories, funded 

through the Australian Government’s Education Investment Fund (EIF), as part 

of the Australian CCS Research Laboratories Network (CCSNet). One of the 

laboratories, located at Federation University Australia’s Gippsland campus, 

will conduct research on various CCS technologies with the aim of reducing 

the cost of implementation. CO2CRC also collaborated with The University of 

Melbourne on emissions reduction laboratories that aim to provide clean, efficient, and cost-effective energy for Australia. From CO2CRC Media Releases 

on September 20 and September 28, 2016. 

NOVEMBER 2016

Norway Unveils Plan to Develop Industrial CCS Portfolio.

The Norwegian government unveiled plans to develop its industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) portfolio by supporting three large-scale industrial CCS 

demonstration projects. According to officials, if all three projects proceed to 

a final investment decision, they would have the potential to reduce Norway’s 

carbon emissions by five percent. The Norwegian government also announced 

the approval of a three-year extension of the TCM CCS test facility, with a new 

agreement on the ownership and operation expected before the end of 2016. 

From BusinessGreen on October 6, 2016. (Subscription may be required.)

First Fully Commercial CCSU Plant Launches Capturing CO2

at $30 Per [Metric Ton].

Carbon Clean Solutions Limited (CCSL) announced the launching of a new project that will capture more than 60,000 metric tons of CO2 from a 10-megawatt 

coal-fired power station in India. Post start-up, the project is expected to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) at a lower cost than is currently observed per metric 

ton of CO2. CCSL successfully completed a pilot-testing program at TCM in 

May 2016, in which the results showed that use of CCSL’s solvent reduced 

emission levels, lowered corrosion, and improved system reliability. From Carbon Clean Solutions on October 11, 2016. 

Funding Awarded for Test Program on CO2 Pipelines.

DNV GL and Energy Pipelines CRC (EPCRC) were awarded funding for a CO2

pipelines test program. Funded by the Norwegian CLIMIT Programme and the 

Australian Department of Industry, Innovation, and Science, the test program 

will address the existing knowledge gaps in the fracture control of high-pressure pipelines by conducting large-scale, fracture-propagation testing of 

dense-phase CO2 pipelines at DNV GL’s Spadeadam test site in the United 

Kingdom (UK). Scheduled to run from late 2016 to early 2019, the test program, titled “Improving the safety and efficiency of CO2 pipelines by developing 

and validating predictive models for CO2 pipeline design,” will look to reduce 

future costs of CO2 pipelines while also ensuring the required safety level. From 

DNV GL Press Release on October 20, 2016.

MENA’s First CCUS Project Now on Stream.

The first commercial-scale CCUS facility in the Middle East and North Africa 

(MENA) is operational and capable of storing up to 800,000 metric tons of 

CO2 per year, according to officials. Developed by a joint venture between Abu 

Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Masdar, the project captures CO2

emissions from Emirates Steel Industries (ESI), compresses and dehydrates it, 

and then transports the CO2 via underground pipeline for enhanced oil recovery 

(EOR) injection into ADNOC onshore oilfields. Construction on the project began 

in July 2013. From Masdar Press Release on November 5, 2016.

Lab Upgrade to Help Store Carbon Dioxide Underground.

An X-ray microscopy laboratory at Australian National University (ANU) received 

a $5 million upgrade. Funded by CO2CRC Limited and the Australian Government’s Education Investment Fund, the renovated laboratory is part of the Australian CCS Research Laboratories Network (CCSNET). According to officials, 

the new facilities enable the building of large-scale computer models that help 

explain the influence of complex layers of sedimentary rock on the effectiveness of CO2 storage. From Australian National University on November 7, 2016.

DECEMBER 2016

Washington Carbon Capture Project Says 

it has Permanently Stored CO2.

The Wallula Basalt Pilot Project in Washington state completed the injection 

of nearly 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the Grande Ronde basalt 

formation. According to post-injection findings, the injected CO2 remains within 

the targeted formation and at a depth in the range of 2,720 to 2,786 feet. As 

part of the project, the CO2 was injected into underground lava flows where 

it solidified into a mineral called ankerite. The project is being conducted by 

the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership, one of the U.S. Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Projects (RCSPs). From Utility 

Dive on November 22, 2016.

Results Released from CO2 Monitoring Project.

New data has been released from three subsurface release experiments at 

the Ginninderra Controlled Release Facility in Canberra, Australia. The datasets, released by Geoscience Australia and CO2CRC Limited, will inform monitoring strategies. The research enabled scientists to simulate the release of 

atmospheric CO2 under controlled experiment conditions and assess the performance of different monitoring technologies. The results of the controlled 

release experiment – which involved releasing a known amount of CO2 into soil 

and monitoring how it moves into the atmosphere – found horizontal movement in the near surface. More than 20 monitoring techniques were trialed. 

The datasets are available for download via Geoscience Australia’s website. 

From Geoscience Australia News Release on November 16, 2016.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

JANUARY 2017

Indian Firm Advances Carbon Capture and Utilization Processes.

An industrial plant in India is capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) for carbon capture 

and utilization (CCU) processes. The CO2 captured from the plant, located at 

the industrial port of Tuticorin, India, is being used to make baking soda. According to plant officials, approximately 60,000 metric tons of CO2 per year will 

be captured at the plant with the use of Carbonclean’s technology. From The 

Guardian on January 3, 2017. 

Elk Petroleum Acquires Gas Field and Plant.

Elk Petroleum entered an agreement to acquire interest in a gas field and plant 

located in Wyoming, USA, approximately 60 miles from Elk’s Grieve CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) plant. The Madden Gas Field and Lost Cabin Gas 

Plant is the second largest supplier of CO2 into the Northern Rockies CO2 Gas 

Transmission and Supply Pipeline Network. The amount of the currently available supply of CO2 from the Lost Cabin Gas Plant, according to an Elk Petroleum Media Release, is capable of supporting the development of a CO2-EOR 

project similar in size to that of Elk’s Grieve project. From Proactive Investors 

on January 4, 2017.

FEBRUARY 2017

CCS Membrane Technology Licensed.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. licensed carbon dioxide (CO2) membrane 

technology developed by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology 

(NTNU). The fixed site carrier membrane will be used by Air Products as part 

of its PRISM gas-separation membrane technology offerings. According to Air 

Products’ officials, the new technology is expected to benefit coal-fired power 

plants and the cement industry. From The Chemical Engineer on January 16, 

2017. (Subscription may be required.)

Enhanced Oil Recovery Joint Industry Project Announced.

The development of work flows and methodology for simulating field-wide 

CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects will be the focus of Petronas’ recent 

Joint Industry Project (JIP) Agreement. The research and development (R&D) 

project will include collaboration with researchers from Heriot-Watt University, 

Petronas Research, and UZMA Berhad, an international oil and gas service 

company. The study will concentrate on minimizing uncertainties affecting the 

predictions of hydrocarbon recovery and supporting simulation studies through 

the acquisition of physical data. Upon completion, the lessons learned will be 

applied to real field scenarios. From The Star Online on February 2, 2017. 

MARCH 2017

Pale Blue Dot Energy to Review CO2 Transport 

and Storage Business Models.

Pale Blue Dot Energy, energy transition management consultants, were awarded a contract to review business models for carbon dioxide (CO2) transport and 

storage. The project will examine models that have been successfully used 

overseas and for other types of infrastructure, as well as those that have been 

proposed for the delivery and operation of CO2 infrastructure in the United 

Kingdom (UK). Pale Blue Dot Energy, which provides support in CCS, oil and 

gas transition, and emerging energy systems, was awarded the contract from 

HMG Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). From 

Pale Blue Dot on February 8, 2017.

CCS Facility Captures More than 63,000 Metric Tons of CO2.

The Boundary Dam Power Station’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility 

located in Saskatchewan, Canada, captured more than 63,000 metric tons of 

CO2 during January 2017, according to a release from SaskPower. The amount 

captured was 63 percent of the capacity; the 12-month average for the facility 

was 64 percent. Since start-up, the CCS facility has captured more than 1.3 

million metric tons of CO2. From Estevan Mercury on February 10, 2017.

APRIL 2017

CCUS Project Approved in China.

A carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) facility has been given final 

investment approval to begin construction at Xi-an (Shaanxi Province) in China. 

Yanchang Petroleum CCUS’s gasification facility will capture 50,000 metric 

tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year from Yanchang’s chemical plants. When 

fully operational in 2018, the facility is expected to capture more than 360,000 

metric tons of CO2 per year. From Global CCS Institute on March 14, 2017.

Development of CCS Project in Norway.

Norway’s EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) approved public financing of studies for full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects. The 

Norwegian government presented its CCS strategy in 2014, the goal of which 

was to realize at least one full-scale CCS demonstration project by 2020. Depending on the results of concept and front-end engineering design (FEED) 

studies, authorities will decide whether to proceed with a full-scale project. 

From EFTA Surveillance Authority Press Release on March 16, 2017.

Carnegie Mellon University Launches Carbon Emissions Index.

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), along with Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS), launched an index that measures CO2 emissions from the U.S. 

electrical power generation sector. The Carnegie Mellon Power Sector Carbon 

Index will track the performance of U.S. power producers, comparing current 

emissions to historical data collected nationwide for more than two decades. 

CMU will provide an online resource for a wide variety of power sector emissions data and forecasts. From Phys.org on March 20, 2017.

Partnerships Formed for CO2 Capture and Reuse.

Two separate agreements have been reached that involve CO2 capture and 

reuse on a large-scale level. As part of an agreement between CO2 Solutions 

Inc. and global engineering firm Hatch Ltd. to deliver carbon capture systems, 

both companies will also collaborate on the Valorisation Carbone Québec (VCQ) 

project, which aims to demonstrate CO2 capture and beneficial reuse on a 

large-scale level in an industrial facility. In addition, Carbon Clean Solutions 

Limited (CCSL) and the resource management company Veolia have formed a 

partnership to reduce the greenhouse effect of industrial processes and rollout 

large-scale CO2 capture and industrial re-use. From Gasworld on March 28 

and March 29, 2017. 

MAY 2017

Research Institutes Join Forces in CO2 Storage Project.

European research institutes have joined forces on a project to increase field 

experience relevant to the geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). The project, 

named ENabling ONshore CO2 storage in Europe (ENOS), will also look to refine 

techniques and tools used for site selection and to monitor and advance communication between science and society on CO2 geologic storage. Launched 

in September 2016 and expected to run through August 2020, ENOS plans 

to enhance the development of onshore CO2 storage, and several field pilots 

in various geologic settings will be studied. Financed by the European Union’s 

(EU) Horizon 2020 Program, ENOS is an initiative of CO2GeoNet, the European 

Network of Excellence on the geologic storage of CO2, and unites 29 organizations across 17 countries. From Carbon Capture Journal on April 25, 2017.

CCS Research Center Receives Funding.

The UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Center (UKCCSRC) announced 

it will receive funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research 

Council (EPSRC). The funding will help UKCCSRC ensure CCS plays an effective 

role in reducing net CO2 emissions while securing affordable and controllable 

electricity supplies, low carbon heat, and competitive industries for the UK. The 

UKCCSRC core activities are delivered by the British Geological Survey, the 

University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, 

the University of Nottingham, and the University of Sheffield. From UKCCS Research Center on April 11, 2017.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Contracts Awarded for Carbon Capture.

Gassnova has awarded contracts for three companies to continue CO2 capture 

studies with the plan of storing CO2 from at least one of the facilities under a 

seabed in the North Sea. The full-scale carbon capture studies will be conducted at facilities located in Oslo, Norway. Statoil conducted a feasibility study and 

identified the Smeaheia area to the east of the Troll gas field and approximately 

30 miles offshore as the storage site. From Gassnova on April 19, 2017. 

Project Uses Carbon Dioxide Removal Technology.

Petronas launched its Terengganu Gas Terminal in Malaysia, which uses 

CO2-removal technology. The terminal, according to Petronas officials, is capable of processing up to 700 million standard cubic feet per day of gas from 

the Malaysia-Thailand joint development area and from the North Malay Basin 

offshore Terengganu. Completed ahead of schedule, the project is part of the 

company’s clean energy commitment in support of Malaysia’s environmental 

agenda to reduce its carbon footprint by 2030. From The Edge Markets on 

April 21, 2017.

JUNE 2017

Newly Launched Commercial Plant to Capture Atmospheric CO2.

Climeworks has launched a commercial plant that captures atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) for supply and sale to customers. The Swiss direct air capture 

(DAC) company launched the plant, which features technology that filters CO2

from ambient air. Currently, the plant supplies 900 metric tons of CO2 a year 

to a nearby greenhouse. In the coming months, Climeworks will look to launch 

additional commercial pilot projects to test its technology’s potential to be combined with CO2 storage. From Climeworks Press Release on May 31, 2017.

North Dakota Ethanol Plant May Store CO2 Underground.

An ethanol plant in North Dakota, USA, may store CO2 underground after recent 

state government approval allowed ethanol plants to capture and store CO2. 

Red Trail Energy is located near the center of the Broom Creek Formation, 

which is conducive to storing CO2. According to the Energy and Environmental 

Research Center (EERC), the geologic formation has the potential to store from 

10 billion to 40 billion tons of captured CO2. The plant is capable of producing 

approximately 4 million tons of CO2 over a 20-year span, and approximately 

20 million tons of CO2 over a 100-year span. There is a window for public 

comment before the primacy to oversee the capture and storage of CO2 will 

be passed from the federal government to North Dakota. From Grand Forks 

Herald on June 2, 2017.

CO2 Capture and Reuse Project Launched.

Officials from CO2 Solutions Inc. and the Québec government officially launched 

the Valorisation Carbone Québec project (VCQ), the objective of which is to promote the development and demonstration of commercially viable solutions to 

capture and reuse CO2 in applications. CO2 Solutions announced the formation 

of the VCQ Scientific Committee, which is made up of scientists from university 

and private sectors to assess the merits of the CO2 reuse technologies being 

considered by VCQ. In addition, the following steps have been taken in the deployment of the program: the 10-ton-per-day capture unit will be moved from 

its Valleyfield location to the new VCQ testing center located at the Parachem 

facilities in Montreal and a technology to convert CO2 into acetic acid has been 

selected to become part of the VCQ project. From CO2 Solutions Press Release

on May 18, 2017.

United Kingdom (UK) and Australian Researchers Sign MOU to Reduce 

CO2 Emissions.

The UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Center (UKCCSRC) and CO2CRC Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) continuing their 

carbon capture and storage (CCS) collaboration. Signed at the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) meeting in Abu Dhabi, the five-year MOU 

formalizes the two organizations’ commitment to share knowledge, collaborate 

on research, bring research communities together through joint events, and 

provide researcher exchange opportunities. The new MOU between CO2CRC 

and UKCCSRC, which recently secured funding to continue its work through 

2022, will build upon the achievements under the previous MOU that expired 

in March 2017. From UKCCS Research Center News on May 1, 2017.

JULY 2017

DOE Contract Awarded for Subsurface CO2 Monitoring.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a contract to GroundMetrics, 

Inc. to monitor carbon dioxide (CO2) in the subsurface in a new project in which 

the company will develop a continuous monitoring system to measure resistivity changes. While GroundMetrics uses its proprietary resistivity sensors and 

software for applications such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the technology 

can also be used for mapping CO2 injection for carbon capture and storage 

(CCS). If successful, the test will enable companies to better monitor CO2 saturation, allowing them to improve operational efficiency and efficacy; verify 

monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA); and maximize oilfield productivity. From PR Web on June 8, 2017.

Statoil Evaluating New CO2 Storage Project.

Statoil will evaluate the development of carbon storage on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). The storage project, which is part of Norway’s efforts to 

develop full-scale CCS, will capture CO2 from three onshore industrial facilities 

in Eastern Norway, transporting the CO2 by ship to a nearby receiving plant. 

The CO2 will then be pumped to onshore tanks prior to being sent via pipeline 

to several injection wells east of the Troll field on the NCS. The final choice for 

the receiving plant will be based on criteria such as safety, cost, and expansion 

flexibility. Gassnova assigned Statoil to evaluate the storage solution, which 

will have the potential to receive CO2 from Norwegian and European emission 

sources. From Carbon Capture Journal on July 3, 2017. 

Grant Signed to Develop CCS Demonstration Project.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) for a technical assistance grant to develop a large-scale CCS demonstration project. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) 

of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), who signed the MOU along with 

Yanchang Petroleum Group and Northwest University, had requested ADB to 

support the development of a Roadmap for CCS Demonstration and Deployment that identified potential early demonstration projects. The Yanchang CCS 

project was ranked as the closest to being ready and is being considered for 

a commercial-scale demonstration project by the Shaanxi provincial government. ADB’s technical assistance project will address key barriers to largescale CCS demonstration in the PRC by supporting the front-end engineering 

design of the Yanchang CCS project, including a feasibility study, environmental 

and social impact assessments, and monitoring. From The Financial on June 

6, 2017. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

AUGUST 2017

Husky Energy Investing in Pilot Plant.

Husky Energy Inc. is increasing investment in carbon capture and storage 

(CCS) technology by aiming to develop a plant larger than its current CCS plant 

at its Pikes Peak South operation. The new plant will be located at the same 

site as the smaller CCS plant, which was developed by clean energy company 

Inventys Inc. The carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from the new project will be 

used alongside CO2 recovered from other facilities for enhanced oil recovery 

(EOR) operations. Expected to be commissioned in late 2018, the plant will 

utilize Inventys’ second-generation CCS technology that captures CO2 in a solid 

material rather than a solvent. From Saskatoon StarPhoenix on July 14, 2017.

Power Plant Evaluation MOU Includes CCS.

Statoil, Vattenfall, and Gasunie signed an MOU to evaluate converting Vattenfall’s gas-powered Magnum plant, located in the Netherlands, into a hydrogen-powered plant. The scope of the MOU also includes the exploration 

of designing a large-scale value chain where the production of hydrogen is 

combined with CO2 capture, transport, and permanent storage. According to a 

Statoil press release, the conversion has a potential CO2 emission reduction of 

4 million tons of CO2 per year. From Carbon Capture Journal on July 17, 2017.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Ultra-High-Resolution 3D Seismic Technology Deployed in DOE/NETL 

Offshore CO2 Storage Monitoring Project.

Researchers from the Gulf Coast Carbon Center at the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology conducted an ultra-high-resolution 3D seismic data collection 

survey off Japan’s north island of Hokkaido. The location offshore the industrial 

port of Tomakomai is the site of an extensive carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, 

transport, and offshore injection demonstration project operated by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and an industrial consortium, 

JCCS Co., Ltd. At the time of the survey, approximately 65,000 tons of CO2

had been injected into a geologic formation 1,100 meters below the seafloor. 

Funded through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) Carbon Storage Research Program, the seismic 

data were collected using technology designed to provide high-resolution 3D 

data that can be used to characterize the geology above potential CO2 storage sites. According to the researchers, a high-resolution 3D seismic survey 

using novel technology at an active offshore CO2 injection site contributes to 

national CO2 storage needs by validating monitoring technologies and reducing 

potential storage risks. From DOE Project “Field Validation of MVA Technology 

for Offshore CCS: Novel Ultra-High-Resolution 3D Marine Seismic Technology 

(P-Cable).”

NETL Research Studies CO2 Interaction with Shale.

NETL researchers are using complex experiments to determine if shale formations can serve as a storage reservoir for CO2 captured from fossil fuel-burning 

power plants and other industries. Initial NETL research has shown that injected CO2 may change the rock’s porosity and permeability; understanding these 

and other effects is key to developing successful carbon storage techniques 

and achieving more accurate predictions of the formation’s storage potential. 

The research supports DOE’s goal to increase the ability to predict CO2 storage 

capacity in geologic formations to within ± 30 percent. From NETL News Release on September 5, 2017.

Researchers Study Potential Leakage and Related Cost.

A study conducted by researchers from Princeton University shows that CO2

storage would not be prone to leakage or high costs related to fixing leaks. 

Based on the levels of leakage at simulated hypothetical subsurface CO2 storage locations, the researchers found that the cost of the technology, even in 

worst case scenarios, was not prohibitive. The study, published in the online 

journal Climatic Change, was conducted with modeling based on both the geophysical aspects of CCS (e.g., flow through subsurface geologic formations) 

and economic modeling of the global energy market, using an integrated assessment model. From Carbon Capture Journal on September 1, 2017.

Forest Conservation Project to Benefit Carbon Storage.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) awarded a California Climate Investment grant to Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) for a 

project that will, among other objectives, promote carbon storage. As part of 

the multi-partner forest health and conservation project, PFT officials say the 

project will include higher levels of carbon storage in forests. The California 

Climate Investment Program reinvests revenue generated by California’s capand-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. From Mount 

Shasta News on August 17, 2017. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 LEGISLATION and POLICY

LEGISLATION and POLICY

OCTOBER 2016

California Governor Signs Carbon Legislation.

The Governor of California signed legislation to reduce carbon emissions and 

establish restrictions on “super pollutants,” such as black carbon. The Governor of California will direct $900 million in cap-and-trade funds to greenhouse 

gas (GHG) reduction programs that benefit disadvantaged communities (AB 

2722). In addition, the Governor of California signed SB 1383, establishing 

restrictions on “super pollutants” with the aim of reducing the projected rate of 

potential climate change by 2050. For more information, view a video of the SB 

1383 bill signing, or read the Governor’s signing messages for AB 2722 and 

SB 1383. From Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Press Releases on September 

14 and September 19, 2016. 

State of Washington Adopts Climate Change Rule.

The State of Washington’s Department of Ecology adopted a clean air rule that 

caps and reduces carbon emissions. Under the rule, businesses responsible 

for emitting 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year will be required to cap and gradually reduce their emissions. Businesses unable to reduce their emissions have the option of developing projects, such as an energy 

efficiency program, or buying carbon credits from approved carbon markets. 

The new plan relies on businesses trading independently among themselves 

and with other markets. More information on the Clean Air Rule is available on 

the Washington Department of Ecology’s website. From Washington Department of Ecology News Release on September 15, 2016.

Oslo Sets Out Climate Budget to Halve Carbon Emissions in Four Years.

Oslo, Norway, issued a new climate budget that aims to reduce its carbon 

emissions within the next four years. In addition, the city is researching clean 

energy technologies such as CCS; in early 2016, Aker Solutions conducted a 

CO2-capture experiment at Oslo’s main waste incineration plant. Oslo’s target 

is to reduce CO2 emissions from 1.2 million metric tons in 1990 to 600,000 

metric tons annually by 2020. From Business Green on September 29, 2016.

NOVEMBER 2016

Legislation Introduced to Encourage Carbon Storage.

A bill, titled “CO2 Regulatory Certainty Act of 2016,” was introduced to encourage carbon storage. The bill aligns tax guidelines with existing federal regulations to ensure taxpayers are better able to utilize the Section 45Q carbon 

storage tax credit. From U.S. Senator For Montana Steve Daines Press Release 

on October 5, 2016.

Vietnam Commits to [Reductions] in Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

by 2030.

According to officials, Vietnam has reaffirmed its commitment to an eight percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, with the potential 

to achieve a 25 percent reduction with additional support. The country will 

apply various methods to reach its GHG reduction goals and encourage green 

industry development, and will also conduct research to form a national carbon trading market. Vietnam announced its emission goal in 2015 when it 

submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United 

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. From VnExpress International on October 19, 2016.

UNFC Specifications for CO2 Storage Have Been Approved.

Specifications have been developed for the application of the United Nations 

Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC) to geologic storage projects. The specifications, developed 

by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), are now 

operational following approval by UNECE’s Committee on Sustainable Energy. 

The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative and the Society of Petroleum Engineers are 

working on a Storage Resource Management System that will align with the 

UNFC specifications. More information on the application of UNFC-2009 to 

geologic storage projects is available on the UNECE website. From Carbon 

Capture Journal on November 3, 2016.

DECEMBER 2016

EU Aims to Reduce CO2 Emissions by 2030.

The European Union (EU) announced its commitment to reduce carbon dioxide 

(CO2) emissions by at least 40 percent by 2020, and presented a package of 

legislative proposals to accelerate clean energy innovation and provide measures to encourage public and private investment. The proposals, titled “Clean 

Energy for All Europeans,” cover energy efficiency, renewable energy, electricity market design, electricity supply security, and governance rules for the EU. 

From Global Times on December 1, 2016.

Saskatchewan, Ottawa Strike Accord on Coal-Fired Power Generation.

The government of Saskatchewan reached a deal on reducing greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions in Saskatchewan’s coal-fired power sector. According to 

the Saskatchewan Environment Minister, Saskatchewan could keep coal-fired 

power plants operating past 2030 if the province makes GHG reductions elsewhere in the electricity sector. The agreement follows a federal plan released 

in November 2016 that called for the phase-out of coal-fired electricity as part 

of Canada’s commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 30 percent from 2005 

levels by 2030. From The Globe and Mail on November 28, 2016. 

Legislator Proposes Carbon Tax Bill for 2017 General Session.

A Utah State Representative will propose a carbon tax during the 2017 legislative session. The bill would be revenue neutral and funding from the proposed 

tax could be used for education or infrastructure initiatives, according to the 

press release. From UtahPolicy.com on December 1, 2016.

Japan’s CO2 Emissions Drop to Five-Year Low in FY 2015.

According to data released by the Japanese Ministry of Environment, Japan’s 

GHG emissions were reduced three percent to 1.321 billion metric tons of CO2

equivalent in FY 2015, a five-year low. Japan set a goal to reduce its GHG 

emissions by 26 percent from 2013 levels by 2030. From Japan Today on 

December 7, 2016.

JANUARY 2017

Canada Agrees on National Carbon Price.

The Canadian government reached a deal with 8 of the 10 Canadian provinces 

to introduce a national carbon price. Part of a framework to help Canada reach 

its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030, 

the carbon price is accompanied by measures that also include increasing the 

use of renewable energy and investing in clean technologies. Under the plan, 

CO2 emissions would cost $7.60 per metric ton in 2018, increasing by $7.60 

a year until it reaches approximately $30 per metric ton in 2022. The provinces 

can either implement a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade market. From Reuters 

on December 9, 2016.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 LEGISLATION and POLICY

FEBRUARY 2017

South Korean Government Added to Carbon Emissions Rights.

The South Korean government increased its carbon emissions quota to a total 

of 539 million tons and added 51 million tons to emission rights prior to the 

implementation of emissions trading. In addition, the government voted for 

its second three-year emission-trading plan, which will take place in 2018 to 

2020. Under the plan, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rights will be allocated 

in return for a payment equivalent to three percent of allowance. From Business Korea on January 25, 2017. 

Hawaii Approves Carbon Credits Initiative.

The Hawaii State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved a 

carbon offset project in the state’s forests. Hawaii’s Department of Land and 

Natural Resources (DLNR) and its Division of Forestry and Wildfire (DOFAW) will 

issue a request for proposal (RFP) for private entities to create a carbon forestry 

project in the Pu’u Mali Restoration Area in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve on 

Hawaii island. In addition, DLNR is in the process of creating a carbon offset 

pilot project in southern Maui. From Hawaii Department of Land and Natural 

Resources News Release on January 30, 2017.

Malaysia Carbon Credit Firm to Offset CO2 Emissions.

As part of a United Nations’ (UN) collaborative program, a Malaysian carbon 

credit rating company received 25 percent of the land mass in Kelantan, Malaysia, for use in reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. A renewable and 

sustainable energy company received the project under UN’s Reducing Environment from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) initiative for a 30-year 

concession period with the Kelantan government. According to officials, the 

program will look to reduce forest emissions and enhance CO2 stocks in the 

forest while contributing to national sustainable development. From Free Malaysia Today on February 1, 2017.

MARCH 2017

St. Paul Launches Climate Action Plan Effort 

to Become Carbon Neutral.

Government officials in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, are launching an effort to 

draft a Climate Action Plan with a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. 

Officials aim to have a finalized Climate Action Plan by the end of 2017. In the 

coming months, a series of meetings will be held to gather input and suggestions from the public. From Star Tribune on February 25, 2017.

Australia State Passes Bill to Reduce Emissions.

A bill was passed by legislature in Victoria, Australia, that commits the state to 

reduce its emissions by 2050. The Victoria Bill presents options for the state 

to reduce emissions, such as participating in an emissions trading scheme or 

adopting carbon capture measures. Once they receive feedback from experts, 

the Victoria government will provide opportunities to work toward the 2050 

goal. From Ammonia21 on February 24, 2017. 

APRIL 2017

Bill Would Create Commission in Alaska.

A bill (House Bill 173) was introduced in Alaska legislature that would establish 

a 15-member commission to apply for grants, monitor climate, promote green 

technologies, and look for ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

From Alaska Dispatch News on March 12, 2017.

Bill Introduced to Help Finance CCS Projects.

U.S. Senators introduced a bill to help power plants and industrial facilities 

finance the purchase and installation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

equipment. The bill, “The Carbon Capture Improvement Act of 2017,” would 

allow businesses to use government-issued private activity bonds (PABs) to 

finance their projects. More specifically, the legislation would look to improve 

the economic feasibility of CCS projects and increase oil production through 

enhanced oil recovery (EOR). From U.S. Senator Michael Bennet Press Release 

on April 5, 2017.

Initiative Launched to Reduce Emissions.

Comeos, the Belgian trade federation, teamed up with ENGIE, a multinational 

electric utility company, on an initiative to reduce CO2 emissions in the Belgian 

retail sector. The initiative will look to reduce CO2 emissions through the promotion of solar energy and energy-efficient solutions. The collaboration follows 

an undertaking by businesses in the region to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) 

emissions by 30 percent by 2025, and to double current renewable energy 

production by 2020. From European Supermarket Magazine on March 20, 

2017.

Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Carbon Pricing Legislation.

Lawmakers in the Oregon Senate and House introduced legislation to create a 

statewide cap-and-trade program. The “Healthy Climate Act of 2017” will aim 

to repeal 2007 emissions goals, establishing new goals in which emissions 

would be reduced 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2025. In addition, the new 

proposal would impose a statewide limit of 45 percent below 1990 levels by 

2035 and 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. From Lexology on March 

29, 2017. 

MAY 2017

Carbon Removal Studies to Inform Policy.

The University of Edinburgh School of GeoSciences will conduct carbon-removal studies that will be used to inform policy. The first project, Metrics for 

Emissions Removal Limits for Nature (MERLiN), will use models to investigate 

the impacts of reducing emissions now or in the future. In the second project, 

researchers will assess the global potential for using soil to store carbon dioxide (CO2) removed from the atmosphere. From The University of Edinburgh on 

April 21, 2017.

Tax to Reduce GHG Emissions.

The House Committee on Appropriations in the Philippines authored a bill to 

help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by passing a law imposing a 

tax on CO2. House Bill (HB) 4939 follows Singapore’s lead, which will begin 

taxing the emissions of CO2 and other GHGs starting in 2019. HB 4939 seeks 

to impose a tax on the electricity bills of residential or household consumers. 

From Business Mirror on April 16, 2017.

JUNE 2017

Executive Action Signed to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Virginia.

The Governor of Virginia signed an executive directive instructing the Department of Environmental Quality to begin the process of establishing regulations 

that will reduce carbon emissions from power plants. Executive Directive 11

follows Executive Order 57, which required the Secretary of Natural Resources 

to convene a work group to study and recommend methods to reduce carbon 

emissions and build the state’s clean energy economy. In addition, Executive 

Directive 11 includes a structure that enforces carbon-reduction mechanisms. 

From Governor Terry McAuliffe News Release on May 16, 2017.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 LEGISLATION and POLICY

Commonwealth Legislation to Support CCS Financing.

The Australian government’s Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and 

Energy announced that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) will now 

be allowed to support investment in CCS technologies. The CEFC Act had previously considered carbon capture and storage (CCS) ineligible for investment. 

The CEFC is a fund established to facilitate increased flows of finance into 

Australia-based renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-emissions technologies. From CO2CRC Media Release on May 30, 2017.

JULY 2017

Bill to Expand Federal Tax Credits for Storage.

A forthcoming bill will look to extend tax credits for carbon capture, as well as 

expand the federal reward for storage and re-utilization of captured carbon. 

Carbon stored underground is currently rewarded with a $20/ton credit, while 

captured carbon used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) receives $10/ton. The 

new measure would look to increase the credits to $45 and $35 per ton, respectively. In addition, the current statute places a 75-million-ton cap on the 

amount of captured carbon that qualifies for a tax credit; the new legislation 

would remove the cap and provide incentive for companies to invest in capture 

technologies. From Morning Consult on June 6, 2017.

Sweden Aims to Reduce Emissions by 2045.

The Swedish government passed new policy framework to become a net-zero 

emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2045. Based on the agreement in the 

Cross-Party Committee on Environmental Objectives last year, this follows a bill 

on the policy framework setting new goals alongside a policy council and an 

act introduced in March 2017. The new act is expected to come into effect in 

2018, with the first action plan to be submitted in 2019. From CTBR on June 

19, 2017.

Carbon Storage MOU Signed.

Officials from Iran’s Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization 

and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the third phase of an international 

carbon storage program in four Iranian provinces. The MOU is expected to cover five regions in Yazd, North Khorasan, South Khorasan, and Golestan Provinces. The carbon storage project started in Iran in North Khorasan Province and is 

currently being implemented in approximately 300 other villages. From Middle 

East North Africa Financial Network on June 17, 2017.

AUGUST 2017

U.S. and Mexico Strengthen North American Energy Cooperation.

Representatives from the United States and Mexico have identified common 

goals for a trilateral agenda with Canada to accelerate the development of 

untapped resources, increase energy trade, and enhance the security of their 

energy systems. A potential point of emphasis could be furthering the three 

countries’ mutual interest in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. 

From Platts on July 13, 2017.

Carbon Capture and Utilization Bill Introduced.

A bill supporting the CCS industry was introduced, in which tax credits would 

be extended and increased for power generators and industrial facilities that 

capture and store their own carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as for carbon utilization. The Carbon Capture and Utilization Act would provide a $40 tax credit for 

every metric ton of CO2 stored underground, and a $35 per ton credit for CO2

utilized for purposes such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Credits of $20 and 

$10 per ton are currently offered for capture and utilization, respectively. From 

Utility Dive on July 13, 2017.

California Lawmakers Approve Policy Extension.

The California legislature passed a package of bills that extends the state’s 

plan to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a decade. The legislation 

extends California’s cap-and-trade program through 2030 and includes requirements for large industrial facilities to upgrade old equipment by 2023. In 

addition, the new package seeks to reform California’s existing cap-and-trade 

market by reducing the number of free carbon allowances by 40 percent by 

2030 and requiring offsets be sourced from within the state. From Reuters on 

July 17, 2017.

Renewable Energy Bill Introduced.

Legislation that would transition the United States to 100 percent clean and 

renewable energy by 2050 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The “100 by ’50 Act” has seven core components, one of which includes 

investment in carbon storage. A one-page summary of the bill is available. 

From U.S. Representative Jared Polis Press Release on July 19, 2017.

SEPTEMBER 2017

New Regulations to Reduce GHG Emissions.

Massachusetts introduced new regulations that will bring the state into full 

compliance with the state law calling for a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions by 2020. Among the new set of rules are clean energy requirements for utilities and reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 

electricity-generating plants. In addition to the 2020 target of a 25 percent 

reduction in emissions relative to 1990 levels, the state law also sets an 80 

percent reduction goal by 2050. From Sentinel and Enterprise on August 11, 

2017.

CO2 Storage Legislation Reintroduced.

The CO2 Regulatory Certainty Act, which encourages CO2 storage, has been 

reintroduced. The legislation looks to ensure taxpayers are better able to utilize 

the Section 45Q carbon storage tax credit by aligning tax guidelines with existing federal regulations. While project developers can currently claim credit for 

CO2 storage, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not provide guidance that 

reflects differences between permanent or geologic storage and enhanced oil 

and gas recovery. This legislation will look to clarify and align IRS guidelines 

with current U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, which reflect the differences between oil and gas recovery and geologic storage. From 

U.S. Senator John Hoeven News Release on August 2, 2017. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 EMISSIONS TRADING

EMISSIONS TRADING

OCTOBER 2016

Canada to Impose Carbon Taxes Nationwide.

Canada’s Environmental Minister announced that the federal government is 

planning to impose taxes on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across provinces 

that do not enact them. Provinces will have the first opportunity to determine 

how to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and establish their own 

prices on carbon through taxes or cap-and-trade programs. Four provinces 

(British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Québec) currently have either carbon 

taxes or cap-and-trade systems, leaving six provinces that would either implement a regulation or be subject to the federal system. From The Hill on 

September 19, 2016.

RGGI Report: Investments Generate Savings, Reduce [Emissions].

The nine Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)-participating states released a report tracking the cumulative investment of proceeds generated by 

RGGI’s regional CO2 allowance auctions through 2014. According to the report, 

titled “The Investment of RGGI Proceeds through 2014,” $1.37 billion in RGGI 

proceeds have been invested in programs such as energy efficiency, clean and 

renewable energy, and GHG abatement. The report also estimates the investments are projected to save approximately 76.1 million MMBtu of fossil fuels 

and 20.6 MWh of electricity, avoiding the release of 15.4 million tons of carbon 

emissions. From RGGI News Release on September 26, 2016.

NOVEMBER 2016

Sweden Proposes Measures to Strengthen Carbon Prices.

Sweden has proposed measures to strengthen carbon prices from 2020 and 

to address the excess credits in the European Union’s (EU) Emissions Trading 

System (ETS), the country’s climate minister announced. The proposals were 

presented to 13 EU environment ministers with the aim of capping carbon 

emissions. The proposals include removing some of the surplus of allowances 

via the EU ETS Market Stability Reserve (MSR), eliminating permits above a set 

ceiling, and possibly introducing an expiration date to cancel surplus permits 

after five years. From Daily Mail Online on October 17, 2016.

EPA Finalizes Voluntary CO2 Trading Model for Clean Power Plan.

A voluntary carbon-trading model for Clean Power Plan compliance was finalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sent to the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Under the program, states could 

comply with the federal carbon regulations by entering an optional cap-andtrade program for emissions, earning additional credit for early investments in 

alternative energy through a finalized Clean Energy Incentive Program. From 

Utility Dive on November 7, 2016.

DECEMBER 2016

Results of 34th RGGI Auction Released.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)-participating states announced the results of their 34th auction, the fourth and final of 2016, in which 

14,791,315 carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances were sold at the auction clearing 

price of $3.55. Bids for the CO2 allowances ranged from $2.10 to $13.75 

per allowance, and the auction generated $52.5 million for reinvestment in 

strategic programs, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement. To date, total proceeds from all RGGI CO2 allowance auctions exceed $2.6 billion. In addition, 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 levels ($8.00 in 2016; $10.00 in 2017). Additional details are available 

in the “Market Monitor Report for Auction 34.” From RGGI Press Release on 

December 9, 2016.

Meadow Restoration Studied for Potential to Build Carbon 

Credits in California.

Scientists from the Soil Science Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno, 

are studying the Sierra Nevada mountain meadows with a goal of developing a 

model that can predict the amount of CO2 stored in a meadow. The data gathered has the potential to be used by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 

to sell carbon credits through California’s cap-and-trade program, which sets 

to reduce the state’s GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. If the research 

shows meadow restoration has the potential to store CO2, the cap-and-trade 

program could permit landowners who restore a meadow area to sell carbon 

credits, thus offsetting the costs of restoration. From University of Nevada, 

Reno, on December 8, 2016.

JANUARY 2017

EU Lawmakers Adopt Draft Reform of Carbon Market.

European Parliament Environment Committee lawmakers adopted a draft proposal to reform the carbon market after 2020. The draft includes a higher 

rate at which permits should be removed from the market; an additional draft 

proposal was endorsed, which will double the rate the Market Stability Reserve 

(MSR) absorbs excess allowances. From Euro News on December 15, 2016.

FEBRUARY 2017

California Offers Plan to Extend Cap-and-Trade Program.

A group of California lawmakers introduced legislation to extend the state’s 

cap-and-trade program. AB 151 focuses on the future of California’s program 

for requiring companies to purchase emission credits in order to emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. From The Los Angeles Times on 

January 12, 2017.

MARCH 2017

European Parliament Adopts Carbon Market Draft Reform.

The European Parliament supported draft reforms of the carbon market post2020, aligning with the European Commission’s proposal for the emissions 

cap to decrease by 2.2 percent per year. The assembly’s environmental committee’s lawmakers will begin discussions with the European Union (EU) member states to finalize the legislation. From Reuters on February 15, 2017.

China to Launch Carbon Market.

China is expected to launch its emissions trading system (ETS) later this year. 

The country has launched seven pilot regional carbon trading markets since 

2013 (in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shenzhen, Hubei, and Chongqing), covering a range of industrial sectors. According to a report by the China 

Beijing Environment Exchange and the Beijing Emission Trading Association, 

the cumulative trading volume of the seven pilot markets (as of December 31, 

2016) was 160 million tons. From China Daily on February 16, 2017.

Singapore to Implement Carbon Tax.

Singapore’s government announced plans to implement a carbon tax from 

2019 as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs). The tax is expected to be in the range of $10 to $20 per metric ton of GHG emissions, 

and revenue generated will be used to fund measures by industries to reduce 

emissions, as well as potential opportunities in industries such as clean energy. 

From The Straits Times on February 20, 2017.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 EMISSIONS TRADING

APRIL 2017

Results of RGGI’s CO2 Auction.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 

announced the results of their 35th auction of CO2 allowances, in which 

14,371,300 carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances were sold at a clearing price 

of $3.00. None of the 10 million cost containment reserve (CCR) allowances 

made available were sold; the CCR is a fixed additional supply of allowances 

only made available if the CO2 allowance prices exceed certain price levels. The 

first auction of 2017, the auction generated $43.1 million for reinvestment in 

strategic programs, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement programs. To date, cumulative proceeds from all 

RGGI CO2 allowance auctions exceed $2.68 billion. From RGGI News Release

on March 10, 2017.

Ontario Announces Results of First Cap-and-Trade Auction.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change announced the 

results of the province’s first auction of GHG allowances, in which 25,296,367 

current allowances and 812,000 future allowances were sold. The proceeds 

generated from the cap-and-trade program auction will be invested in programs that will help reduce GHG emissions. The auction was administered 

using services contracted by the Western Climate Initiative (WCI); to ensure 

market integrity, an independent market monitor was also utilized. A summary 

report of the results of the auction has been made available. From Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change News Release on April 3, 2017.

MAY 2017

Report Estimates Tax May Aid in Emission Reduction.

According to a report published by Lux Research, Canada’s carbon tax plans 

have the potential to generate $120 billion in tax revenues by 2030. Beginning 

in 2022, a Canada-wide carbon tax of $50 per metric ton will implemented. 

The government is currently planning to directly invest $1.8 billion from its 

federal budget in clean technology companies. From Financial Post on April 

20, 2017.

JUNE 2017

Results of RGGI’s CO2 Auction.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)-participating states announced 

the results of their 36th auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances, in which 

14,597,470 CO2 allowances were sold at a clearing price of $2.53. None of 

the 10 million cost containment reserve (CCR) allowances made available were 

sold; the CCR is a fixed additional supply of allowances only made available if 

the CO2 allowance prices exceed certain price levels. The second of 2017, the 

auction generated $36.9 million for reinvestment in strategic programs, such 

as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement 

programs. To date, cumulative proceeds from all RGGI CO2 allowance auctions 

exceed $2.7 billion. From RGGI News Release on June 9, 2017.

JULY 2017

China May Limit Carbon Market Launch.

According to China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, China may limit its first stage of the launch of its nationwide 

carbon trading scheme to four sectors – power generation, cement, aluminum, 

and aviation. The nationwide launch of the national emissions trading platform 

was originally scheduled to also include the iron and steel, petrochemicals, 

chemicals, and papermaking sectors. China, which has already launched seven pilot regional trading schemes, is expected to launch the nationwide platform later this year. From Nasdaq via Reuters on June 30, 2017.

Nordics Consider Alternative to EU Emissions Trading System.

A Nordic carbon price floor may be introduced to secure future green investments in the region, according to a strategic review by the Nordic Council, a 

geo-political inter-parliamentary forum for cooperation between Nordic countries. Talks of the potential plan came after representatives from the European 

Union (EU) member states, the European Parliament, and the European Commission met to discuss how the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) should 

look in the 2021 through 2030 timeframe. From euobserver on June 28, 2017.

AUGUST 2017

Emissions Trading on South Korea’s Climate Agenda.

According to the South Korean government, the country will rely on its capand-trade program to meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs). 

Established in 2015, South Korea’s emissions trading system (ETS) covers 

approximately two-thirds of the country’s national GHG emissions. The second phase of the system’s implementation, which will take place from 2018 

through 2020, will introduce foreign credits. The third phase launches in 2021. 

From Bloomberg BNA on July 20, 2017. 

New Zealand Government to Reopen ETS.

The New Zealand government will reopen their ETS to international carbon 

credits, officials announced. In a range of ETS-related decisions, officials also 

announced the intention to control the number of New Zealand Units (NZUs) of 

carbon by putting up predetermined quantities for auction, removing the $25 

per metric ton upper limit on the price of a metric ton of New Zealand carbon. 

New Zealand’s ETS had been closed to international markets since 2015. From 

The National Business Review on July 26, 2017.

SEPTEMBER 2017

RGGI States Announce Proposed Program Changes.

The states participating in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced a set of draft program elements to guide them on the final economic 

analysis and to help establish a post-2020 path forward for the program. The 

RGGI states propose a regional cap trajectory that will provide an additional 30 

percent cap reduction by 2030, relative to 2020 levels. In addition, the proposal also includes: additional adjustments to the RGGI cap to account for the 

full bank of excess allowances at the end of 2020; modifications to the Cost 

Containment Reserve (CCR); and the implementation of an Emissions Containment Reserve (ECR) in 2021, which would allow states to withhold allowances 

from circulation to secure additional emission reductions if prices fall below 

established trigger prices. From RGGI News Release on August 23, 2017.

China to Launch Carbon Emissions Market.

According to a report by Scientific American, China’s National Development 

and Reform Commission (NDRC) plans to establish a national carbon-trading 

system and launch a carbon emissions market. NDRC stated in a report that 

a carbon emissions quota control system will be applied to manage the capand-trade program, and that a state and local two-level management system 

will be set up for the emissions market. From China Daily on August 16, 2017.

Governments Look to Increase Carbon Trading.

Officials from 26 governments have agreed to “renewed cooperation” on carbon trading markets as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The governments, which include Mexico, European Union (EU) member 

states, California, and the United Kingdom, released the joint statement following a meeting of policymakers in Lisbon, Portugal. Organized by the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), the event brought policymakers from 

around the world together to discuss best practices on carbon markets. From 

BusinessGreen on September 4, 2017. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 CLIMATE and SCIENCE NEWS

CLIMATE and SCIENCE NEWS

OCTOBER 2016

Asphalt-Based Carbon-Capture Material Advances.

Researchers from Rice University have developed a method to turn asphalt into 

a porous material that can store 154 percent of its weight in carbon dioxide 

(CO2) at high pressures that are common at gas wellheads. Initial field tests 

conducted in 2015 found that pressure at the wellhead made it possible for a 

Rice-developed asphalt material, capable of being used in place of amines to 

remove CO2 from natural gas, made it possible to adsorb 114 percent of its 

weight in CO2 at ambient pressures. The new form of the material, detailed in a 

study titled “Ultra-High Surface Area Activated Porous Asphalt for CO2 Capture 

through Competitive Adsorption at High Pressures” and published in the online 

journal Advanced Energy Materials, is less expensive and therefore more practical for industry. From Rice University News Release on September 12, 2016.

Scientists Uncover Surprising Source of Carbon Storage.

A team of researchers from Asia, Africa, and Europe conducted a study that 

quantifies the role trees on agricultural land play in storing CO2. Published 

in the online journal Scientific Reports, the study used estimates of global 

farmland tree cover derived from remote sensing observations and calculated 

the amount of CO2 captured and stored by trees growing on farmland. The 

researchers found that when CO2 stored by the trees was included, the total 

carbon storage for agricultural land measured more than four times higher 

than current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default values. 

The study, titled “Global Tree Cover and Biomass Carbon on Agricultural Land: 

The contribution of agroforestry to global and national carbon budgets,” found 

that as the world’s forest resources decline, tree cover on agricultural land is 

expanding. From Ensia.com on September 19, 2016. 

Soil will absorb less atmospheric carbon than expected 

this century, study finds.

Scientists from the University of California, Irvine, found that the ground might 

absorb less atmospheric CO2 this century than previously thought. By adding 

highly accurate radiocarbon dating of soil to standard Earth system models, 

using carbon-14 data from 157 sample sites, researchers determined that 

current soil carbon is approximately 3,100 years old (previous models hypothesized soil carbon to be 450 years old). Through photosynthesis, plants absorb 

CO2 from the air; when they die and decay, they become part of the soil and 

“lock in” carbon on or beneath the surface. Since this process takes place over 

millennia as opposed to decades or centuries, the researchers expect less of 

this type of geologic carbon storage in the 21st century than previous Earth 

system models had suggested. From ScienceDaily on September 22, 2016.

NOVEMBER 2016

Nano-Spike Catalysts Convert Carbon Dioxide Directly into Ethanol.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed an electrochemical process capable of turning carbon 

dioxide (CO2) into ethanol. Using a catalyst made up of carbon, copper, and 

nitrogen, the research team triggered a complicated chemical reaction by applying voltage, essentially reversing the combustion process. The CO2 solution 

dissolved into water and turned into ethanol with a yield of 63 percent. Initial 

analysis claims the surface of the catalyst provides reactive sites to facilitate 

the CO2-to-ethanol conversion and, given the technique’s reliance on low-cost 

materials and the ability to operate at room temperature, that the process 

could be scaled up for industrially relevant applications. From Oak Ridge National Laboratory News Release on October 12, 2016.

Forest Carbon Storage Pilot Project Launched.

A 1.2-million-acre Ghanaian forest carbon storage pilot project was launched 

for new tradable forest carbon products. The planetary-scale project for the 

diverse forests of Ghana features direct continuous monitoring of greenhouse 

gases (GHGs) for new trading products benefiting ecosystems, indigenous people, and stakeholders. From PR Web on November 7, 2016.

Record Growth in Atmospheric CO2 Despite Stable 

Anthropogenic Emissions.

According to model simulations, atmospheric CO2 levels exceeded 400 parts 

per million (ppm) in 2015, which is 44 percent above pre-industrial levels and 

the highest level in at least the last 800,000 years. Despite no growth in CO2

emissions for the third straight year, researchers believe the growth in atmospheric CO2 concentration was caused by a smaller uptake of carbon in the 

terrestrial biosphere in response to warm and dry conditions over tropical land 

(caused by the El Niño event from May 2015 to June 2016). Reported emissions cannot be verified with independent data due to an inability to account for 

carbon fluxes in the natural environment; researchers believe it to take 5 to 10 

years before global emissions can be confirmed with independent data. From 

Phys.Org on November 15, 2016.

DECEMBER 2016

Research Published on Soil’s Potential Impact on Atmospheric CO2.

According to a study conducted by researchers from Kansas State University 

and the Konza Prairie Biological Station, soils may have the potential to release large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in response to potential higher 

temperatures. Using data from 49 sites in different ecosystems around the 

world, the researchers claim that Arctic soils containing large amounts of soil 

carbon are the most sensitive to potential higher temperatures and will release 

the most CO2 into the atmosphere. Published in the online journal Nature, the 

study, titled “Quantifying global soil carbon losses in response to warming,” 

also found that CO2 stored in temperate grassland soils, such as Konza Prairie, 

is less sensitive to comparable temperatures. From EurekAlert! on December 

7, 2016.

NASA Announces First Geostationary Vegetation, 

Atmospheric Carbon Mission.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will measure greenhouse gases (GHGs) from space to advance understanding of Earth’s natural 

exchanges of carbon between the land, atmosphere, and ocean. Among the 

primary goals of the Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCARB) is to 

probe the natural sources, sinks, and exchange processes that control GHGs, 

such as CO2, in the atmosphere. GeoCARB will measure the daily total concentration of CO2, among other GHGs, in the atmosphere over the Americas from 

an orbit of approximately 22,000 miles above the equator. From NASA Press 

Release on December 6, 2016. 

Study Shows Grassland Environmental Contributions.

Researchers at the University of Alberta and Alberta Environment and Parks 

studied the effects of land use and grazing on soil carbon levels, finding that 

grasslands have the capability of storing large amounts of CO2. The study, 

conducted at the Rangeland Research Institute at the University of Alberta, 

Canada, involved 144 grassland enclosures (both grazed and ungrazed sites) 

and ran from 2013 through 2016. The effects of livestock grazing on the carbon nutrient cycling in the grasslands of central and southern Alberta were 

measured, and the study found that grazing could provide the opportunity to 

enhance and maintain soil carbon pools. From Manitoba Co-operator on December 7, 2016. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 CLIMATE and SCIENCE NEWS

JANUARY 2017

Scientists Measure Pulse of CO2 Emissions During Spring Thaw 

in the Arctic.

In collaboration with a team of researchers, scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have 

quantified the scale of carbon dioxide (CO2) release from soil in the frozen 

arctic tundra once it begins to melt. The study, which used measurements 

from both the field and the lab, was based on a 2014 spring pulse in northern Alaska, USA, that included CO2 emissions equivalent to 46 percent of the 

net CO2 absorbed in the summer months. The study was a project of DOE’s 

Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiment (NGEE-Arctic), which seeks to gain a 

predictive understanding of the Arctic terrestrial ecosystem’s feedback to climate. Findings of the study were published in a paper, titled “Large CO2 and 

CH4 emissions from polygonal tundra during spring thaw in northern Alaska,” 

in the online journal Geophysics Research Letters. From Lawrence Berkeley 

National Laboratory on December 14, 2016.

NASA Reveals 3-D Visualization of Earth’s CO2 Levels.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released a video 

representing a 3-D view of Earth’s CO2 levels. The data was gathered by the 

Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite (OCO-2), which collected worldwide CO2

levels from September 1, 2014, through August 31, 2015. The data was used 

along with a high-resolution weather model to reveal the movements of CO2

across the world. Scientists then developed a model of the atmospheric CO2

behavior from the timeframe the data was collected. From International Business Times on December 14, 2016.

China Launches CO2 Monitoring Satellite.

China launched a CO2 monitoring satellite to contribute to global research on 

potential climate change. Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center 

in Northwest China’ Gansu Province, the TanSat satellite was sent into orbit approximately 430 miles above Earth and will monitor the concentration, distribution, and flow of atmospheric CO2. TanSat will observe global CO2 levels every 

16 days during its 3-year mission. From Global Times on December 22, 2016.

FEBRUARY 2017

Company Designs Carbon-Neutral Concrete.

A company led by McGill University developed technology that has the potential 

to store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while also eliminating them from the 

cement manufacturing process. The company, Carbicrete, formulated a method to produce concrete that utilizes a process called “carbonation activation.” 

During the process, the CO2 is injected into the concrete while it is malleable. 

When placed inside a pressurized chamber, the permanent storage of CO2

within the material results in carbon-negative concrete that is more durable 

than conventional concrete. From McGill Tribune on January 24, 2017. 

Research Shows Coastal Wetlands Excel at Storing Carbon.

According to research conducted by University of Maryland scientists, intact 

coastal wetland ecosystems (e.g., mangrove forests, tidal marshes, seagrass 

meadows) are effective long-term carbon storage systems. In a research paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, the researchers noted that coastal wetlands have the potential to protect coastal 

communities from storm surges and erosion. The study was conducted by 

integrating previous data on a variety of coastal and marine ecosystems. By 

evaluating how each ecosystem captured CO2 and how long it was stored, 

researchers found that coastal wetlands outperformed other marine systems. 

From University of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural 

Sciences on February 1, 2017.

MARCH 2017

Researcher Receives DOE Grant to Produce Alcohols 

from CO2 Flue Gas.

A researcher from the University of Delaware received a grant from the U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to investigate the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a cheap feedstock 

to produce fuels and chemicals. The proposed technology is an integrated 

electrolyzer system that takes flue gas from the power plant and produces 

multi-carbon alcohols through a two-stage electrolysis process. The grant, 

titled “Electrochemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Alcohols,” will help 

fund the effort, which involves electrocatalyst development, system design and 

evaluation, and investigation of compatibility with simulated flue gas from coalfired power plants. From The University of Delaware News Release on February 

23, 2017.

Warming Ponds Could Accelerate Potential Climate Change.

According to a study conducted by the University of Exeter and Queen Mary 

University of London, rising temperatures may reduce the amount of CO2

stored in ponds. The study was conducted by warming an array of ponds by 

4°C to 5°C for seven years. In studying the impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) 

emission rates, scientists observed that after the first year, changes became 

“amplified” over a longer period. After seven years, the pond’s ability to absorb 

CO2 was reduced by almost half. The results of the study were published in 

a paper, titled “Long-term warming amplifies shifts in the carbon cycle of experimental ponds,” in the journal Nature Climate Change. From phys.org on 

February 20, 2017. 

Alberta Invests in CarbonCure.

CarbonCure will receive up to $3 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta 

(ERA) to further optimize and accelerate the adoption of its CO2 utilization 

technology in Alberta, Canada. CarbonCure’s technology, which reduces 

GHGs while providing economic benefit to concrete producers, is installed in 

more than 40 concrete plants across North America. The retrofit technology 

will source CO2 emissions from local industrial emitters and convert it to nano-sized minerals, making concrete stronger and greener. CarbonCure will be 

competing with three other recipients of the ERA Grand Challenge for the final 

$10 million grant in 2019. From Carbon Capture Journal on March 2, 2017.

APRIL 2017

Chemists Create Usable Material from CO2.

An international team of scientists achieved a milestone in the search to recycle carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere into carbon-neutral fuels 

and other materials. Led by Indiana University, the scientists engineered a molecule that uses light or electricity to convert CO2 into carbon monoxide (a carbon-neutral fuel source). The study, titled “Well-Defined Nanographene-Rhenium Complex as an Efficient Electrocatalyst and Photocatalyst for Selective CO2

Reduction,” appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. From 

Indiana University Bloomington Newsroom on March 8, 2017.

Scientists Refine Filters for CO2 Capture.

Scientists from Rice University created a material that may help improve the 

ability to draw methane from a well while storing CO2. Natural gas producers 

use filters that optimize either carbon capture or methane flow. While no single filter will do both, adjustments in the manufacturing of a polymer-based 

carbon sorbent make it a candidate material for either capturing the CO2 or 

balancing carbon capture with methane selectivity. The material created by 

Rice University scientists can be tuned to balance CO2 storage and methane 

selectivity. For more information, refer to the study, which was published in the 

Royal Society of Chemistry journal Sustainable Energy and Fuels. From Carbon 

Capture Journal on April 2, 2017. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 CLIMATE and SCIENCE NEWS

Antarctic Ice Reveals Earth’s Accelerating Plant Growth.

According to a recent study conducted by scientists from the University of California, Merced, plants have been growing at a rate faster in the past century 

than any time in the past 54,000 years and are converting 31 percent more 

CO2 into organic matter than before the Industrial Revolution. The results of the 

study, which were published in the online journal Nature, where gathered by 

analyzing the icy wastes of Antarctica. Scientists found that the increase in atmospheric CO2 fertilizes the plants; the CO2 in the extra plant growth amounts 

to 28 billion tons per year. From The New York Times on April 5, 2017.

MAY 2017

Company Pilots Plan to Store CO2 in Diamond-Bearing Rock.

De Beers is piloting a project to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) in the 

rock from which diamonds are extracted. According to the company, the project, which is due to start in 2019, is aiming to remove as much CO2 as it emits 

within 5 to 10 years. The CO2 will be stored in the kimberlite rock once all the 

diamonds have been removed; when mixed with CO2, the kimberlite rock turns 

into a solid compound. From Reuters on May 4, 2017.

Agencies Sign Agreement to Monitor Carbon.

The UK Space Agency and CNES, the French government space agency, signed 

an agreement to monitor carbon via satellite. According to officials, the MicroCarb cooperation agreement intends to characterize greenhouse gas (GHG) 

fluxes on the Earth’s surface and monitor how much carbon is being absorbed 

by oceans and forests. The UK Space Agency and CNES believe the mission, 

scheduled to launch in 2020, will lead to a longer-term operational system. 

From UK Space Agency Press Release on April 19, 2017.

Researchers Studying Earth’s Natural Carbon Storage Process.

A Columbia University-led team of scientists are digging into the exposed sections of the Earth’s mantle in Oman’s al-Hajjar mountains to observe how CO2

naturally petrified into limestone and marble millions of years ago. Half of the 

landscape in Oman’s hills contain peridotite, a rock that removes CO2 from 

the atmosphere and converts it into rock. Researchers believe the effort may 

help develop a drilling operation with a mechanism capable of processing the 

carbon-rich water and pump it into newly formed seabed. The seabed would 

then chemically absorb carbon from the water and cycle back the water to the 

surface to capture more atmospheric CO2. From Canada Journal on April 15, 

2017.

JUNE 2017

Emerging Technologies Addressing Cost and Performance of CCS.

In a recent study, researchers from Kyoto University’s Institute for Integrated 

Cell-Material Sciences, London’s Imperial College, and City University of Hong 

Kong used a method to develop new materials for capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2). The research focused on developing highly engineered thin 

polymer super filters called Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs). The study, titled 

“Enhanced selectivity in mixed matrix membranes for CO2 capture through efficient dispersion of amine-functionalized MOF nanoparticles,” was published in 

the online journal Nature. From ScienceDaily on June 5, 2017. 

Arctic Ocean Research Expedition Studies Ocean Absorption of CO2.

According to a study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gas Hydrates Project, the ocean waters near the surface of the Arctic Ocean absorbed 

2,000 times more atmospheric CO2 than the amount of methane that was 

released into the atmosphere from the same waters. During the study, U.S., 

Norwegian, and German scientists measured the concentrations of methane 

and CO2 in near-surface waters and in the air just above the ocean surface 

near Norway’s Svalbard Islands, above several seafloor methane seeps. The 

results showed that significant amounts of CO2 were being absorbed by the 

waters near the ocean surface, and that the resulting cooling effect was up to 

230 times greater than the potential warming effect expected from the methane emitted. From USGS News Release on May 8, 2017.

JULY 2017

New Technique Used to Measure CO2 in Geologic Storage.

A study led by the University of Edinburg’s School of Geosciences used a new 

technique to measure CO2 released from CCS sites. Developed by researchers 

from Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (SCCS), the technique measures tiny 

traces of inactive natural gases, known as noble gases, found in CO2, to depict whether the CO2 is from just below ground or deep below. The technique 

enables scientists to fingerprint a sample and pinpoint its source. The study 

found that high levels of CO2 recorded at a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, 

arose from nearby wetlands and not from a carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

site at the nearby Weyburn Oil Field. From Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage 

News on June 22, 2017.

British Forest to Test CO2 Absorption.

Scientists at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) 

will expose a fenced-off section of mature woodland to elevated levels of CO2

to measure the forest’s capacity to capture and absorb CO2. The Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment will feed concentrated CO2 through 

pipes at the top of a series of masts built into the woodland where it will be 

pumped into the foliage. To learn more about the decade-long experiment, 

located in Norbury Park in Staffordshire, West Midlands, visit the University of 

Birmingham’s website. From Reuters on June 21, 2017.

AUGUST 2017

Carbon Storage Chemical Reaction Identified by Researchers.

Scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of Southern California (USC) discovered a way to speed up the slow part of 

a chemical reaction that allows carbon dioxide (CO2) to be stored in the ocean, 

allowing the rate-limiting part of the process to go 500 times faster. The team 

of researchers collaborated by using isotopic labeling and two methods for 

measuring isotope ratios in solutions and solids to study calcite, a form of 

calcium carbonate. The group’s findings were published in the online journal 

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. From ScienceDaily on July 

17, 2017.

Scientists Research 100-Year-Old Fluid Flow Law.

A 100-year-old scientific law used to describe how fluid flows through rocks 

has been challenged by Imperial College London engineers, which has the 

potential to lead to advances in carbon capture and storage (CCS). Using 3-D 

videos to show how fluid moves through rock, the scientists discovered that the 

fluid flow is unstable, as opposed to the previously held premise in which gases move through rock via their own separate, stable pathways. The process, 

termed dynamic connectivity, shows that the pathways that fluids flow through 

last for a short period of time, wherein it then rearranges and forms into different ones. The discovery has the potential to allow engineers to more accurately 

model how fluids flow through rock. From ScienceDaily on July 17, 2017.

Researchers Discover New CO2 Conversion Process.

Researchers discovered a new process that has the potential to create useful 

products from carbon emissions. Chemists from Yale and Oregon State University have found the framework for a new method of electrochemical CO2

reduction (using electricity to change CO2 into value-added products) by using 

a zinc-porphyrin electrocatalyst. The researchers discovered the zinc-porphyrin 

complex acts as a catalyst in that the zinc ion binds the reactant but does not 

change its oxidation state, while the porphyrin ion (or ligand) is reduced and 

delivers electrons to complete the reaction. The new finding was published in 

the journal ACS Central Science. From Yale News on July 27, 2017.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 CLIMATE and SCIENCE NEWS

Mountain Forests Store Carbon Better than Flatland Forests.

Researchers from CyVerse, a project funded by the National Science Foundation and led by the University of Arizona, have found that mountain forests 

may be better at storing CO2 than flatland forests. Researchers came to their 

hypothesis by collecting data from reflected light pulses off the surface of the 

Earth to map the height of trees and elevation. Looking through the cross 

sections of a 3-D map, the study showed the trees on the valley floors had 

more biomass than those on the mountaintops; the more biomass a tree has, 

the more CO2 it has removed from the air. From Tuscon.com on July 29, 2017.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Elevated CO2 Levels May Strip Food Crops of Nutrients.

According to a study conducted at Harvard’s School of Public Health, higher 

levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) have the potential to lower the level 

of key nutrients in some food crops. To quantify the effect it could have on the 

world’s population, scientists built a database detailing the foods people eat, 

and its nutrient content, for 152 countries. Accounting for differences in diets, 

age, and gender, the researchers calculated the number of people not getting 

enough of certain nutrients, projecting potential changes in the protein and iron 

content through 2050. The results, published in two separate reports, showed 

that an additional 150 million people may be at risk for protein deficiency due 

to elevated levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. From domain-b.com on August 

3, 2017. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

JOURNAL ARTICLES

OCTOBER 2016

Translating risk assessment to contingency planning for CO2 geologic 

storage: A methodological framework.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “In order to ensure safe and effective long-term geologic storage of CO2, existing regulations require both 

assessing [release] risks and responding to [release] incidents through corrective measures. However, until now, these two pieces of risk management 

have been usually addressed separately. This study proposes a methodological framework that bridges risk assessment to corrective measures through 

clear and collaborative contingency planning. [The authors] achieve this goal in 

three consecutive steps. First, a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) approach 

is adopted to characterize potential [release] features, events and processes 

(FEP) in a Bayesian events tree (BET), resulting in a risk assessment matrix 

(RAM). The RAM depicts a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive set 

of [release] scenarios with quantified likelihood, impact, and tolerance levels. 

Second, the risk assessment matrix is translated to a contingency planning 

matrix (CPM) that incorporates a tiered-contingency system for risk-preparedness and incident-response. The [release] likelihood and impact dimensions 

of RAM are translated to resource proximity and variety dimensions in CPM, 

respectively. To ensure both rapid and thorough contingency planning, more 

likely or frequent risks require more proximate resources while more impactful 

risks require more various resources. In addition, the minimum and maximum 

risk tolerance levels are translated to contingency thresholds, and all tolerable 

risk scenarios are categorized under three contingency tiers: Tier 1, Tier 2, and 

Tier 3. [The authors] highlight how the upper, lower, and inter-tier contingency 

boundaries should be collaboratively pre-negotiated between the operating 

party and multiple relevant stakeholders to ensure effective preparedness and 

response. Finally, [the authors] present a model contingency plan to demonstrate how all newly introduced concepts integrate together. Specifically, [the 

authors] focus on explaining how the designed contingency tiers facilitate important aspects of contingency planning, primarily: evaluating [release] and 

initiating response; designing a corrective measures matrix (CMM) that assigns 

specific control and remediation measures to each [release] scenario; mobilizing, deploying, and sustaining necessary human and equipment resources; 

and formulating a decision-making hierarchy, a notification protocol, and a 

communication scheme to effectively administer the CO2 storage site.” Karim 

Farhat and Sally M. Benson, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Efficiency of magnesium hydroxide as engineering seal in the 

geological [storage] of CO2.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Injection of CO2 at depth will cause 

the acidification of groundwater. As a preliminary study for the potential use of 

MgO as an alternative to Portland cement in injection wells, MgO carbonation 

has been studied by means of stirred batch experiments under subcritic (pCO2

of 10 and 50 bar and T of 25, 70 and 90°C) and supercritic (pCO2 of 74 bar 

and T of 70 and 90°C) CO2 conditions. Magnesium oxide reacts with CO2-containing and Ca-rich water nearly equilibrated with respect to calcite. MgO 

quickly hydrates to brucite (Mg(O H)2) which dissolves causing the precipitation of magnesium carbonate phases. Precipitation of these secondary phases 

(magnesite and/or metastable phases such as nesquehonite (MgCO3•3H2O) 

or hydromagnesite (Mg5(CO3)4(O H)2•4(H2O)) depends on pCO2, temperature 

and solid/water content. In a constant solid/water ratio, the precipitation of the 

non-hydrated Mg carbonate is favored by increasing temperature and pCO2. 

The experimental variation of Mg and Ca concentrations and pH over time at 

the different temperatures and pCO2 has been simulated using the CrunchFlow 

reactive transport code. Simulations reproduce the experimental evolution of 

the aqueous concentrations and indicate a decrease in porosity when increasing temperature and pCO2. This decrease in porosity would be beneficial for the 

sealing properties of the cement. These results have been used in the simulation of an application case with a deep borehole surrounded by MgO cement at 

90°C.” Gabriela Dávila, Jordi Cama, Salvador Galí, Linda Luquot, and Josep 

M. Soler, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may 

be required.)

The Lower Jurassic Johansen Formation, northern North Sea – 

Depositional model and reservoir characterization for CO2 storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The Lower Jurassic, Johansen 

Formation sandstone, located in the Northern North Sea, has been proposed as 

a reservoir candidate for CO2 storage by Norwegian authorities. The objective 

of this study is to evaluate the reservoir quality of the Johansen Formation, as 

function of depositional history and architecture. [The authors] propose a depositional model comprising an early phase delta progradation, with clinothems 

building into deep waters, associated with delta front and pro-delta turbidites 

sourced from river mouths or/and upper delta front collapse. During a subsequent, aggradational stage, thick spit bar deposits developed in the southern, 

down-current part, sheltering a brackish lagoon, before rapid transgression 

caused back-stepping and preservation of sandy deposits encased in mud. 

Considering the depositional model presented, the inferred high porosity spit 

bar deposits would provide a suitable injection site and reservoir for CO2. Climatic controlling factors, rather than structural, are interpreted to have exerted 

the major force on the asymmetric sand distributions observed in the Johansen 

Formation, an architectural style which is repeated in later Jurassic successions on the Horda Platform. On a local scale, accommodation was created 

by differential compaction above rotated, Permian fault blocks, in addition to 

regional, post-thermal subsidence and rising sea-level.” Anja Sundal, Johan 

Petter Nystuen, Kari-Lise Rørvik, Henning Dypvik, and Per Aagaard, Marine 

and Petroleum Geology. (Subscription may be required.)

In-situ CO2 generation huff-n-puff for enhanced oil recovery: 

Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The major objective of this paper 

was to evaluate the validity of in-situ CO2 generation technique as an enhanced oil recovery method in sandstone reservoirs. In this study, the endothermic decomposition of ammonium bicarbonate solution was used to generate CO2. The theoretical prediction model of generated CO2 volume under 

reservoir conditions was deduced from the reaction kinetics. It was verified 

by the experimental data from gas-forming reaction test. The results indicated that the prediction based on the established theoretical model was well 

matched to experimental results at the tested NH4HCO3 concentrations of 10, 

15, 20 wt%. The oil displacement efficiency of in-situ CO2 generation huff-npuff (ISCGHP) were further examined through both sandpack test and reservoir 

simulation. The gas-forming agent was composed of ammonium bicarbonate, 

surfactants and polymers. The displacement performance of ISCGHP was examined through the sandpack huff-n-puff test. Effects of the main injection 

parameters were analyzed, including concentration, slug size, injection mode 

and chasing water. The sandpack huff-n-puff test indicated that a higher concentration of NH4HCO3 and a larger slug size of reagent contributed to an improved oil displacement efficiency. Gradually increasing the slug size reached 

the remaining oil left in the previous cycle, and simultaneously enlarged swept 

volume in the following cycle. In the numerical study, the reservoir model of 

ISCGHP was established using data from interfacial tension test, PVT test and 

reaction kinetics. It was then calibrated based on sandpack test results and 

past production observations of the candidate-well. Results showed ISCGHP 

effectively improved single-well productivity with a growth rate of 56 [percent] 

in oil production, the effective sweep radius reached about 50 m away from the 

wellbore along with a slight fall of formation temperature and a maximal 22.8 

[percent] of oil viscosity reduction.” Yong Wang, Jirui Hou, and Yong Tang,

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

19

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

The impact of emission trading scheme and the ration of free quota:

 A dynamic recursive CGE model in China.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “To cope with global warming, 

China has promulgated Enhanced actions on climate change: China’s intended 

nationally determined contributions and will start the national carbon emissions trading market in 2017. Carbon emissions are distributed by the form of 

free quota and paid quota. However, few literatures have focused on how the 

economy and the environment would be changed by the change of free quota 

ratio. This paper establishes the 10 scenarios of different free quota ratio of 

carbon emissions rights and uses a dynamic, recursive computable general 

equilibrium (CGE) model to simulate the carbon emissions trading market, to 

explore the relationship between free quota ratio and carbon trading price, and 

the impact of carbon trading scheme (ETS) on China’s economy and environment. The results show that free quota ratio will not have a direct impact on 

gross domestic product (GDP) and other economic and environment indicators 

but carbon trading prices. The prices and the rate of free payment in the current pilot cities in China are still relatively conservative. It is possible to reach 

emission peak, 8.21 billion ton, in 2025 and accumulative CO2 reduction from 

2017 to 2030 is 20.02 billion tons, or 59.60 [percent] of 2010 world’s total 

CO2 emission. Cement, minerals, electricity and nonferrous metals under ETS 

will suffer great losses, so subsidy should be considered. Finally, [the authors] 

suggested that China should reduce the total carbon rights to increase the 

carbon price in 2017, and gradually reducing the proportion of free quota, from 

90 [percent] in 2017 to 50 [percent] or less in 2030, by which the peak year 

of CO2 emission can meet in 2025. [The authors] also suggest that ETS is an 

effective strategy for CO2 reduction and the ratio should be gradually reduced 

in ETS to prevent violent fluctuation of carbon price in China.” Wei Li and Zhijie 

Jia, Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Geomechanical effects of CO2 storage in depleted gas reservoirs in the 

Netherlands: inferences from feasibility studies and comparison with 

[formation] storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “In this paper, the geomechanical 

impact of large-scale CO2 storage in depleted Dutch gas fields is compared 

with the impact of CO2 storage in saline [formations]. The geomechanical [behavior] of four potential CO2 storage sites is examined using flow and geomechanical simulations. Many gas reservoirs in the Netherlands are found in 

fault blocks, one to a few [kilometers] wide, laterally bounded by sealing faults. 

[Formation] depletion or re-pressurization in the lateral direction is seldom an 

issue because of a lack of active [formations]. Reservoir pressure changes 

are therefore limited to a gas-bearing fault block, while the induced stress 

changes affect the gas reservoir and extend 1-3 km away into the surrounding 

rock. Arguments in [favor] of CO2 storage in depleted gas fields are: proven 

seal quality, availability of field data, no record of seal integrity failure by fault 

reactivation from the seismically active producing Dutch gas fields, and the 

potential benefits of restoring the virgin formation pressure and stress state to 

geomechanical stability. On the other hand, CO2 injection in saline [formations] 

causes pressure build-up that exceeds the virgin hydrostatic pressure. Stress 

perturbations resulting from pressure build-up affect large areas, extending 

tens of [kilometers] away from the injection wells. Induced stresses in top seals 

are, however, small and do not exceed a few tenths of megapascal for a pressure build-up of a few megapascals in the storage formation. Geomechanical 

effects on top seals are weak, but could be enhanced close to the injection 

zone by the thermal effects of injection. Uncertainties related to [characterization] of large areas affected by pressure build-up are significant, and seal 

quality and continuity are more difficult to be demonstrated for [formations] 

than for depleted gas reservoirs that have held hydrocarbons for millions of 

years.” Bogdan Orlic, Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. (Subscription may be required.)

NOVEMBER 2016

Data integration, reservoir response, and application.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The microseismic activity observed 

in and around a geologic formation undergoing CO2 injection is a combination of natural, or ‘background,’ microseismicity plus that activity which is induced by injection operations. Since injection pressure within storage target 

formations are maintained safely below fracture pressure this induced activity 

typically originates at natural pre-existing zones of mechanical weakness presented by structural or stratigraphic features. The combination of mechanical 

properties and in situ stresses dictate the focal mechanism for microseismic 

emissions, an understanding of which facilitates the use of observed microseismicity for regulatory compliance and project management. Under favorable conditions microseismic activity may be unambiguously correlated with 

structural and/or stratigraphic features directly observed in seismic data, thus 

providing strong constraints to interpretation of observed microseismicity for 

focal mechanisms. However, in many cases, such as at the Illinois Basin–Decatur Project (IBDP), this direct correlation is elusive and other indirect support 

is required. Analysis of microseismicity at IBDP has been performed within the 

context of the integrated reservoir and mechanical earth models developed as 

part of the site characterization and monitoring program. The IBDP integrated 

modeling workflow involved continuous and geotechnically consistent data integration for geologic modeling, calibrated flow simulation, three-dimensional 

(3D) mechanical earth model, and coupled hydro-mechanical simulation. Using 

the coupled model, scenario-based forward modeling of microseismicity was 

performed for hypothetical focal mechanisms inferred from observed data. The 

experience gained at IBDP illustrates the importance of integrated modeling 

in the interpretation of microseismic activity for focal mechanisms and provides valuable insights into critical data gaps which could be the target of 

future basic research efforts.” Robert Will, Valerie Smith, Don Lee, and Ozgur 

Senel, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be 

required.)

The impact of trade openness on global carbon dioxide emissions: 

Evidence from the top ten emitters among developing countries.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “This study aims to analyze the 

relationship between CO2 emissions, trade openness, real income and energy consumption in the top ten CO2 emitters among the developing countries; 

namely China, India, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand and Malaysia over the period of 1971–2011. In addition, the possible presence of the EKC hypothesis is investigated for the analyzed countries. 

The Zivot–Andrews unit root test with structural break, the bounds testing for 

cointegration in the presence of structural break and the VECM Granger causality method are employed. The empirical results indicate that (i) the analyzed 

variables are co-integrated for Thailand, Turkey, India, Brazil, China, Indonesia 

and Korea, (ii) real income, energy consumption and trade openness are the 

main determinants of carbon emissions in the long run, (iii) there exists a number of causal relations between the analyzed variables, (iv) the EKC hypothesis 

is validated for Turkey, India, China and Korea. Robust policy implications can 

be derived from this study since the estimated models pass several diagnostic 

and stability tests.” Hasan Murat Ertugrul, Murat Cetin, Fahri Seker, and Eyup 

Dogan, Ecological Indicators. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

20

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

‘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.)

Case studies on the CO2 storage and EOR in heterogeneous, highly 

water-saturated, and extra-low permeability Chinese reservoirs.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The CO2 storage and CO2 EOR 

in reservoirs often face challenges due to a high heterogeneity, high levels 

of water saturation, or low permeability. Based on the evaluation method of 

the CO2 storage capacity and EOR, three typical reservoirs representing these 

challenges are introduced to study their effect on the CO2 EOR potentials and 

CO2 storage capacities. The properties of these reservoirs were analyzed in 

detail, and geological models were built. The reservoir simulation method is 

adopted to analyze and validate the CO2 injection process and the storage 

effect for different types of reservoirs. From the examples in this paper, the 

low permeability reservoirs appear to have a higher EOR potential and CO2

storage capacity than highly heterogeneous reservoirs. These results support 

the premise of injecting CO2 into reservoirs to decrease atmospheric [GHG] 

emissions while enhancing oil recovery.” Xiaoliang Zhao, Zhenhua Rui, and 

Xinwei Liao, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Evaluation of criteria for CO2 capture and storage in the iron and steel 

industry using the 2-tuple DEMATEL technique.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Nowadays, the development and 

deployment of alternative iron-making breakthrough technologies along with 

CO2 capture technology are receiving high priority to mitigate environmental 

concerns by reducing pollutants and GHG emissions. During the joint selection and successful implementation of CO2 CCS technology with iron-making 

emerging technology in order to allow the continuous use of fossil fuel as a reliable source of energy on demand, decision-makers (DMs) face different uncertainties and barriers as trade-off conditions in a real world environment. This 

study aims to quantitatively prioritize and analyze the interactions between the 

complex factors and dimensions in respect of CCS implementation in the iron 

and steel industry. In addition, research evaluates the CCS systems with twenty-five influential success factors in terms of four prominent aspects of sustainability, namely, engineering, economic, environmental and social. To carry 

out the research, this study utilizes the modified 2-tuple DEMATEL technique, 

a Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) tool and the Delphi method by proposing a favorable framework to determine the cause-and-effect relationships 

among these criteria. The results show that the criteria of energy for capture 

and storage, and CO2 removal efficiency are the top two significant influencing 

factors in selecting CO2 capture technology with breakthrough iron-making 

technologies. In addition, an intelligent network relationship map among the 

dimensions and the overall DEMATEL prominence-effect relationship diagram 

between the cause group and effect group of criteria have been illustrated 

clearly. A case study was conducted in an iron and steel manufacturing industry in Malaysia to illustrate the proposed framework and to demonstrate its 

usefulness and validity.” M. Abdul Quader, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Raja Ariffin 

Raja Ghazilla, Shameem Ahmed, and Mahidzal Dahari, Journal of Cleaner 

Production. (Subscription may be required.)

Thermodynamic analysis of a novel energy storage system with 

carbon dioxide as working fluid.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Recently, energy storage system 

(ESS) with CO2 as working fluid has been proposed as a new method to deal 

with the application restrictions of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) 

technology, such as dependence on geological formations and low energy storage density. A novel ESS named as Compressed CO2 Energy Storage (CCES) 

based on transcritical CO2 Brayton cycle is presented in this paper. The working 

principle of CCES system is introduced and thermodynamic model is established to assess the system performance. Parametric analysis is carried out 

to study the effect of some key parameters on system performance. Results 

show that the increase of turbine efficiency is more favorable for system optimization and the effect of minimum pressures on system performance is more 

significant compared with maximum pressures. A simple comparison of CCES 

system, liquid CO2 system and Advanced Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy 

Storage (AA-CAES) system is conducted. It is shown that the system efficiency 

of CCES is lower than that of AA-CAES system but 4.05 [percent] higher than 

that of liquid CO2 system, while the energy density of CCES system is 2.8 times 

the value of AA-CAES system, which makes CCES a novel ESS with potential 

application.” Yuan Zhang, Ke Yang, Hui Hong, Xiaohui Zhong, and Jianzhong 

Xu, Renewable Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

DECEMBER 2016

Optimization of a recompression supercritical carbon dioxide cycle for 

an innovative central receiver solar power plant.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Peculiar thermodynamic properties 

of CO2 when it is held at or above its critical condition (stated as supercritical 

CO2 or sCO2) have attracted the attention of many researchers. Its excellent 

thermophysical properties at medium-to-moderate temperature range have 

made it to be considered as the alternative working fluid for next power plant 

generation. Among those applications, future nuclear reactors, solar concentrated thermal energy or waste energy recovery have been shown as the most 

promising ones. In this paper, a recompression sCO2 cycle for a solar central 

particles receiver application has been optimized, observing net cycle efficiency close to 50 [percent]. However, small changes on cycle parameters such 

as working temperatures, recuperators efficiencies or mass flow distribution 

between low and high temperature recuperators were found to drastically 

modify system overall efficiency. In order to mitigate these uncertainties, an 

optimization analysis based on recuperators effectiveness definition was performed observing that cycle efficiency could lie among 40 [percent]–50 [percent] for medium-to-moderate temperature range of the studied application 

(630°C–680°C). Due to the lack of maturity of current sCO2 technologies and 

no power production scale demonstrators, cycle boundary conditions based 

on the solar application and a detailed literature review were chosen.” M.A. 

Reyes-Belmonte, A. Sebastián, M. Romero, and J. González-Aguilar, Energy.

(Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

21

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

The Evolution and Control of Fluid Phase During Liquid CO2 Fracturing.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Liquid CO2 fracturing is a novel 

stimulation technology, which helps realize multiple objectives such as conservation of water, [storage] of [GHGs] and enhancement of single-well productivity and ultimate recovery. During operations, CO2 flows through storage 

tank, booster pump, blender, fracturing pump, and eventually into wellbore and 

production zone, generating a changing temperature and pressure distribution. CO2’s phase state, density and viscosity properties change consequently, 

which influence significantly the reliability and stimulation effect. In a liquid CO2

fracturing field test for tight oil, temperature and pressure sensors are positioned at 12 critical nodes (including booster pump, blender, fracturing pump, 

wellhead and bottom hole) to monitor CO2 fluid. To ensure the reliability, CO2 is 

required to maintain in liquid state both on the surface and subsurface. Inlet, 

inside and outlet pressure of the blender should be concerned, because the 

blender utilizes non-mechanical pump, which requires sufficient motive flow 

to draw proppants into the main pipe, while the pressure difference directly 

impacts the flow rate of motive flow. The field test is successfully implemented 

with satisfactory result, 21 m3 proppants are added into the formation. The 

main conclusions are as follow. (1) In low-pressure fluid feeding stage, partial 

CO2 is gasified, which influences the stability of fluid feeding; In future a buffer 

vessel will be placed between storage tanks and booster pumps, which will 

provide adjustment for phase control; And a heat exchanger may help by further reduce the temperature of CO2.(2) Pressure difference among inlet, inside 

and outlet pressure of blender fluctuates during the whole process, with the 

probable reason of two additional static mixers, which create system pressure 

drop. (3) The temperature of CO2 is very low in low-pressure stage, and the 

pipes are frosted; When pumping pressure reaches 38MPa, the temperature 

gradually exceeds 0°C, and the pipes are defrosted. Phase evolution during 

liquid CO2 fracturing has been identified, and phase control method has been 

determined. This helps improve the stability of fluid feeding and sand adding, 

and enhances the success ratio and stimulation result of fracturing.” Siwei 

Meng, He Liu, Jianguo Xu, Yongwei Duan, Qinghai Yang, and Zixiu Yao, Society of Petroleum Engineers. (Subscription may be required.)

Features of CO2 fracturing deduced from acoustic emission and 

microscopy in laboratory experiments.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] conducted hydraulic fracturing (HF) experiments on 170mm cubic granite specimens with a 

20mm diameter central hole to investigate how fluid viscosity affects HF process and crack properties. In experiments using supercritical carbon dioxide 

[(scCO2)], liquid carbon dioxide (L-CO2), water, and viscous oil with viscosity of 

0.051–336.6mPa• s, [the authors] compared the results for breakdown pressure, the distribution and fracturing mechanism of acoustic emission, and the 

microstructure of induced cracks revealed by using an acrylic resin containing 

a fluorescent compound. Fracturing with low-viscosity fluid induced three-dimensionally sinuous cracks with many secondary branches, which seem to 

be desirable pathways for enhanced geothermal system, shale gas recovery, 

and other processes.” Tsuyoshi Ishida, Youqing Chen, Ziad Bennour, Hiroto 

Yamashita, Shuhei Inui, Yuya Nagaya, Makoto Naoi, Qu Chen, Yoshiki Nakayama, and Yu Nagano, Journal of Geophysical Research. (Subscription may 

be required.)

The syringe sampler: An inexpensive alternative borehole sampling 

technique for CO2-rich fluids during mineral carbon storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Mineral carbon storage involves 

the dissolution of injected gaseous or supercritical CO2 followed by interaction of the carbonated solution with the host rock at depth resulting in the 

precipitation of carbonate minerals. Monitoring of elemental chemistry and 

tracers is required to evaluate the evolution of the fluid geochemistry and 

the degree of CO2 mineralization during its injection into the subsurface. To 

avoid degassing during sampling, which is a common feature of commercial 

groundwater samplers, especially vacuum samplers, a syringe-like sampler 

was designed, constructed, and tested in the lab and field. This system was 

successfully deployed during the injection of 175 tons of pure gaseous CO2 at 

the CarbFix injection site in Hellisheidi, SW Iceland. This study presents in detail 

this sampling tool and its application to the monitoring of the CO2-rich fluid 

evolution during subsurface carbonation. The syringe sampler was developed 

as a flexible and mobile unit of low investment and operating costs making it an 

attractive option for deployment at small scale carbon storage demonstration 

sites that do not command the budgets to deploy commercial alternatives, 

e.g. from the oil and gas industry.” Helgi A. Alfredsson, Kiflom G. Mesfin, 

and Domenik Wolff-Boenisch, Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Analysis of state and federal regulatory regimes potentially governing 

the extraction of water from carbon storage reservoirs in the United 

States.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Extracted water—water brought 

to the surface of the ground during CCS projects to create additional room 

for [CO2] injection—exists in a murky legal environment. As part of a broader 

attempt to identify the complex interactions between water resource policies 

and CCS, an analysis was undertaken at both the state and the federal level to 

scope the policy environments surrounding extracted water policies and laws. 

Six states (California, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, and Texas) 

were chosen for this analysis because either active CCS work is currently underway, or the potential exists for future work. Although regulation of extracted 

waters could potentially occur at many points along the CCS life cycle, this 

paper focuses on regulation that may apply when the water is withdrawn—

that is, accessed and removed from the saline [formation]—and when it is 

re-injected in a close but unconnected [formation]. It was found that no regulations exist for this source specifically. In addition, greater input is needed from 

regulators and policy makers in terms of defining this resource. In particular, 

regulation of extracted waters (and CCS activities broadly) often overlaps with 

the management of fluids produced during oil and gas development. Many 

regulations would apply to extracted waters if they were classified as such. 

Therefore, correct categorization is key as the industry in this space continues 

to grow.” Jenna N. Schroeder, Christopher B. Harto, and Corrie E. Clark, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Quantifying the potential impacts of China’s power-sector policies on 

coal input and CO2 emissions through 2050: A bottom-up perspective.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “This study evaluates four recent policies for China’s power sector—mandatory renewable targets, green 

dispatch, [CCS] development, and coal-fired generation efficiency improvements—and quantifies their energy and CO2 emissions reduction potential 

through 2050 using bottom-up energy modeling and scenario analysis. [The 

authors] find renewable targets and green dispatch have crucial interlinked 

impacts on energy and CO2 emissions that could change the shape and peak 

year of China’s power-sector emissions outlook. Without either renewable targets or green dispatch, coal will likely continue dominating China’s power mix 

and could delay the power-sector CO2 emissions peak to the late 2030s.” 

Nina Zheng Khanna, Nan Zhou, David Fridley, and Jing Ke, Utilities Policy.

(Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

22

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

JANUARY 2017

Effectiveness of greenhouse-gas Emissions Trading Schemes 

implementation: a review on legislations.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Due to the severe problems caused 

by global warming, 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 [ETS] 

needs to be further analysed 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 in this paper. 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% 

per year since [ETS] implementation. Around 23.43% of CO2 reduction can 

be reached after 10 years of [ETS] implementation, compared to the trend 

when [ETS] was not implemented. Despite [ETS] 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 

tonne. However, as the implementation period of [ETS] 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 Rio Merino, Carmen Viñas Arrebola, and Xiangyu Wang, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may 

be required.)

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 leakage. 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.)

Time-lapse downhole electrical resistivity monitoring of subsurface 

CO2 storage at the Maguelone shallow experimental site (Languedoc, 

France).

The following is the Abstract of this article: “A shallow field experimental site for 

CO2 injection was established at Maguelone (Languedoc, France), in order to 

test in an integrated manner a suite of surface and downhole hydrogeophysical 

monitoring methods. The objective is to improve monitoring of gas transport 

in the shallow subsurface and to determine the sensitivity of CO2 monitoring 

systems for leakage detection. The site offers a natural laboratory to study 

the processes associated with CO2 injection in a clastic and clay-rich context 

saturated with saline fluids. Prior to CO2 injection, three nitrogen (N2) injections 

were undertaken in 2012 to measure the site response to neutral gas injection. 

In 2013, a volume of 111 m3 (mass of 220 kg) of CO2 was injected during 3.5 

h at 15 m depth. During each experiment, the gas plumes were successfully 

detected from pressure monitoring, time-lapse induction logging and downhole resistivity monitoring with dipole–dipole array. Increases in resistivity are 

attributed to free gas propagation (either N2 or CO2) whereas decreases in 

resistivity correlate with CO2 dissolution in the pore fluid. Chemical analyses 

confirm this hypothesis with a decrease in pH and an increase in the concentration of dissolved species in the latter case.” Philippe A. Pezard, Nataliya 

Denchik, Johanna Lofi, Hervé Perroud, Gilles Henry, Denis Neyens, Linda 

Luquot, and Arnaud Levannier, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Lessons learned from using expert elicitation to identify, assess and 

rank the potential leakage scenarios at the Heletz pilot CO2 injection 

site.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Expert elicitation is a useful approach to synthesis expert knowledge, experience and insight when the input 

data and analysis is limited. During the early stages of the EU FP7 MUSTANG 

pilot CO2 injection experiment at Heletz, Israel there was very little input data 

available, yet decisions had to be made regarding data collection, drilling, operation and monitoring strategies. An expert elicitation study was undertaken to 

identify, assess and rank potential CO2 leakage scenarios at Heletz to provide 

guidance to support the decision making processes. This paper presents a 

critique of the expert elicitation process undertaken, presenting the methodology and a discussion of the results. [The authors] present the lessons learned 

during the expert elicitation process, highlighting its advantages and limitations 

and provide suggestions on ways to overcome these limitations. [The authors’] 

findings show that prudent expert elicitation can make a valuable contribution 

to decision making, however if done improperly it can equally lead to invalid or 

misleading results and wrong decisions.” K. Edlmann, J. Bensabat, A. Niemi, 

R.S. Haszeldine, and C.I. McDermott, International Journal of Greenhouse 

Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Flow visualization of CO2 in tight shale formations at reservoir 

conditions.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The flow of CO2 in porous media 

is fundamental to many engineering applications and geophysical processes. 

Yet detailed CO2 flow visualization remains challenging. [The authors] address 

this problem via positron emission tomography using 11C nuclides and apply it to tight formations—a difficult but relevant rock type to investigate. The 

results represent an important technical advancement for visualization and 

quantification of flow properties in ultratight rocks and allowed [the authors] to 

observe that local rock structure in a layered, reservoir shale (K=0.74 μdarcy) 

sample dictated the CO2 flow path by the presence of high-density layers. 

Diffusive transport of CO2 in a fractured sample (high-permeable sandstone) 

was also visualized, and an effective diffusion coefficient (Di=2.2• 10−8m2/s) 

was derived directly from the dynamic distribution of CO2. During CO2 injection 

tests for oil recovery from a reservoir shale sample [the authors] observed a 

recovery factor of RF=55% of oil in place without fracturing the sample.” M.A. 

Fernø, L.P. Hauge, A. Uno Rognmo, J. Gauteplass, and A. Graue, Geophysical 

Research Letters. (Subscription may be required.)

Experimental study of gas–oil relative permeability curves at 

immiscible/near miscible gas injection in highly naturally fractured 

reservoir.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The main aim of this work is to 

investigate gas–oil relative permeability curves as the main flow function in 

different gas injection scenarios, immiscible and near miscible in case of highly 

fractured reservoirs. In this research, some experiments have been done on 

the reservoir core sample selected from sandstone formation in one of the 

Iranian naturally fractured oil reservoirs. The core is saturated with oil sample 

and CO2 is injected into oil saturated core sample. Experiments have been 

performed on both of the sandstone and artificial fractured sandstone, represented as no fractured and highly fractured reservoirs, based on incremental 

pressure algorithm approaching into near miscible condition. Inverse modeling 

method has been used to calculate relative permeability curves. By comparing 

the relative permeability curves in immiscible and near-miscible conditions, 

the results show that in sandstone core type this change is considerable, but 

in highly artificial fractured sandstone with a high ratio of artificial fractured to 

sandstone absolute permeability (Kef /Ks) is not substantial. Moreover the results show that in the described case of artificial fractured core type so simple 
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October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

conventional relative permeability methods have the same results compared 

to a sophisticated inverse modeling method. The other main result is the lack 

of miscibility activation in near miscible injection through the highly fractured 

reservoirs leading to viscose dominant flow rather than capillary. Finally by 

considering this changing behavior, a better knowledge of gas front movement 

through highly fractured reservoirs in low [interfacial tension (IFT)] regions can 

be obtained.” Mohammad Parvazdavani, Saeed Abbasi, and MohammadReza Zare-Reisabadi, Egyptian Journal of Petroleum. (Subscription may be 

required.)

Investigation of uncertainty in CO2 reservoir models: A sensitivity 

analysis of relative permeability parameter values.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Numerical reservoir models of 

CO2 injection in saline formations rely on parameterization of laboratory-measured pore-scale processes. [The authors] performed a parameter sensitivity 

study and Monte Carlo simulations to determine the normalized change in total 

CO2 injected using the finite element heat and mass-transfer code (FEHM) 

numerical reservoir simulator. Experimentally measured relative permeability 

parameter values were used to generate distribution functions for parameter 

sampling. The parameter sensitivity study analyzed five different levels for each 

of the relative permeability model parameters. All but one of the parameters 

changed the CO2 injectivity by <10%, less than the geostatistical uncertainty 

that applies to all large subsurface systems due to natural geophysical variability and inherently small sample sizes. The exception was the end-point CO2

relative permeability, k0

r,CO2, the maximum attainable effective CO2 permeability during CO2 invasion, which changed CO2 injectivity by as much as 80%. 

Similarly, Monte Carlo simulation using 1000 realizations of relative permeability parameters showed no relationship between CO2 injectivity and any of 

the parameters but k0

r,CO2, which had a very strong (R2

 = 0.9685) power law 

relationship with total CO2 injected. Model sensitivity to k0

r,CO2 source points to 

the importance of accurate core flood and wettability measurements.” Nozomu 

Yoshida, Jonathon S. Levine, and Philip H. Stauffer, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Rapid method to estimate the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) in 

live reservoir oil systems during CO2 flooding.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Flooding fuel-generated CO2 into 

oil reservoirs will lead to two advantages in both EOR and reduction in atmospheric emission of [CO2]. The main factor for determination of the possibilities 

to EOR by e.g. CO2 injection, in particular miscible case, into a specific oil 

reservoir is the CO2–oil minimum miscibility pressure (MMP). In this communication, [the authors] present the utilization of a soft-computing technique – 

gene expression programming (GEP) – for developing a new symbolic equation 

to pursue [the authors’] objective. In other words, this work presents a new 

approach to predict both pure and impure CO2–oil MMP in live reservoir oil 

systems. The parameters of the new model involve the molecular weight of C5+ 

fraction in crude oil, reservoir temperature, the mole percentage ratio of volatile 

to intermediate components of oil and critical temperature. A comprehensive 

error investigation is done to discuss accuracy of the recently proposed MMP 

model. Additionally, the results obtained by the new GEP-based model are 

compared with most widely-used empirically derived correlations available in 

the literature to show the superiority of the model. The results obtained in this 

study are encouraging and can propose accurate and efficient solutions for 

the case of CO2–oil MMP of pure and impure components in live oil systems.” 

Arash Kamari, Milad Arabloo, Amin Shokrollahi, Farhad Gharagheizi, and 

Amir H. Mohammadi, Fuel. (Subscription may be required.)

FEBRUARY 2017

The salt-based catalytic enhancement of CO2 absorption by a tertiary 

amine medium.

The following is a summary of the Abstract of this article: “Efficient methods 

are needed to limit the elevation of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Here, [the 

authors] propose an improved CO2 [storage] method that uses new catalysts, 

specifically a series of tertiary amine nitrate salts, in an aqueous tertiary amine 

medium. [The authors] synthesized the new catalysts and characterized them 

by using 1H and 13C NMR, single crystal X-ray analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The effects of the catalysts on CO2 absorption were assessed by using a stopped-flow spectrophotometer, and their heats of absorption and CO2

absorption capacities were measured with a differential reaction calorimeter 

(DRC) at high concentrations of the tertiary amine medium. The CO2 hydration 

rate constants were determined under basic conditions and the catalysts were 

found to exhibit higher absorption of CO2 (a highest value of 430 M−1 s−1) than 

the tertiary amine medium (133 M−1 s−1). The increased absorption of CO2 and 

the low heat absorption energies of the new catalysts suggest that they could 

be used in post-combustion processes.” Dharmalingam Sivanesan, Young 

Eun Kim, Min Hye Youn, Ki Tae Park, Hak-Joo Kim, Andrew Nirmala Grace, 

and Soon Kwan Jeong, RSC Advances. (Subscription may be required.) 

Inorganic carbon dynamics and CO2 flux associated with coal-mine 

drainage sites in Blythedale PA and Lambert WV, USA.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Drainage from coal mines, where 

carbonate dissolution is driven by sulfuric acid, can result in a net transfer 

of geologically-bound carbon to the atmosphere. The flux and downstream 

evolution of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is presented for two coal mine 

sites that discharge high concentrations of DIC (3.7–4.5 mM C) producing a 

total flux of DIC from the mine from 13 to 249 kg-C/year (18–364 metric tons 

of CO2/year). More than 65% of the total DIC is lost via CO2 evasion with the 

remaining DIC is exported downstream as dissolved species. The fate of the 

DIC depends upon the pH of the water which is controlled by evasion of CO2, 

the concentration of pre-existing alkalinity, carbonate precipitation and dissolution, and metal hydrolysis reactions. The CO2 concentrations and fluxes from 

the study sites are comparable to those estimated from literature data for other 

coal mine sites in the Appalachian region. The total flux estimated from a dataset of 140 coal mines was comparable in magnitude to the CO2 emissions from 

a small coal-fired power plant. The extent of CO2 degassing from mine waters 

is poorly constrained because (1) flux estimates can be biased low when acid 

waters are excluded in alkalinity-based estimates; (2) flux estimates can be 

biased high if non-carbonate alkalinity is present in the mine waters; and (3) 

mine waters react rapidly following discharge hampering the measurement 

process. The study sites presented illustrate the impact of coal mining as an 

anthropogenic influence on carbon cycling; however, more data are necessary 

to fully estimate the importance of this impact on regional scales.” Dorothy 

J. Vesper, Johnathan E. Moore, and James P. Adams, Environmental Earth 

Sciences. (Subscription may be required.)

Potential gains from carbon emissions trading in China: A DEA based 

estimation on abatement cost savings.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “China has recently launched its 

pilot carbon emissions trading markets. Theoretically, heterogeneity in abatement cost determines the efficiency advantage of market based programs over 

command and control policies on carbon emissions. This study tries to answer 

the question that what will be the abatement cost savings or GDP loss recoveries from carbon emissions trading in China from the perspective of estimating the potential gains from carbon emissions trading. A [data envelopment 

analysis (DEA)] based optimization model is employed in this study to estimate 

the potential gains from implementing two carbon emissions trading schemes 

compared to carbon emissions command and control scheme in China. These 

two schemes are spatial tradable carbon emissions permit scheme and spatial–temporal tradable carbon emissions permit scheme. The associated three 

types of potential gains, which are defined as the potential increases on GDP 

outputs through eliminating technical inefficiency, eliminating suboptimal spatial allocation of carbon emissions permit, and eliminating both suboptimal 

spatial and temporal allocation of carbon emissions permit, are estimated by 

an ex post analysis for China and its 30 provinces over 2006-2010. Substantial abatement cost savings and considerable carbon emissions reduction 

potentials are identified in this study which provide one argument for implementing a market based policy instrument instead of a command and control 

policy instrument on carbon emissions control in China.” Ke Wang, Yi-Ming 

Wei, and Zhimin Huang, Omega. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

Carbon capture and storage across fuels and sectors in energy system 

transformation pathways.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “CCS is broadly understood to be 

a key mitigation technology, yet modeling analyses provide different results 

regarding the applications in which it might be used most effectively. Here 

[the authors] use the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) to explore 

the sensitivity of CCS deployment across sectors and fuels to future technology cost assumptions. [The authors] find that CCS is deployed preferentially 

in electricity generation or in liquid fuels production, depending on CCS and 

biofuels production cost assumptions. [The authors] consistently find significant deployment across both sectors in all of the scenarios considered here, 

with bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) often the dominant application. As such, this 

study challenges the view that CCS will primarily be coupled with power plants 

and used mainly in conjunction with fossil fuels, and suggests greater focus 

on practical implications of significant CCS and BECCS deployment to inform 

energy system transformation scenarios over the 21st century.” Matteo Muratori, Haroon Kheshgi, Bryan Mignone, Leon Clarke, Haewon McJeon, and 

Jae Edmonds, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Comparing policy routes for low-carbon power technology deployment 

in EU – and energy system analysis.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The optimization energy system 

model JRC-EU-TIMES is used to support energy technology R&D design by 

analyzing power technologies deployment till 2050 and their sensitivity to different decarbonization exogenous policy routes. The policy routes are based on 

the decarbonized scenarios of the EU Energy Roadmap 2050 combining energy 

efficiency, renewables, nuclear or CCS. A ‘reference’ and seven decarbonized 

scenarios are modelled for EU28. [The authors] conclude on the importance of 

policy decisions for the configuration of the low carbon power sector, especially 

on nuclear acceptance and available sites for new RES plants. Differently from 

typical analysis focusing on technology portfolio for each route, [the authors] 

analyze the deployment of each technology across policy routes, for optimizing 

technology R&D. R&D priority should be given to those less-policy-sensitive 

technologies that are in any case deployed rapidly across the modelled time 

horizon (e.g. PV), but also to those deployed up to their technical potentials 

and typically less sensitive to exogenous policy routes. For these ‘no regret’ 

technologies (e.g. geothermal), R&D efforts should focus on increasing their 

technical potential. For possibly cost-effective technologies very sensitive to 

the policy routes (e.g. CSP and marine), R&D efforts should be directed to 

improving their techno-economic performance.” Sofia Simoes, Wouter Nijs, 

Pablo Ruiz, Alessandra Sgobbi, and Christian Thiel, Energy Policy. (Subscription may be required.)

The allowance mechanism of China’s carbon trading pilots: 

A comparative analysis with schemes in EU and California.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The allowance mechanism is one 

of the core and sensitive aspects in the design of a carbon emissions trading 

scheme and affects the compliance cost for each entity covered under the 

scheme. By examining China’s allowance mechanism from two aspects-allowance allocation and allowance distribution, this paper compares China’s 

carbon trading pilots with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and California 

Cap-and-Trade Program. The comparison identifies the unique features in 

allowance mechanism and particular issues that affect the efficiency of the 

pilots. The paper also recommends courses of action to strengthen China’s 

existing pilots and to build valuable experiences for the establishment of the 

national cap-and-trade system in China.” Ling Xiong, Bo Shen, Shaozhou Qi, 

Lynn Price, and Bin Ye, Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Design under uncertainty of carbon capture and storage infrastructure 

considering cost, environmental impact, and preference on risk.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] present a stochastic 

decision-making algorithm for the design and operation of a CCS network; the 

algorithm incorporates the decision-maker’s tolerance of risk caused by uncertainties. Given a set of available resources to capture, store, and transport 

CO2, the algorithm provides an optimal plan of the CCS infrastructure and a 

CCS assessment method, while minimizing annual cost, environmental impact, 

and risk under uncertainties. The model uses the concept of downside risk to 

explicitly incorporate the trade-off between risk and either economic or environmental objectives at the decision-making level. A two-phase-two-stage stochastic multi-objective optimization problem (2P2SSMOOP) solving approach 

is implemented to consider uncertainty, and the ε-constraint method is used 

to evaluate the interaction between total annual cost with financial risk and an 

Eco-indicator 99 score with environmental risk. The environmental impact is 

measured by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) considering all contributions made 

by operation and installation of a CCS infrastructure. A case study of power-plant CO2 emission in Korea is presented to illustrate the application of the 

proposed modeling and solution method.” Suh-Young Lee, Jae-Uk Lee, InBeum Lee, and Jeehoon Han, Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Tracking the interaction between injected CO2 and reservoir fluids 

using noble gas isotopes in an analogue of large-scale carbon 

capture and storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Industrial scale [CCS] technology 

relies on the secure long term storage of CO2 in the subsurface. The engineering and safety of a geological storage site is critically dependent on how and 

where CO2 will be stored over the lifetime of the site. Hence, there is a need 

to determine how injected CO2 is stored and identify how injected CO2 interacts with sub-surface fluids. Since July 2008 ~1 Mt of CO2 has been injected 

into the Cranfield EOR field (MS, USA), sourced from a portion of the natural 

CO2 produced from the nearby Jackson Dome CO2 reservoir. Monitoring and 

tracking of the amount of recycled CO2 shows that a portion of the injected 

CO2 has been retained in the reservoir. Here, [the authors] show that the noble 

gases (20Ne, 36Ar, 84Kr, 132Xe) that are intrinsic to the injected CO2 can be combined with CO2/

3

He and δ13CCO2 measurements to trace both the dissolution 

of the CO2 into the formation water, and the interaction of CO2 with the residual 

oil. Samples collected 18 months after CO2 injection commenced show that 

the CO2 has stripped the noble gases from the formation water. The isotopic 

composition of He suggests that ~0.2%, some 7 kt, of the injected CO2 has 

dissolved into formation water. The CO2/

3

He and δ13CCO2 values imply that 

dissolution is occurring at pH = 5.8, consistent with the previous determinations. δ13CCO2 measurements and geochemical modelling rule out significant 

carbonate precipitation and [the authors] determine that the undissolved CO2

after 18 months of injection (1.5 Mt) is stored by stratigraphic or residual trapping. After 45 months of CO2 injection, the noble gas concentrations appear to 

be affected by CO2-oil interaction, overprinting the signature of the formation 

water.” Domokos Györe, Stuart M.V. Gilfillan, and Finlay M. Stuart, Applied 

Geochemistry. (Subscription may be required.)

Carbon Sequestration in Olivine and Basalt Powder Packed Beds.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Fractures and pores in basalt could 

provide substantial pore volume and surface area of reactive minerals for carbonate mineral formation in geologic carbon sequestration. In many fractures 

solute transport will be limited to diffusion, and opposing chemical gradients 

that form as a result of concentration differences can lead to spatial distribution of silicate mineral dissolution and carbonate mineral precipitation. Glass 

tubes packed with grains of olivine or basalt with different grain sizes and compositions were used to explore the identity and spatial distribution of carbonate 

minerals that form in dead-end one-dimensional diffusion-limited zones that 

are connected to a larger reservoir of water in equilibrium with 100 bar CO2 at 

100°C. Magnesite formed in experiments with olivine, and Mg- and Ca-bearing siderite formed in experiments with flood basalt. The spatial distribution of 

carbonates varied between powder packed beds with different powder sizes. 

Packed beds of basalt powder with large specific surface areas sequestered 

more carbon per unit basalt mass than powder with low surface area. The spatial location and extent of carbonate mineral formation can influence the overall 

ability of fractured basalt to sequester carbon.” Wei Xiong, Rachel K. Wells, 

and Daniel E. Giammar, Environmental Science and Technology. (Subscription 

may be required.)
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

MARCH 2017

Modeling changes in pressure due to migration of fluids into the Above 

Zone Monitoring Interval of a geologic carbon storage site.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “An increasing emphasis on the 

industrial-scale implementation of CO2 storage in geological formations has 

led to the development of whole-system models to evaluate performance of 

candidate geologic storage sites and the environmental risk associated with 

them. Components of that engineered geologic system include the storage 

reservoir, overlying aquitards (primary caprock and secondary seals) and aquifers (including the above zone monitoring interval, or AZMI, directly overlying 

the primary seal), and potential leakage pathways including wells, fractures, 

and faults. Leakage of CO2 and brine through the primary seal to the overlying 

porous and permeable formations (AZMI) may occur due to the seal’s intrinsic 

permeability and/or the presence of natural fractures or induced perforations 

or fractures in the caprock. AZMI monitoring may provide a potentially useful 

source of information about seal performance and subsurface pressure response to potential CO2 and/or brine leakage from the reservoir. Unfortunately, 

full complexity simulations of the geologic storage system are not computationally affordable, especially given the need to develop many realizations to 

evaluate uncertainties in system performance. Thus, the goal of the current 

work is to present a novel reduced order model (ROM) for AZMI that simulates fluid (i.e., CO2 and brine) flow above the seal, and verify performance of 

the ROM. The AZMI model predicts spatial changes in pressure over time in 

the zone above the primary seal due to migration of fluids from the reservoir. 

A case is examined wherein CO2 is injected into a storage reservoir for 30 

years and a heterogeneous primary seal exists above the reservoir with some 

permeable zones. The model results are verified against those of a numerical 

simulator. The new AZMI model provides an improvement in computation time 

by a factor of approximately 2000 times to that of the numerical simulator 

and provides predictions that approximate those of the comparable numerical 

simulation.” Argha Namhata, Liwei Zhang, Robert M. Dilmore, Sergey Oladyshkin, and David V. Nakles, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Production and transportation outsourcing decisions in the supply 

chain under single and multiple carbon prices.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Cap-and-trade and carbon tax are 

the two main policies to reduce carbon emissions. Different from the previous 

literature and practice, this paper examines the production and transportation 

outsourcing problems of a two-echelon supply chain under the cap-and-trade 

policy and joint cap-and-trade and carbon tax policy. Enterprise operations are 

divided into the order stage and transportation outsourcing decision stage. In 

the order stage, the retailer sets his order schedule for the manufacturing plant 

for fulfillment, and in the transportation outsourcing decision stage, the manufacturer decides the optimal freight volume based on energy consumption. 

Furthermore, [the authors] construct a basic model without a carbon policy 

and two extended models with carbon policies and the optimal solutions of 

the models are solved. Numerical examples are provided, and the three models are compared. The results indicate that the extended model with carbon 

policies is more beneficial for emissions reduction, and the effect of emissions 

reduction gradually becomes smooth as the carbon price increases; the joint 

cap-and-trade and carbon tax policy is more effective for emissions reduction, 

especially when the carbon price is lower. These findings will be helpful to 

policy makers and managers.” Jian Li, Qin Su, and Li Ma, Journal of Cleaner 

Production. (Subscription may be required.)

Response comment: Carbon sequestration on Mars.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Martian atmospheric pressure 

has important implications for the past and present habitability of the planet, 

including the timing and causes of environmental change. The ancient Martian 

surface is strewn with evidence for early water bound in minerals and recorded 

in surface features such as large catastrophically created outflow channels, 

valley networks, and crater lakes. Using orbital spectral data sets coupled with 

geologic maps and a set of numerical spectral analysis models, [the authors] 

constrained the amount of atmospheric sequestration in early Martian rocks 

and found that the majority of this sequestration occurred prior to the formation 

of the early Hesperian/late Noachian valley networks, thus implying the atmosphere was already thin by the time these surface-water-related features were 

formed.” Christopher Edwards and Bethany L. Ehlmann, Geological Society 

of America. (Subscription may be required.)

Enhancing residual trapping of supercritical CO2 via cyclic injections.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] utilize synchrotron 

X-ray tomographic imaging to investigate the pore-scale characteristics and 

residual trapping of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) over the course of multiple drainage-imbibition (D-I) cycles in Bentheimer sandstone cores. Capillary pressure 

measurements are paired with X-ray image-derived saturation and connectivity metrics which describe the extent of drainage and subsequent residual (end 

of imbibition) scCO2 trapping. For the first D-I cycle, residual scCO2 trapping is 

suppressed due to high imbibition capillary number (Ca≈10−6); however, residual scCO2 trapping dramatically increases for subsequent D-I cycles carried 

out at the same Ca value. This behavior is not predicted by conventional multiphase trapping theory. The magnitude of scCO2 trapping increase is hysteretic 

and depends on the relative extent of the sequential drainage processes. The 

hysteretic pore-scale behavior of the scCO2-brine-sandstone system observed 

in this study suggests that cyclic multiphase flow could potentially be used 

to increase scCO2 trapping for sequestration applications.” Anna L. Herring, 

Linnea Anderson, and Dorthe Wildenschild, Geophysical Research Letters. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Assessing the design of three carbon trading pilot programs in China.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “To help overcome the challenge 

of growing CO2 emissions, China is experimenting with market-based instruments, including pilot CO2 emissions trading systems (ETSs) in seven regions 

that serve as precursors of a national CO2 ETS. Implementing an ETS in a 

rapidly growing economy in which government authorities exercise significant 

control over markets poses many challenges. This study assesses how well 

three of the most developed pilot ETSs, in Guangdong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, have adapted carbon emissions trading to China’s economic and political 

context. [The authors] base [their] study on new information gathered through 

interviews with local pilot ETS regulators and experts, analysis of recent trading 

data, and extensive legal and literature reviews. [The authors] point out instances in which pilot regulators have deftly tailored carbon emissions trading 

to China’s unique context and instances in which designs are insufficient to 

ensure smooth operation. [The authors] also indicate areas in which broader 

institutional reforms of China’s political economy may be required for carbon 

emissions trading to operate successfully. [The authors] make nine recommendations to improve the design and operation of the pilot programs and to 

inform the construction of a national CO2 ETS.” Clayton Munnings, Richard D. 

Morgenstern, Zhongmin Wang, and Xu Liu, Energy Policy. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Convective mixing fingers and chemistry interaction in carbon storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Dissolution of [CO2] into formation fluids during CCS can generate an instability with a denser CO2-rich fluid located above the less dense native aquifer fluid. This instability promotes 

convective mixing, enhancing CO2 dissolution and favoring the storage safety. 

Convective mixing has been extensively analyzed in the context of CCS over the 

last decade, however the interaction between convective mixing and geochemistry has been insufficiently addressed. This relation is explored using a fully 

coupled model taking into account the porosity and permeability variations due 

to dissolution-precipitation reactions in a realistic geochemical system based 

on the Hontomín (Spain) potential CCS site project. This system, located in 

a calcite, dolomite, and gypsum bearing host rock, has been analyzed for a 

variety of Rayleigh and Damköhler values. Results show that chemical reactions tend to enhance CO2 dissolution. The model illustrates the first stages of 

porosity channel development, demonstrating the significance of fluid mixing 

in the development of porosity patterns. The influence of non-carbon species 

on CO2 dissolution shown in this study demonstrates the needs for realistic 

chemical and kinetic models to ensure the precision of physical models to 

accurately represent the [CO2] injection process.” Alvaro Sainz-Garcia, Elena 

Abarca, Albert Nardi, Fidel Grandia, and Eric H. Oelkers, International Journal 

of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)
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October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

APRIL 2017

How to enhance the future use of energy policy simulation models 

through ex post validation.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Although simulation and modeling 

in general and system dynamics models in particular has long served the energy policy domain, ex post validation of these energy policy models is rarely 

addressed. In fact, ex post validation is a valuable area of research because it 

offers modelers a chance to enhance the future use of their simulation models 

by validating them against the field data. This paper contributes by presenting 

(i) a system dynamics simulation model, which was developed and used to 

do a three dimensional, socio-economical and environmental long-term assessment of Pakistan’s energy policy in 1999, (ii) a systematic analysis of the 

15-years old predictive scenarios produced by a system dynamics simulation 

model through ex post validation. How did the model predictions compare with 

the actual data? [The authors] report that the ongoing crisis of the electricity 

sector of Pakistan is unfolding, as the model-based scenarios had projected.” 

Hassan Qudrat-Ullah, Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Impact of electrical intertie capacity on carbon policy effectiveness.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “This study investigates the potential cost and emissions reductions that result from an increase in electricity 

transmission capacity between Canada’s two westernmost provinces: Alberta, a fossil fuel dominated jurisdiction, and British Columbia, a predominantly 

hydroelectric jurisdiction. A bottom-up model is used to find the least cost 

electricity generation mix in Alberta and British Columbia under different carbon policies. The long-term evolution of the electricity system is determined 

by minimizing net present cost of electricity generation for the time span of 

2010–2060. Different levels of intertie capacity expansion are considered together with a variety of carbon tax and carbon cap scenarios. Results indicate 

that increased intertie capacity reduces the cost of electricity and emissions 

under carbon pricing policies. However, the expandable intertie does not encourage greater adoption of variable renewable generation. Instead, it is used 

to move low-cost energy from the United States to Alberta. The optimal intertie 

capacity and cost reduction of increased interconnectivity increases with more 

restrictive carbon policies.” J. English, T. Niet, B. Lyseng, K. Palmer-Wilson, V. 

Keller, I. Moazzen, L. Pitt, P. Wild, and A. Rowe, Energy Policy. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Study on the ratio of pore-pressure/stress changes during fluid 

injection and its implications for CO2 geologic storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The success of fluid injection into 

geological formations, which is the main operation during both CO2 geologic 

storage and wastewater injection, is contingent on the geomechanical integrity of the site. A key task that allows us to evaluate the risk of geomechanical failure is the precise prediction of pore-pressure buildup and subsequent 

change in the state of stresses during and after the fluid injection. Contrary to 

traditional approaches, where total stresses are assumed to remain constant, 

recent studies have ascertained that total stresses in fact change in every direction as fluid extraction/injection disturbs the pore-pressure field and causes 

deformations. In this study, [the authors] conduct an in-depth investigation 

of the ratio of change in total stress to that in pore-pressure, ∆σ/∆P, which 

has been denoted in the literature as the pore-pressure/stress coupling. [The 

authors] employ a numerical simulation method that couples single-phase fluid 

flow in porous media with poroelasticity to explore the spatiotemporal evolution 

of the ∆σ/∆P ratio for various conditions. These numerical experiments allow 

[the authors] to examine how different material properties and structural geometries would influence the evolution of ∆σ/∆P in both vertical and horizontal directions. These ratios of pore-pressure/stress changes exhibit different 

spatiotemporal evolutions depending on key factors that include the hydraulic 

boundary condition, Biot’s coefficient, Poisson’s ratio, and the hydraulic diffusivity of both the injection zone and caprock. On the basis of observations, 

[the authors] suggest firsthand guidelines for analytically determining the ratio 

of pore-pressure/stress changes, ∆σ/∆P. Finally, [the authors] use examples 

and case studies to illustrate how the ∆σ/∆P ratio can be incorporated into 

an analytic calculation for determining a maximum sustainable pressure limit.” 

Seunghee Kim and Seyyed Abolfazl Hosseini, Journal of Petroleum Science 

and Engineering. (Subscription may be required.)

Thermal effects on geologic carbon storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “One of the most promising ways 

to significantly reduce [GHG] emissions, while carbon-free energy sources are 

developed, is CCS. Non-isothermal effects play a major role in all stages of 

CCS. In this paper, [the authors] review the literature on thermal effects related 

to CCS, which is receiving an increasing interest as a result of the awareness 

that the comprehension of non-isothermal processes is crucial for a successful 

deployment of CCS projects. [The authors] start by reviewing CO2 transport, 

which connects the regions where CO2 is captured with suitable geostorage 

sites. The optimal conditions for CO2 transport, both onshore (through pipelines) and offshore (through pipelines or ships), are such that CO2 stays in 

liquid state. To minimize costs, CO2 should ideally be injected at the wellhead 

in similar pressure and temperature conditions as it is delivered by transport. 

To optimize the injection conditions, coupled wellbore and reservoir simulators that solve the strongly non-linear problem of CO2 pressure, temperature 

and density within the wellbore and non-isothermal two-phase flow within the 

storage formation have been developed. [Carbon dioxide] in its way down the 

injection well heats up due to compression and friction at a lower rate than 

the geothermal gradient, and thus, reaches the storage formation at a lower 

temperature than that of the rock. Inside the storage formation, CO2 injection 

induces temperature changes due to the advection of the cool injected CO2, 

the Joule-Thomson cooling effect, endothermic water vaporization and exothermic CO2 dissolution. These thermal effects lead to thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical coupled processes with non-trivial interpretations. These coupled 

processes also play a relevant role in ‘Utilization’ options that may provide an 

added value to the injected CO2, such as EOR, Enhanced Coal Bed Methane 

(ECBM) and geothermal energy extraction combined with CO2 storage. If the 

injected CO2 leaks through faults, the caprock or wellbores, strong cooling will 

occur due to the expansion of CO2 as pressure decreases with depth. Finally, 

[the authors] conclude by identifying research gaps and challenges of thermal 

effects related to CCS.” Victor Vilarrasa and Jonny Rutqvist, Earth-Science 

Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

Effect of Char Preparation Conditions on Gasification in a Carbon 

Dioxide Atmosphere.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Pyrolysis conditions have a substantial impact on the properties of the resulting char and, consequently, on the 

kinetics of the gasification process. The aim of this study was to determine the 

impact of coal pyrolysis on the gasification stage. By applying the thermogravimetric method, kinetic analyses of CO2 gasification of chars derived from Polish 

‘Janina’ coal were conducted. Gasification examinations were performed for 

chars prepared earlier in an argon atmosphere at various heating rates, which, 

after cooling, were subjected to CO2 gasification (indirect char gasification). Examinations were also carried out in the case of chars formed during heating of 

coal samples in a CO2 atmosphere (direct char gasification). Samples of chars 

were gasified in non-isothermal conditions of up to 1100°C under 0.1 MPa 

pressure at various heating rates. The char gasification reaction order with 

CO2 was determined with the use of the Coats–Redfern method, and it can 

be assumed that it is a first-order reaction. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor were calculated using two first-order models: Coats–Redfern 

method and Senum–Yang method. The results were subsequently compared 

to kinetic parameters calculated on the basis of the model-free isoconversional 

method combined with the model-dependent Coats–Redfern method. Despite 

the differences in values of kinetic parameters obtained from the use of a given 

model, all results confirmed that the method of char preparation has an influence on the gasification stage and direct char gasification is more favorable. 

Activation energy obtained from the use of models based on the first-order 

reaction ranged between 275 and 296 kJ/mol for direct gasification of chars, 

while the chars gasified indirectly between 307 and 342 kJ/mol, depending 

upon the heating rate that was used. The model-free isoconversional method 

confirmed these results. The values for chars gasified directly amounted to Ea 

= 257–277 kJ/mol, and the values for indirect char gasification obtained by 

the pyrolysis process at heating rates of 3, 10, and 20 K/min amounted to Ea 

= 280–291, 287–309, and 289–305 kJ/mol, respectively.” Grzegorz Czerski, Katarzyna Zubek Przemyslaw Grzywacz, and Stanislaw Porada, Energy 

Fuels. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

27

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

Influence of wettability and permeability heterogeneity on miscible 

CO2 flooding efficiency.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[Carbon dioxide] flooding is a 

proven EOR technique and is also considered as a potential method for CO2

sequestration. Despite having successful field trials on CO2 EOR, the effects of 

reservoir wettability and permeability heterogeneity on the efficiency of miscible CO2 flooding are not well understood. In this work, laboratory investigations 

have been carried out to evaluate the influence of these properties on the 

miscible CO2 EOR performance. The wettability of hydrophilic Berea core samples was altered to be oil-wet by vacuum saturation of the clean and dry core 

samples with n-hexadecane. The permeability heterogeneity was obtained by 

combining two half pieces of axially split water-wet core samples of different 

permeabilities. Core flooding experiments were conducted for n-hexadecane – 

synthetic brine – CO2 systems at 1400 psig backpressure to achieve minimum 

miscibility pressure (MMP) of CO2 in n-hexadecane at the test temperature 

(24 ± 1 °C). It was found that wettability strongly influences CO2 EOR. For the 

alternate cases of previously brine flooded (to remaining oil saturation) oil-wet 

and water-wet core samples, five pore volumes (PVs) of CO2 recovered 100% 

and only 43% of remaining oil in place (ROIP) respectively. Three PVs of CO2

could recover only about 0–5% ROIP from the split core samples. The mechanisms underlying these results are discussed. This study sheds light on the 

significant influence of reservoir wettability and permeability heterogeneity on 

the performance of miscible CO2 EOR.” Prem Bikkina, Jiamin Wan, Yongman 

Kim, Timothy J. Kneafsey, and Tetsu K. Tokunaga, Fuel. (Subscription may 

be required.)

CO2 Emission Trading Effect on Baltic Electricity Market.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “This paper investigates the CO2

cost pass-through to electricity prices of the Baltic market, as well as CO2

prices effect on merit order of generation sources and consequently marginal 

changes of CO2 emissions in response to changes in electricity demand. Authors use multiple regression analysis to demonstrate that a 1 EUR change 

in the price of CO2 emissions would increase the price of the Nordic power 

market by 0.55 EUR and in the Baltic countries by 0.67 EUR. Additionally, it 

has been shown that CO2 prices significantly impact merit order of electricity 

generators and consequently marginal emissions of CO2 due to reduction of 

electricity consumption in case of energy efficiency measures. Based on analysis, it can be concluded that, in the low price scenario (7.5 EUR per ton of 

CO2), combined heat and power plants are marginal generators emitting 0.25 

tons of CO2 per 1MWh in cogeneration mode. If CO2 prices are above 20 EUR, 

the marginal emitter will become oil shale power plants that emit around 1 ton 

of CO2 per 1 MWh of electricity.” Uldis Bariss, Elvijs Avenitis, Gatis Junghans, 

and Dagnija Blumberga, Energy Procedia. (Subscription may be required.)

Chinese companies’ awareness and perceptions of the Emissions 

Trading Scheme (ETS): Evidence from a national survey in China.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “China announced the launch of a 

national Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in 2017; however, companies appear show little enthusiasm for participation in the ETS in China. This paper 

identifies the factors affecting companies’ awareness and perceptions of ETS 

by conducting a national survey based on an online questionnaire from May 

to November 2015 in seven carbon trading pilots. The results indicate that 

companies’ attitudes towards the ETS are positively influenced by government 

regulations and policy, public relations management and estimated economic benefit. Of these, public relations management is the decisive factor and 

estimated economic benefit is confirmed to be a relatively weak predictor. A 

company’s environmental and energy strategy exerts insignificant effects on 

its preference for the ETS, although the sampled companies are very willing 

to save energy and reduce emissions. There exists an inverted U-shape relationship between a company’s level of mitigation technologies and its attitudes 

towards the ETS. The carbon price fails to stimulate companies to upgrade 

mitigation technologies. The majority of companies treat participation in the 

ETS only as a means of improving ties with governments, as well as of earning 

a good social reputation, rather than as a cost-effective mechanism to mitigate 

[GHG] emissions.” Lin Yang, Fengyu Li, and Xian Zhang, Energy Policy. (Subscription may be required.)

Coupled effect of CO2 attack and tensile stress on well cement under 

CO2 storage conditions.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “In CCS wells, the well cement 

is attacked by CO2-rich fluids, coupled with tensile stress. In this study, well 

cement samples were designed to be exposed to humid CO2 gas and CO2 saturated brine and simultaneously subjected to external tensile stresses with load 

levels of 25%, 50%, and 75% of the initial tensile strength. The experimental 

results showed that a higher external tensile stress (50% and 75%) facilitated 

the generation and propagation of micro-cracks in the tension zone of loaded 

samples. Hence, the aggressive CO2-rich medium found direct paths to penetrate further into the core, significantly accelerating the rate of carbonation and 

failure of the well cement. As a result of the faster ion exchange and transfer, 

the carbonation rate was faster and the onset of failure in samples immersed 

in CO2-saturated brine occurred earlier than in the supercritical CO2 scenario. 

Findings from this study provide new, important information for understanding 

the integrity of well cement sheath under actual CCS well conditions, thereby 

promoting superior cement system design and safer operation.” Tao Gu, Xiaoyang Guo, Zaoyuan Li, Xiaowei Cheng, Xiaoxia Fan, Asghar Korayem, Wen 

Hui Duan, Construction and Building Materials. (Subscription may be required.)

MAY 2017

Energy policy for low carbon development in Nigeria: 

A LEAP model application.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “This paper applied a scenario-based analysis to explore Nigeria’s future energy demand, supply and associated GHG emissions from 2010 to 2040 using the Long-range Energy 

Alternative Planning (LEAP) model. The impact of different energy policies are 

analyzed for the Nigerian energy system by considering four scenarios: the reference scenario (REF), the low-carbon moderate scenario (LCM), the low-carbon advanced scenario (LCA), and the green optimistic scenario (GO). By considering aggressive energy policies and strategies from LCM to LCA, and even 

more aggressive options in the GO scenario, [the authors] find that under the 

REF scenario energy demand is expected to reach 3,075 PJ and a corresponding increase in GHG emissions of 201.2 Mt Co2e by 2040. More aggressive 

policy intervention by the Nigerian government, as in the GO scenario, would 

lead to a decrease in energy demand (2,249 PJ) and GHG emissions (124.4 

Mt Co2e) in 2040. A cost-benefit and energy system analysis were also carried 

out in the study.” Nnaemeka Vincent Emodi, Chinenye Comfort Emodi, Girish 

Panchakshara Murthy, and Adaeze Saratu Augusta Emodi, Renewable and 

Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.) 

Saturation time dependency of liquid and supercritical CO2

permeability of bituminous coals: Implications for carbon storage.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Various types of lithospheric geological reservoirs are available for the safe and long-term storage of CO2. The 

phase of CO2 transitions between liquid and supercritical (mostly supercritical for depths greater than 800 m) when injected into the subsurface. This 

high-density super-critical phase prevents CO2 molecules from upward diffusion toward the surface. Many questions arise in the context of coal seam 

sequestration with respect to its capacity, injectivity, plume movement, and 

leakage assessment. This work examines the effect of various saturation periods on the permeability evolution of porous coal. In this triaxial study, liquid 

and supercritical CO2, along with N2 were injected into a coal sample from the 

Jharia coal field (Jharkhand state, India). It was observed that the permeability 

reduction for liquid CO2 was 25%, 13.5% and 1% for 0–20 h phase, 20–40 

h phase and 40–60 h phase, respectively. For supercritical CO2, the reduction 

was observed to be 42.5%, 38.4% and 11%, respectively, for the three saturation cycles. The findings highlight that while high CO2 sorption in supercritical phase stores more of the adsorbate, the reduction in permeability slows 

down injection operation and the saturation induced coal expansion threatens 

the overall stability of the system.” Vikram Vishal, Fuel. (Subscription may be 

required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

28

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

Using Prokaryotes for Carbon Capture Storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Geological storage of CO2 is a 

fast-developing technology that can mitigate rising carbon emissions. However, there are environmental concerns with the long-term storage and implications of a leak from a CCS site. Traditional monitoring lacks clear protocols and 

relies heavily on physical methods. Here, [the authors] discuss the potential of 

biotechnology, focusing on microbes with a natural ability to utilize and assimilate CO2 through different metabolic pathways. [The authors] propose the use 

of natural microbial communities for CCS monitoring and CO2 utilization, and, 

with examples, demonstrate how synthetic biology may maximize CO2 uptake 

within and above storage sites. An integrated physical and biological approach, 

combined with metagenomics data and biotechnological advances, will enhance CO2 sequestration and prevent large-scale leakages.” Natalie Hicks, 

Unni Vik, Peter Taylor, Efthymios Ladoukakis, Joonsang Park, Frangiskos 

Kolisis, and Kjetill S. Jakobsen, Trends in Biotechnology. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Fair design of CCS infrastructure for power plants in Qatar under 

carbon trading scheme.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Qatar is currently the highest emitter per capita and targets emission reduction by exercising tight controls on 

gas flaring. In order to limit the emission under allowances, the power plants 

have two options: investing in CCS systems or buying carbon credits for the excess emissions above their allowances. However, CCS systems are expensive 

for installation and operation. In this paper, a mixed integer linear programming 

(MILP) model is developed for the design of integrated carbon capture, transport and storage infrastructure in Qatar under carbon trading scheme. [The 

authors] first investigate the critical carbon credit prices to decide under which 

price it is more beneficial to invest on CCS systems or to buy carbon credits 

via carbon trading. Then the fair design of the CCS infrastructure is obtained 

under two fairness scenarios: the same saving ratio and the game theory Nash 

approach. Fair cost distribution among power plants in Qatar is obtained by 

selecting the CO2 resources (power plants) to be captured with available capture technologies and materials, designing the transportation pipeline network 

to connect the resources with the sequestration and/or utilization sites and 

determining the carbon trading price and amount among power plants. Under different fairness scenarios, the total costs are slightly higher than that 

from minimizing the total cost to obtain the fair cost distribution. Power plants 

with higher CO2 emissions determine to install CCS system, while other power 

plants buy the carbon credits from domestic or international market to fulfil 

their carbon allowance requirements. The future work includes extending the 

current model by considering power generation distribution and designing the 

pipeline network with the selection of pump locations and pipe diameters.” Di 

Zhang, Yousef Alhorr, Esam Elsarrag, Abdul Hamid Marafia, Paola Lettieri, 

and Lazaros G. Papageorgiou, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Screening and techno-economic assessment of biomass-based power 

generation with CCS technologies to meet 2050 CO2 targets.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Biomass-based power generation 

combined with CO2 capture and storage (Biopower CCS) currently represents 

one of the few practical and economic means of removing large quantities 

of CO2 from the atmosphere, and the only approach that involves the generation of electricity at the same time. [The authors] present the results of 

the Techno-Economic Study of Biomass to Power with CO2capture (TESBiC) 

project, that entailed desk-based review and analysis, process engineering, 

optimization as well as primary data collection from some of the leading pilot 

demonstration plants. From the perspective of being able to deploy Biopower 

CCS by 2050, twenty-eight Biopower CCS technology combinations involving combustion or gasification of biomass (either dedicated or co-fired with 

coal) together with pre-, oxy- or post-combustion CO2 capture were identified 

and assessed. In addition to the capital and operating costs, techno-economic 

characteristics such as electrical efficiencies (LHV% basis), Levelized Cost of 

Electricity (LCOE), costs of CO2 captured and CO2 avoided were modelled over 

time assuming technology improvements from today to 2050. Many of the 

Biopower CCS technologies gave relatively similar techno-economic results 

when analyzed at the same scale, with the plant scale (MWe) observed to be 

the principal driver of CAPEX (£/MWe) and the cofiring % (i.e. the weighted 

feedstock cost) a key driver of LCOE. The data collected during the TESBiC 

project also highlighted the lack of financial incentives for generation of electricity with negative CO2 emissions.” Amit Bhave, Richard H.S. Taylor, Paul 

Fennell, William R. Livingston, Nilay Shah, Niall Mac Dowell, John Dennis, 

Markus Kraft, Mohammed Pourkashanian, Mathieu Insa, and Jenny Jones, 

Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Characterization and modeling of the alteration of fractured class-G 

Portland cement during flow of CO2-rich brine.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[The authors] investigate experimentally the alteration of fractured class-G cement flowed by CO2-rich brine. 

The experiment mimics a mechanically damaged rough-walled fractured cement annulus at temperature 60 °C and pressure 10 MPa. The experiment 

consists of flowing a reservoir-equilibrated brine mixed with CO2 (partial pressure of 2.3 MPa) through the fracture of average aperture 14 μm at constant 

flow rate (100 μL min−1). This flow rate corresponds to pressure gradient 

representative of an average in situ hydrodynamic condition. Results indicate 

an intense alteration of the cement with a large removal of mass at the scale 

of the sample. However, the fracture alteration patterns are triggered by the 

initial heterogeneity of the fracture aperture; the aperture of the low aperture 

zones tends to decrease due to calcite precipitation whereas preferential paths 

develop in the zones of higher aperture associated. Nevertheless, the expected 

large permeability increase triggered by the mass removal is mitigated by the 

precipitation of a low density Si-rich amorphous material. The alteration rate 

will decrease with time because of the increasing distance of diffusion between 

the fracture where the reactants are actively renewed by advection and the 

portlandite and C-S-H dissolution fronts. The different zones of reaction can be 

adequately modeled by a simple 1D diffusion-reaction model using published 

kinetics coefficients and extrapolation to larger times than the experiment time 

can be drawn. Altogether, and in addition to the previous studies of the alteration of fractured well cement annulus, this study shows that the leakage 

potential is strongly controlled by the initial distribution of the aperture along 

the fracture: low aperture zones will tend to self-heal while localized flow in 

connected high aperture paths will be perennial.” H. Abdoulghafour, P. Gouze, 

L. Luquot, and R. Leprovost, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control.

(Subscription may be required.)

CO2 Accounting and Risk Analysis for CO2 Sequestration at Enhanced 

Oil Recovery Sites.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Using CO2-EOR is a promising 

technology for emissions management because CO2-EOR can dramatically 

reduce sequestration costs in the absence of emissions policies that include 

incentives for [CCS]. This study develops a multiscale statistical framework to 

perform CO2 accounting and risk analysis in an EOR environment at the Farnsworth Unit (FWU), Texas. A set of geostatistical-based Monte Carlo simulations 

of CO2–oil/gas–water flow and transport in the Morrow formation are conducted for global sensitivity and statistical analysis of the major risk metrics: 

CO2/water injection/production rates, cumulative net CO2 storage, cumulative 

oil/gas productions, and CO2 breakthrough time. The median and confidence 

intervals are estimated for quantifying uncertainty ranges of the risk metrics. 

A response-surface-based economic model has been derived to calculate the 

CO2-EOR profitability for the FWU site with a current oil price, which suggests 

that approximately 31% of the 1000 realizations can be profitable. If government carbon-tax credits are available, or the oil price goes up or CO2 capture 

and operating expenses reduce, more realizations would be profitable. The 

results from this study provide valuable insights for understanding CO2 storage 

potential and the corresponding environmental and economic risks of commercial-scale CO2-sequestration in depleted reservoirs.” Zhenxue Dai, Hari 

Viswanathan, Richard Middleton, Feng Pan, William Ampomah, Changbing 

Yang, Wei Jia, Ting Xiao, Si-Yong Lee, Brian McPherson, Robert Balch, Reid 

Grigg, and Mark White, Environmental Science and Technology. (Subscription 

may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

29

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

A big data study on emitting companies’ performance in the first two 

phases of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “As CO2 emissions are quantified by 

allowances and traded in markets, wise trading strategies will bring emitting 

companies higher profits or lower costs. Based on the big data of Community 

Independent Transaction Log (CITL), this article hereby presents a micro study 

on the emitting companies’ efforts in increasing profits and saving costs during 

the allowances trading in the first two phases of the European Union Emission 

Trading Scheme (EU ETS). The efforts are measured by an after-action factor of 

trading performance, which is built on a series of behavior and monetary variables. By comparison, demanders of the emitting companies are more inclined 

to reach a higher trading performance, while that inclination is heterogeneous 

among the suppliers. In addition, emitting companies with lower emission levels had a better trading performance. With a higher proportion of low-emitting 

companies, the manufacturing sector had a better trading performance than 

the energy sector. The effect of the trading requirement on trading performance are investigated via a quantile regression mode. Results suggest that: 

(1) the selling requirement of suppliers has a positive effect on their trading 

performance, while the effect becomes weaker when the selling requirement 

increases; (2) the buying requirement has a positive effect on the demanders’ trading performance only when the requirement is high, and the effect 

becomes stronger as the requirement increases; and (3) when the buying requirement is at a lower level, demanders’ trading performance becomes worse 

as the requirement grows. The conclusion is that the emission level, industrial 

sector and trading requirement do have influences on the trading performance 

of emitting companies in emission trading.” Yin-Peng Liu, Jian-Feng Guo, and 

Ying Fan, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be required.)

JUNE 2017

Carbon policy in a high-growth economy: The Case of China.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “There is widespread concern that 

a stringent international agreement will not be reached because it would imply too high costs for fast growing economies. To test this hypothesis [the 

authors] develop a general equilibrium model with fully endogenous growth 

and estimate the policy cost for China. The framework includes disaggregated 

industrial and energy sectors, endogenous innovation, and sector-specific investments. [The authors] find that the governmental target of a 65 percent carbon intensity reduction until 2030 causes a welfare reduction of 0.5 percent 

for China, compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Costs of carbon policy 

for China under an internationally coordinated emission reduction amount to 

4 percent of total welfare. [The authors] highlight that lower economic growth, 

faster energy technology development, and stronger induced innovation reduce welfare losses significantly. Increased urbanization raises the policy 

costs because urban households consume more energy and energy intensive 

goods.” Lucas Bretschger and Lin Zhang, Resource and Energy Economics. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Experimental assessment of well integrity for CO2 geological storage: A 

numerical study of the geochemical interactions between a CO2-brine 

mixture and a sandstone-cement-steel sample.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Geologic storage of CO2 is one 

option for avoiding CO2 emissions from a large-scale point source such as a 

thermal power plant and a gas refinery. The alteration of well materials by CO2

under reservoir conditions requires characterization because the wells are the 

main possible leakage pathways for CO2 from a geological reservoir. This paper 

presents a numerical modeling of interaction experiments involving a composite well sample formed from steel casing surrounded by Portland cement, itself 

surrounded by sandstone and CO2-saturated brine at 10 MPa and 50°C during 

a period of up to 8 weeks, as reported by Mito et al. (2015). A reactive-transport model was developed to simulate diffusion of the CO2-saturated brine in 

the well sample and the resulting successive dissolution/precipitation reactions in the sandstone, cement and steel. The observed changes in mineralogy 

(which primarily consist of dissolution of portlandite and Ca-rich CSH phases 

and precipitation of calcite, amorphous silica and zeolite) and the associated 

evolution in brine composition were reproduced by the model. A buffering role 

of sandstone on the cement degradation was evidenced, thus avoiding the 

re-dissolution of calcite usually observed in experiments with direct interaction 

between cement and CO2-saturated brine. Interestingly, the model results also 

noted a possible perturbation in the measured pH and Ca content due to CO2

outgassing during solution sampling. The Si behavior control linked with the 

uncertainty in zeolite stability is also discussed.” Joachim Tremosa, Saeko 

Mito, Pascal Audigane, and Ziqiu Xue, Applied Geochemistry. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Geomechanical effects of CO2 storage in depleted gas reservoirs in the 

Netherlands: Inferences from feasibility studies and comparison with 

aquifer storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “In this paper, the geomechanical 

impact of large-scale CO2 storage in depleted Dutch gas fields is compared 

with the impact of CO2 storage in saline aquifers. The geomechanical behavior 

of four potential CO2 storage sites is examined using flow and geomechanical 

simulations. Many gas reservoirs in the Netherlands are found in fault blocks, 

one to a few kilometers wide, laterally bounded by sealing faults. Aquifer depletion or re-pressurization in the lateral direction is seldom an issue because 

of a lack of active aquifers. Reservoir pressure changes are therefore limited 

to a gas-bearing fault block, while the induced stress changes affect the gas 

reservoir and extend 1–3 km away into the surrounding rock. Arguments in 

favor of CO2 storage in depleted gas fields are: proven seal quality, availability of field data, no record of seal integrity failure by fault reactivation from 

the seismically active producing Dutch gas fields, and the potential benefits 

of restoring the virgin formation pressure and stress state to geomechanical 

stability. On the other hand, CO2 injection in saline aquifers causes pressure 

build-up that exceeds the virgin hydrostatic pressure. Stress perturbations resulting from pressure build-up affect large areas, extending tens of kilometers 

away from the injection wells. Induced stresses in top seals are, however, small 

and do not exceed a few tenths of megapascal for a pressure build-up of a few 

megapascals in the storage formation. Geomechanical effects on top seals are 

weak, but could be enhanced close to the injection zone by the thermal effects 

of injection. Uncertainties related to characterization of large areas affected 

by pressure build-up are significant, and seal quality and continuity are more 

difficult to be demonstrated for aquifers than for depleted gas reservoirs that 

have held hydrocarbons for millions of years.” Bogdan Orlic, Journal of Rock 

Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. (Subscription may be required.)

Quantifying the value of CCS for the future electricity system.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Many studies have quantified the 

cost of CCS power plants, but relatively few discuss or appreciate the unique 

value this technology provides to the electricity system. CCS is routinely identified as a key factor in least-cost transitions to a low-carbon electricity system 

in 2050, one with significant value by providing dispatchable and low-carbon 

electricity. This paper investigates production, demand and stability characteristics of the current and future electricity system. [The authors] analyze the 

Carbon Intensity (CI) of electricity systems composed of unabated thermal (coal 

and gas), abated (CCS), and wind power plants for different levels of wind availability with a view to quantifying the value to the system of different generation 

mixes. As a thought experiment [the authors] consider the supply side of a 

UK-sized electricity system and compare the effect of combining wind and CCS 

capacity with unabated thermal power plants. The resulting capacity mix, system cost and CI are used to highlight the importance of differentiating between 

intermittent and firm low-carbon power generators. [The authors] observe that, 

in the absence of energy storage or demand side management, the deployment of intermittent renewable capacity cannot significantly displace unabated thermal power, and consequently can achieve only moderate reductions in 

overall CI. A system deploying sufficient wind capacity to meet peak demand 

can reduce CI from 0.78 tCO2/MWh, a level according to unabated fossil power 

generation, to 0.38 tCO2/MWh. The deployment of CCS power plants displaces 

unabated thermal plants, and whilst it is more costly than unabated thermal 

plus wind, this system can achieve an overall CI of 0.1 tCO2/MWh. The need 

to evaluate CCS using a systemic perspective in order to appreciate its unique 

value is a core conclusion of this study.” Clara F. Heuberger, Iain Staffell, Nilay 

Shah, and Niall Mac Dowell, Energy & Environmental Science. (Subscription 

may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

Carbon capture and storage: Lessons from a storage potential and 

localization analysis.

The following is from the Abstract of this article: “[The challenges involve totally rethinking the world’s energy system. In particular, CCS technologies are 

still presented as a solution to reach ambitious targets.] However, avoiding 

the required Gt of CO2 emissions by investing in CCS technologies supposes 

the development of carbon storage capacities. This analysis, conducted with 

TIAM-FR and based on a wide review of geological storage potential and various data, aims to discuss the impact of this potential on the development of 

the CCS option. [The authors] also specify a scenario allowing the exclusion 

of onshore storage due to a hypothetic policy considering public resistance to 

onshore storage, and carbon transport costs variation effects. The implementation of CCS is less impacted by the level of carbon storage potential - except 

in the lowest case of availability - than by the type of sequestration site. However, the development of CCS is lower at the end of the period in the case of a 

decrease in carbon storage potential. Indeed, the question of type of storage 

site appears to have a greater impact, with an arbitrage between deep saline 

aquifers and depleted basins and enhanced recovery. Doubling the cost of 

carbon transport does not limit the penetration of carbon capture technologies, 

but it does impact the choice of site. Finally, a limitation of onshore storage 

could have a significant impact on the penetration of the CCS option. The explanation for this limited deployment of CCS is thus the higher cost of offshore 

storage more than the level of storage potential.” Sandrine Selosse and Olivia 

Ricci, Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Review of CO2 price in Europe using feed-in tariff rates.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The price of carbon emitted by 

thermal plants has always been a favorite topic of researchers and policy makers. A substitute price for CO2 is calculated in this study based on real-time 

payments through government tariffs. These payments aim to mitigate CO2

emission caused by unregulated electricity generation. The total CO2 produced 

by the thermal plants of 10 European countries is shown in this study. The 

government’s payment for each technology is utilized to clear the final CO2

abatement cost. The substitute price of avoiding CO2 emission (SPAC) for each 

technology and country is estimated. SPAC is basically the price that each 

country pays to avoid producing CO2. The conducted survey shows that the 

SPAC of the 10 European countries ranges from 63 to 2951 Euros depending on the type of technology used and the country’s policy. Results confirm 

a competitive payment by governments only for German and UK hydro and 

UK wind technologies. Comparison of the countries’ payments for renewable 

energies and CO2 market price shows that governments incurred an inefficient 

payment of liquidity as a carbon mitigation policy.” B. Bakhtyar, A. Fudholi, 

Kabir Hassan, M. Azam, C.H. Lim, N.W. Chan, and K. Sopian, Renewable and 

Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

Trade-off between carbon reduction benefits and ecological costs of 

biomass-based power plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

in China.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Integrating [CCS] into biomass 

power plants (BioCCS) can reduce carbon emissions, but its ecological performance associated with natural resources consumption remains unexamined. 

Taking a typical BioCCS project – the Maowusu biomass direct-fired power 

plant with the CCS of Spirulina cultivation in Inner Mongolia of China – as a 

case, this study observed the trade-offs between the carbon reduction benefits and ecological performance of adding CCS to the power plant. Life cycle 

assessment (LCA) revealed that the combination of CCS avoids 1228 metric 

tons of CO2 emissions annually, while emergy analysis revealed that it deteriorated the ecological performance of the BioCCS system because considerable 

nonrenewable resources were required by Spirulina cultivation. The BioCCS 

system is unsustainable in the long run from the ecological point of view. The 

sensitivity analyses show that there would be no carbon reduction benefits 

by adding CCS when 60% of designed CO2 capacity is fixed by Spirulina, and 

insufficient biomass for electricity generation also affects system performance 

significantly, which are two main barriers to the BioCCS project. These results 

indicate that decision-makers should take into account both the carbon reduction benefits and the ecological costs in the development of BioCCS systems.” 

Mingyue Pang, Lixiao Zhang, Sai Liang, Gengyuan Liu, Changbo Wang, Yan 

Hao, Yafei Wang, and Ming Xu, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Impacts of the coming emission trading scheme on China’s coal-tomaterials industry in 2020.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “China will establish a national 

emission trading scheme (ETS) in 2017, and the excessive development of 

coal-to-materials may hinder China’s emission reduction goals, specifically to 

reduce carbon emissions intensity by 40–45% from 2005 to 2020. In this 

study, the status of China’s coal-to-materials projects is presented, based on 

which [the authors] forecasted the high, middle and low CO2 emission scenarios for the coal-to-materials industry in 2020, which were determined to 

be approximately 580, 290, and 180 Mt CO2, respectively. The high scenario is approximately equivalent to the total emission from Canada, the world’s 

11th-largest emitter in 2014. The main purpose of this study is to research 

the impacts of ETS on the coal-to-materials industry in 2020. Oil-to-materials 

is an ineluctable and powerful competitor to the coal-to-materials industry, 

complicating this matter. Therefore, the Cournot model was applied to quantitatively analyze the competition between these two monopolistic entities 

and determine the influence of oil, coal and carbon prices on CO2 emissions 

from coal-to-materials. The visual simulation of the results shows that ETS 

can improve the competitiveness of oil-to-materials, resulting in a decline in 

production of coal-to-materials. However, the effect of the carbon cost with 

historical price range of Chinese ETS pilots on mitigating CO2 emissions from 

the coal-to-materials industry is limited. High oil prices and low coal prices 

can increase the emissions from coal-to-materials significantly. [The authors’] 

study also provides a tool to analyze the feasibility of ETSs for a set emission 

reduction goal. Additionally, the necessary sensitivity analysis was also provided.” Guangyoa Li, Jin Yang, Dingjiang Chen, and Shanying Hu, Applied 

Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

JULY 2017

Carbon dioxide utilization in a microalga-based biorefinery: Efficiency 

of carbon removal and economic performance under carbon taxation.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Coal-fired power plants are major stationary sources of [CO2] and environmental constraints demand technologies for abatement. Although [CCS] is the most mature route, it poses 

severe economic penalty to power generation. Alternatively, this penalty is 

potentially reduced by Carbon Capture and Utilization, which converts [CO2] 

to valuable products, monetizing it. This work evaluates a route consisting of 

[CO2] bio-capture by Chlorella pyrenoidosa and use of the resulting biomass 

as feedstock to a microalgae-based biorefinery; [CCS] route is evaluated as a 

reference technology. The integrated arrangement comprises: (a) [CO2] biocapture in a photobioreactor, (b) oil extraction from part of the produced biomass, 

(b) gasification of remaining biomass to obtain bio-syngas, and (c) conversion 

of bio-syngas to methanol. Calculation of capital and operational expenditures 

are estimated based on mass and energy balances obtained by process simulation for both routes ([CCS] and the biorefinery). Capital expenditure for the 

biorefinery is higher by a factor of 6.7, while operational expenditure is lower 

by a factor of 0.45 and revenues occur only for this route, with a ratio revenue/

operational expenditure of 1.6. The photobioreactor is responsible for one fifth 

of the biorefinery capital expenditure, with footprint of about 1000 ha, posing 

the most significant barrier for technical and economic feasibility of the proposed biorefinery. The Biorefinery and [CCS] routes show [CO2] capture efficiency of 73% and 48%, respectively, with capture cost of 139$/t and 304$/t. 

Additionally, the biorefinery has superior performance in all evaluated metrics 

of environmental impacts.” Igor Lapenda Wiesberg, George Victor Brigagão, 

José Luiz de Medeiros, and Ofélia de Queiroz Fernandes Araújo, Journal of 

Environmental Management. (Subscription may be required.) 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

Flue gas injection into gas hydrate reservoirs for methane recovery 

and carbon dioxide sequestration.

The following is the Abstract of this document: “Flue gas injection into methane hydrate-bearing sediments was experimentally investigated to explore the 

potential both for methane recovery from gas hydrate reservoirs and for direct 

capture and sequestration of [CO2] from flue gas as [CO2] hydrate. A simulated flue gas from coal-fired power plants composed of 14.6 mol% [CO2] and 

85.4 mol% nitrogen was injected into a silica sand pack containing different 

saturations of methane hydrate. The experiments were conducted at typical 

gas hydrate reservoir conditions from 273.3 to 284.2 K and from 4.2 to 13.8 

MPa. Results of the experiments show that injection of the flue gas leads to 

significant dissociation of the methane hydrate by shifting the methane hydrate 

stability zone, resulting in around 50 mol% methane in the vapor phase at the 

experimental conditions. Further depressurization of the system to pressures 

well above the methane hydrate dissociation pressure generated methane-rich 

gas mixtures with up to 80 mol% methane. Meanwhile, [CO2] hydrate and 

[CO2]-mixed hydrates were formed while the methane hydrate was dissociating. Up to 70% of the [CO2] in the flue gas was converted into hydrates and 

retained in the silica sand pack.” Jinhai Yang, Anthony Okwananke, Bahman 

Tohidi, Evgeny Chuvilin, Kirill Maerle, Vladimir Istomin, Boris Bukhanov, and 

Alexey Cheremisin, Energy Conversion and Management. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Carbon dioxide storage schemes: Technology, assessment and 

deployment.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[CCS] is the only technology available to mitigate large-scale [GHG] emissions from fossil fuel based power and 

industrial sectors in the near future. When technology to capture CO2 is relatively mature and commercially available for power and industrial sectors, 

safe, reliable and long-term storage of captured CO2 remains a key uncertainty 

affecting wide-spread deployment of [CCS] technology yet. In this paper, the 

authors assessed techno-economic aspects of geological CO2 storage options, 

from CO2 transportations, various geological storage approaches, to CO2 leakage monitoring. Compared with depleted oil/gas reservoirs and coal seams, 

deep saline aquifers possess much larger storage capacities and may be possibly near many CO2 emission sites due to widespread distributions. If CO2

storage is combined with enhanced industrial production (e.g. oil, natural gas), 

it has a greater potential to reducing the overall cost of CO2 storage. Potential 

CO2 leakage may be the main barriers to the development of CO2 geological 

storage. It is recommended to make full use of big data mining approach in 

selection and approval of CO2 geological sites, estimation of storage capacities, assessment of potential leakage risks, awarding of carbon credits, as 

well as analysis of public acceptations. At the same time, as a leakage-free 

CO2 storage option, CO2 mineralization & industrial utilization is to trap CO2

permanently in stable minerals by reactions with metal oxides and forming 

stable carbonates. These CO2 mineralization & industrial utilization schemes 

need to guarantee sustainable or environmentally friendly processes and satisfy basic principles of industrial ecology if implemented on a large industrial 

scale. Currently, most of CO2 storage schemes are still in the early stage of 

technological development and are still far from large-scale commercialization. 

The high cost, high energy penalty, safety and reliability, and policy uncertainties are main barriers for the implement of carbon storage schemes.” Zhihua 

Zhang and Donald Huisingh, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography 

to visualize and quantify fluid flow in sedimentary rocks.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Here [the authors] show for the first 

time the combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) imaging of flow processes within porous rocks to quantify the development in local fluid saturations. The coupling between local rock structure 

and displacement fronts is demonstrated in exploratory experiments using this 

novel approach. [The authors] also compare quantification of 3-D temporal and 

spatial water saturations in two similar CO2 storage tests in sandstone imaged 

separately with PET and CT. The applicability of each visualization technique 

is evaluated for a range of displacement processes, and the favorable implementation of combining PET/CT for laboratory core analysis is discussed. [The 

authors] learn that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is over an order of magnitude 

higher for PET compared with CT for the studied processes.” M. A. Fernø, J. 

Gauteplass, L. P. Hauge, G. E. Abell, T. C. H. Adamsen, and A. Graue, Water 

Resources Research. (Subscription may be required.)

Carbon capture and storage across fuels and sectors in energy system 

transformation pathways.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “CCS is broadly understood to be 

a key mitigation technology, yet modeling analyses provide different results 

regarding the applications in which it might be used most effectively. Here 

[the authors] use the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) to explore 

the sensitivity of CCS deployment across sectors and fuels to future technology cost assumptions. [The authors] find that CCS is deployed preferentially 

in electricity generation or in liquid fuels production, depending on CCS and 

biofuels production cost assumptions. [The authors] consistently find significant deployment across both sectors in all of the scenarios considered here, 

with bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) often the dominant application. As such, this 

study challenges the view that CCS will primarily be coupled with power plants 

and used mainly in conjunction with fossil fuels, and suggests greater focus 

on practical implications of significant CCS and BECCS deployment to inform 

energy system transformation scenarios over the 21st century.” Matteo Muratori, Haroon Kheshgi, Bryan Mignone, Leon Clarke, Haewon McJeon, and 

Jae Edmonds, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription 

may be required.) 

Management and dewatering of brines extracted from geologic carbon 

storage sites.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Subsurface pressure management 

is a significant challenge in geologic CO2 storage. Elevated pressure generated 

from the injection of supercritical CO2 can be managed by the withdrawal of 

brine from saline formations before or during CO2 injection; however, management of the extracted brines is non-trivial because they may have high 

concentrations of dissolved solids and other contaminants. Dewatering a brine 

can reduce the volume needing disposal; in addition, water separated from the 

brine can be a source of usable low salinity water. This review will summarize 

the composition of brines extracted from select domestic geologic CO2 storage 

sites, will calculate the minimum of work of dewatering, and will provide a 

critical review of developed and developing desalination/dewatering technologies that could be applied to brines extracted from saline formations before 

or during geologic CO2 storage operations. Herein are also highlighted, when 

appropriate, the similarities and the differences between dewatering brines 

produced from oil/gas operations and brines extracted from geologic CO2 storage. Since a source of steam or natural gas is likely unavailable/unsuitable for 

dewatering brines extracted during CO2 storage, the ideal treatment processes should have a high electrical efficiency and, if possible, should be able to 

take advantage of the inherent elevated temperature of these brines.” Jason 

T. Arena, Jinesh C. Jain, Christina L. Lopano, J. Alexandra Hakala, Timothy 

V. Bartholomew, Meagan S. Mauter, and Nicholas S. Siefert, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Research on the efficiency of carbon trading market in China.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “In 2014, China proposed medium 

and long-term low carbon development goals in China-U.S. Joint Statement 

on Climate Change that the emission of [CO2] would reach its peak and the 

proportion of non-fossil energy accounted for the primary energy consumption 

would increase to 20% in 2030. In order to achieve these goals, the unified 

carbon emission trading system should be put into effect by 2017, the implementation of the unified carbon emission trading system depends on the 

effectiveness of the current carbon trading market in China. On the basis of 

the effective market theory and fair game model, the unit root test and the 

run test are developed to analyze the carbon emission market of four representative cities in China. The results show that (1) the carbon trading market 

in China has only achieved weak efficiency, while the semi strong efficiency 

and the strong efficiency have not been reached; (2) with the expansion of the 

market scale, the increase of trading volume, the carbon trading market would 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

converge from the state of inefficiency to weak form efficiency gradually, and 

the carbon trading market in China shows signs of restoring market efficiency.” Xin-gang Zhao, Lei Wu, and Ang Li, Renewable and Sustainable Energy 

Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

AUGUST 2017

Assessing the Risk of Carbon Dioxide Emissions 

from Blue Carbon Ecosystems.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “‘Blue carbon’ ecosystems, which 

include tidal marshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows, have large 

stocks of organic carbon (Corg) in their soils. These carbon stocks are vulnerable to decomposition and – if degraded – can be released to the atmosphere in 

the form of CO2. [The authors] present a framework to help assess the relative 

risk of CO2 emissions from degraded soils, thereby supporting inclusion of soil 

Corg into blue carbon projects and establishing a means to prioritize management for their carbon values. Assessing the risk of CO2 emissions after various 

kinds of disturbances can be accomplished through knowledge of both the size 

of the soil Corg stock at a site and the likelihood that the soil Corg will decompose to CO2.” Lovelock, Catherine E.; Atwood, Trisha; Baldock, Jeff; Duarte, 

Carlos M.; Hickey, Sharyn; Lavery, Paul S.; Masqué, Pere; Macreadie, Peter 

I.; Ricart, Aurora M.; Serrano, Oscar; and Steven, Andy D. L., Frontiers in 

Ecology and the Environment. (Subscription may be required.)

CO2 Trapping in the Context of Geological Carbon Sequestration.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Geological sequestration of CO2

has been identified as a mitigation option to the problem of climate change 

which the world is facing today. This review gives a comprehensive overview 

of carbon storage technology and focuses on the different methods that have 

been used for the sequestration of CO2 in geological formation. [CCS] involves 

the capturing of [CO2] from large commercial plant such as power plant, and 

transports them to geological storage site for long-term storage in geological 

formations such as basalt, depleted oil and gas field, coal seams, and saline aquifers. The principles of CO2 sequestration and trapping mechanisms 

are presented in this work. CO2 hydrate formation, which is a good trapping 

mechanism if it is thermodynamically stable, is also explained along with the 

important geological site selection characteristics. Finally, the monitoring techniques for detection of CO2 plumes in the reservoir using geophysical and geochemical methods are explored.” Kazeem O. Rabiu, Lidong Han, and Diganta 

Bhusan Das, Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. 

(Subscription may be required.)

The Application of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide for the 

Recovery of Residual Hydrocarbon Reserves at the 

Late Stage of Reservoir Engineering.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The unique experimental base 

which allows to investigation and model the processes of extraction, wipe 

hard-to-recover hydrocarbon resources from a variety of solid porous media 

in a wide range of state parameters including critical area, using a variety of 

solvents, including [CO2], is created. The experiments on the displacement of 

various hydrocarbons from the reservoir model [CO2] in the temperature range 

20-200°C and pressures of 5 to 45 MPa, as well as qualitative experiments on 

the extraction of hydrocarbons from core samples are conducted. The experimental results obtained prove high efficiency of the supercritical [CO2] for the 

displacement and extraction of hard to recovery hydrocarbon deposits.” Filenko DG, Dadashev MN, Grigoryev EB, and Vinokurov VA, Recent Advances in 

Petrochemical Science. (Subscription may be required.)

Screening Test of Amino Acid Salts for CO2 Absorption at Flue Gas 

Temperature in a Membrane Contactor.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “[Carbon dioxide] absorption at the 

temperature of flue gas inlet could reduce the costs related to flue gas cooling 

systems and improve the economic feasibility of the [post-combustion] carbon 

capture processes. Amino acid salts are considered as promising absorbents 

to absorb CO2 in a membrane contactor at elevated temperatures because 

of their advantages of lower volatility, less degradation, and higher surface 

tension. In this study, 24 common amino acids have been screened for their 

potential to absorb CO2 at the temperature of flue gas inlet in a membrane contactor. These screening processes involved examination of the water solubility 

of amino acids, measurement of surface tension and viscosity of their potassium salts, CO2 capacity, and CO2 membrane absorption test. Taurine, sarcosine, 

and glycine were identified as performing well in all the screening tests and 

were further investigated for CO2 membrane absorption at high temperatures 

up to 80°C and various CO2 loadings in a polypropylene hollow fiber membrane 

module. The results show that those amino acid salts are feasible to absorb 

CO2 at high temperatures in a membrane contactor. Potassium sarcosinate is 

identified as the most promising absorbent for high-temperature CO2 absorption with a better absorption performance than monoethanolamine and other 

amino acid salts.” Feijie He, Tao Wang, Mengxiang Fang, Zhen Wang, Hai Yu, 

and Qinhui Ma, Energy Fuels. (Subscription may be required.)

Study on the ratio of pore-pressure/stress changes during fluid 

injection and its implications for CO2 geologic storage.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The success of fluid injection into 

geological formations, which is the main operation during both CO2 geologic 

storage and wastewater injection, is contingent on the geomechanical integrity 

of the site. A key task that allows us to evaluate the risk of geomechanical failure is the precise prediction of pore-pressure buildup and subsequent change 

in the state of stresses during and after the fluid injection. Contrary to traditional approaches, where total stresses are assumed to remain constant, recent 

studies have ascertained that total stresses in fact change in every direction 

as fluid extraction/injection disturbs the pore-pressure field and causes deformations. In this study, [the authors] conduct an in-depth investigation of the 

ratio of change in total stress to that in pore-pressure, ∆σ/∆P, which has been 

denoted in the literature as the pore-pressure/stress coupling. [The authors] 

employ a numerical simulation method that couples single-phase fluid flow 

in porous media with poroelasticity to explore the spatiotemporal evolution of 

the ∆σ/∆P ratio for various conditions. These numerical experiments allow us 

to examine how different material properties and structural geometries would 

influence the evolution of ∆σ/∆P in both vertical and horizontal directions. 

These ratios of pore-pressure/stress changes exhibit different spatiotemporal 

evolutions depending on key factors that include the hydraulic boundary condition, Biot’s coefficient, Poisson’s ratio, and the hydraulic diffusivity of both the 

injection zone and caprock. On the basis of observations, [the authors] suggest 

firsthand guidelines for analytically determining the ratio of pore-pressure/

stress changes, ∆σ/∆P. Finally, [the authors] use examples and case studies 

to illustrate how the ∆σ/∆P ratio can be incorporated into an analytic calculation for determining a maximum sustainable pressure limit.” Seunghee Kim 

and Seyyed Abolfazl Hosseini, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering.

(Subscription may be required.)

Liquidity, information, strategic trading in an electronic order book: 

New insights from the European carbon markets.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The electronic limit order book 

(LOB hereafter) has rapidly become the primary way of trading European carbon assets over the 4 years of the EU ETS programme (2008–2012). In this 

first attempt of examining the informational content of an electronic order book, 

[the authors] evidence that order flow imbalances have a moderate capacity 

to predict short term price changes. However, [the authors] find that both LOB 

slope and immediacy costs help to forecast quote improvements and volatility 

in the next 30 min. Further, [the authors] explain why informed trading is highly 

influential and show that it consists in mixing order splitting strategies and 

posting fleeting orders once the asymmetric information is reduced. Overall, 

the consolidated status of the order book mirrors a high level of market uncertainty and a low degree of informational efficiency. In this way, strategic trading 

can in itself explain some of order book properties, independently of the degree 

of traders’ sophistication and market competition.” Yves Rannou, Research in 

International Business and Finance. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

Mapping research on carbon emissions trading: a co-citation analysis.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “Carbon emissions trading (CET) is 

a market mechanism, aims to promote the control of globe [GHG] emissions. 

It is an important part of international environmental cooperation and it is also 

the important application research filed of environmental economics and institutional economics. There is a very obvious phenomenon that the publications 

about CET increasing year by year. This paper adopts the scientometric analysis method to assess the current state and explore the development trends 

of carbon emission trading domain based on the literature data retrieved from 

Web of Science. The research results of this paper could answer the following questions clearly. 1) Which subject category is the most popular in CET 

research area? Which journal published the most number of articles in this 

area? Which institution and country is the most productive in CET domain? 2) 

What are the major research areas and what documents are the most cited? 

Which journal are the most representative in CET research domain? 3) What 

are the new emerging trends and development in CET research area? On the 

whole, the research method in this paper provided a fresh research approach 

to assess the performance of CET research. The findings may help for the new 

researchers to pick out the most relevant articles, journals, institutions and 

seize the research frontier in CET field.” Dejian Yu and Chao Xu, Renewable 

and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

SEPTEMBER 2017

A techno-economic analysis of EU renewable electricity policy 

pathways in 2030.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The aim of this paper is to assess 

several pathways of a [harmonized] European policy framework for supporting 

renewable electricity (RES-E) in a 2030 horizon according to different criteria. 

The pathways combine two main dimensions: degrees of [harmonization] and 

instruments and design elements. A quantitative model-based analysis with 

the Green-X model is provided. The results of the simulations show that there 

are small differences between the evaluated cases regarding effectiveness. 

All the policy pathways score similarly with respect to RES-E deployment, i.e., 

with different degrees of [harmonization] and whether using a feed-in tariff, 

a feed-in premium, a quota system with banding or a quota without banding 

scheme. In contrast, the policy costs clearly differ across the pathways, but 

the differences can mostly be attributed to the instruments rather than to the 

degrees of [harmonization]. This is also the case with other criteria (static and 

dynamic efficiency and the socioeconomic and environmental benefits in terms 

of CO2 emissions and fossil fuels avoided). Both the degree of [harmonization] 

and the choice of instrument influence the distribution of support costs across 

countries. Finally, [the authors’] findings suggest that keeping strengthened 

national support leads to similar results to other policy pathways.” Pablo del 

Rio, Gustav Resch, Andre Ortner, Lukas Liebmann, Sebastian Busch, and 

Christian Panzer, Energy Policy. (Subscription may be required.) 

An analysis of CO2 emissions in Italy through the Macro Multiplier 

(MM) approach.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The issue of policy design into 

the environmental economic literature is becoming a crucial point especially 

for the relevance of its implication on international agreements for climate 

change and for the definition of climate actions against GHGs emissions. The 

identification of economic drivers accountable for the CO2 emissions, which 

represent the major part of GHGs emissions, represents a central topic on 

literature using Input-Output analysis. The paper proposes a methodological 

innovation on the study of suitable policy instrument against the raise of CO2

emissions, which is based on the approach of the Macro Multipliers (MM) that 

leads with the recognition of the impact of all those industries responsible 

for CO2 emissions. From the policy perspective, the relevance of industries 

responsible for CO2 emissions is also [analyzed] in this approach in which 

[the authors] introduce the target efficiency index and the control effectiveness 

index across industries. As part of final demand vector, each commodity has 

its own relevance, or effectiveness, in pursuing the attainment of the target 

vector. On the other hand as part of the target vectors, each industry emission 

has its own efficiency in being conveniently modified by changing the policy 

control vector. The results deriving from the MM approach demonstrate the 

possibility to overcome the limits of the linkages analysis. In particular, the set 

of information deriving from the target efficiency and the control effectiveness 

indices for industries allows designing environmental policies in a framework 

where economic aggregates are defined in value and physical units. Using the 

input-output table, this study investigates the impacts of industries activities 

on CO2 emission using the MM approach for the Italian economy.” Yousaf Ali, 

Maurizio Ciaschini, Claudio Socci, Rosita Pretaroli, and Francesca Severini,

Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be required.)

The role of carbon dioxide in the transport and fractionation of metals 

by geological fluids.

The following is from the Abstract of this article: “Although [CO2] is one of the 

major components of crustal fluids responsible for ore deposit formation, its 

effect on transport and precipitation of metals remains unknown, due to a lack 

of direct experimental data and physical–chemical models for CO2-rich fluids. 

To fill this gap, [the authors] combined laboratory experiments and thermodynamic modeling to systematically quantify the role played by CO2 for the 

solubility of economically important metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Au, Mo, Pt, 

Sn under hydrothermal conditions. Solubility measurements of common ore 

minerals of these metals (FeS2, CuFeS2, ZnS, Au, MoS2, PtS, SnO2) were performed, using a flexible-cell reactor equipped with a rapid sampling device, in 

a single-phase fluid (CO2–H2O–KCl) at 350–450°C and 600–750 bar, buffered 

with iron sulfide and oxide and alkali-aluminosilicate mineral assemblages. In 

addition, another type of experiments was conducted to measure gold solubility 

in more sulfur-rich supercritical CO2–H2O–S–NaOH fluids at 450°C and 700 

bar using a batch reactor that allows fluid quenching. [The authors’] results 

show that the solubilities of Si, Au, Mo, Pt and Cu either decrease (within <1 

log unit) or remain constant upon CO2 increase, whereas those of Fe, Zn and 

Sn increase significantly (>1 log unit) with CO2 contents in the fluid increasing 

from 0 to 50 wt%. These data were interpreted using a simple model that does 

not require any new adjustable parameters, and is based on the dielectric 

constant of the H2O–CO2 solvent and on the Born solvation parameter for the 

dominant metal-bearing species in an aqueous fluid. [The authors’] predictions 

using this model suggest that in a supercritical CO2–H2O–S-salt fluid typical of 

metamorphic Au deposits, in equilibrium with pyrite and chalcopyrite, the Cu/

Fe ratio decreases by up to 2 orders of magnitude with an increase of CO2 content from 0 to 70 wt%. This effect is due to the decrease of the fluid dielectric 

constant in the presence of CO2, which favors the stability of neutral species 

(FeCl2

0

) compared to charged ones (CuCl2

−)...” Maria A. Kokh, Nikolay N. Akinfiev, Gleb S. Pokrovski, Stefano Salvi, and Damien Guillaume, Geochimica et 

Cosmochimica Acta. (Subscription may be required.)

Phase equilibrium of CCS mixtures: Equation of state modeling and 

Monte Carlo simulation.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “To understand the role played by 

the impurities (such as N2, Ar, H2, CO, SO2, O2 and NO) during the processes 

of CCS, it is essential to know the thermodynamic properties of the CO2-impurities mixtures under the conditions of CO2 capture, transport and storage. 

Considering the variety of composition of these gas mixtures, it is necessary to 

have at one’s disposal suitable models to predict their thermodynamic properties. In this work, two thermodynamic models: the E-PPR78 (Enhanced Predictive Peng-Robinson, 1978) and the PC-SAFT (Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory) models, are applied for describing the phase equilibria 

properties of 77 binary CCS mixtures containing CO2, gas impurities (SO2, O2

and NO), water and hydrocarbons. [The authors’] research results indicate that 

both models are able to accurately predict the phase behavior of binary CCS 

mixtures. It was however necessary to adjust the binary interaction parameters (kij,PC-SAFT) within the PC-SAFT model to improve the prediction accuracy. 

Compared to the PC-SAFT model with one temperature-independent binary 

interaction parameter, the E-PPR78 model normally shows better prediction 

accuracy for the investigated systems. In addition, to extend the experimental 

database which was built for the evaluations of Equation-of-State (EoS) modeling, the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method is employed in this work to generate phase-equilibrium data of a few CCS mixtures deemed as insufficiently 

described by experimental measurements reported in the open literature.” XiaoChun Xu, Romain Privat, Jean-Noel Jaubert, Veronique Lachet, and Benoit 

Creton, The Journal of Supercritical Fluids. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 JOURNAL ARTICLES

Using noble gas fingerprints at the Kerr Farm to assess CO2 leakage 

allegations linked to the Weyburn-Midale CO2 monitoring and 

storage project.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “For [CCS] technology to successfully contribute to climate mitigation efforts, the stored CO2 must be securely 

isolated from the atmosphere and oceans. Hence, there is a need to establish 

and verify monitoring techniques that can detect unplanned migration of injected CO2 from a storage site to the near surface. Noble gases are sensitive 

tracers of crustal fluid input in the subsurface due to their low concentrations 

and unreactive nature. Several studies have identified their potential to act as 

tracers of deep fluid migration to the shallow subsurface, but they have yet to 

be used in a contested situation. In January 2011 it was reported extensively 

in global media that high CO2 concentrations in soils and related groundwater 

pollution had been identified on a farm property belonging to the Kerr family, 

located near to the town of Weyburn in Saskatchewan, Canada. The origin of 

this CO2 pollution was cited to be the nearby Weyburn-Midale CO2 Monitoring 

and Storage Project. Here, as part of an investigation funded independently 

of the Weyburn-Midale field operators, [the authors] present δ13CDIC, 3He/4He, 4

He/20Ne, 20Ne, 36Ar, 40Ar and Kr measured in waters obtained from four 

groundwater wells located on and surrounding the Kerr property. [The authors] 

aim to establish if stable carbon and noble gas natural tracers are effective at 

determining if migration of CO2 from the storage project was responsible for 

the alleged high CO2 concentrations and water pollution measured on the Kerr 

farm. [The authors] compare the stable carbon isotope and noble gas ‘fingerprints’ of the Kerr groundwaters to those expected in a water equilibrated with 

the atmosphere under local recharge conditions, the produced CO2 obtained 

from production wells, and the CO2 injected into the Weyburn and Midale oil 

fields. [The authors] find that the stable carbon isotope data do not constrain 

the origin of the dissolved CO2 in the Kerr groundwaters. Due to low noble gas 

concentrations in the captured CO2 [the authors] are unable to completely rule 

out the presence of 20–34% contribution from injected CO2 to the groundwaters surrounding the Kerr property. However, [the authors] find that all of 

the Kerr groundwater samples exhibit noble gas fingerprints that would be 

expected in a shallow groundwater in contact with the atmosphere and hence 

there is no evidence for the addition of a deep radiogenic component or dilution 

from the addition of a gas phase low in atmospheric derived noble gases. [The 

authors’] findings corroborate previous studies that indicate that elevated CO2

concentrations found on the Kerr property are almost certainly of biological 

origin, and not migrated from the deep subsurface. The comprehensive follow 

up to these CO2 leakage allegations outlined in this study provides a robust 

framework for responses to any future leakage allegations at CO2 storage sites 

and further highlights that no single technique can categorically identify the 

origin of CO2 in the shallow subsurface. Hence, it is essential that the full range 

of geochemical tracers (stable carbon and 14C isotopes, noble gases, water 

chemistry, process based gas ratios) are integrated with a good understanding 

of geological and engineering data in response to CO2 leakage allegations in 

the future.” Stuart M.V. Gilfillan, George William Sherk, Robert J. Poreda, 

and R. Stuart Haszeldine, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)

The New Zealand forestry sector’s experience in providing carbon 

sequestration services under the New Zealand Emissions Trading 

Scheme, 2008 to 2012.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The New Zealand government established the New Zealand Emissions Trading scheme (NZ ETS) as the primary 

mechanism for achieving New Zealand’s Kyoto obligations between 2008 and 

2012. The legislation made planted forests the first sector to participate in 

the NZ ETS, starting in 2008. At the same time, other schemes to encourage 

carbon sequestration through forestry were also implemented. The implementation of the NZ ETS has [focused] on meeting New Zealand’s international obligations between 2008 and 2012 at minimum cost, and there is little evidence 

it has led to any reduction in [GHG] emissions or investment in new planted 

forests in New Zealand. The NZ ETS has been most effective at facilitating the 

transfer of international (Kyoto compliant) carbon credits from emitters to the 

New Zealand government. These credits have been used to partially meet New 

Zealand’s obligations for the first Kyoto commitment period, allowing other 

units to be carried over to meet obligations from 2013 to 2020. The paper 

shows that participation in the NZ ETS is unlikely to contribute a long-term 

positive impact on profitability of commercial forestry, and that the liabilities 

created through participation in the NZ ETS do not assist the development of 

the forestry sector in New Zealand. The paper suggests that the NZ ETS is not 

the correct policy instrument to encourage carbon sequestration by planted 

forests.” David Evison, Forest Policy and Economics. (Subscription may be 

required.)

An improved correlation to estimate the minimum miscibility 

pressure of CO2 in crude oils for carbon capture, utilization, 

and storage projects.

The following is the Abstract of this article: “The utilization of anthropogenic 

CO2 for [EOR] while sequestering CO2 in depleted oil and gas fields is increasingly being viewed as an attractive economic proposition for reducing [GHG] 

emissions. Typically, CO2 assisted [EOR] projects are operated at the minimum 

miscibility pressure (MMP), beyond which the CO2 and oil phases are completely miscible and the incremental oil recovery from CO2 displacement does 

not increase dramatically anymore. Thus, the MMP is a critical parameter in 

screening-level performance assessments of potential CO2 floods. The MMP 

can be measured from displacement experiments in a laboratory using a slim 

tube apparatus. Alternatively, it can be estimated from statistical correlations 

developed using reservoir temperature and detailed crude oil composition and 

analytical methods such as equation of state based simulations. In this paper, 

[the authors] describe the development and validation of an improved correlation to estimate the MMP of CO2 in crude oil based only on: (a) reservoir 

temperature, and (b) molecular weight of the C5+ fraction, which can also be 

estimated from the oil’s specific gravity. A power law based predictive model 

for MMP has been developed through statistical analysis of data from published literature pertaining to crude oil with a wide range of temperatures and 

molecular weights. The resulting predictions were compared with those obtained from previously established and widely used correlations and found to 

have a higher degree of accuracy.” Manoj Kumar Valluri, Srikanta Mishra, and 

Jared Schuetter, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. (Subscription 

may be required.) 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

35

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

OCTOBER 2016

A Clean Energy Action Plan for the United States.

The following is from the Introduction and Summary of this Center for American Progress document: “This report proposes policy recommendations that 

promote the three elements of decarbonization—energy efficiency, low-carbon 

electricity generation, and the electrification of end uses—and that address 

their integration, financing, and implementation at the federal level. It examines 

specific policy actions that a new administration and Congress can take in the 

short term to expedite deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency 

technologies. This is just one part of an overall climate mitigation strategy U.S. 

leaders will need to employ to meet the nation’s long-term carbon pollution 

reduction targets.”

3D Mapping and correlation of Intraformational seals within the 

Latrobe Group in the nearshore Gippsland Basin.

The following is from the Introduction of this Global CCS Institute document: 

“In this study [the authors] approach the issue of intraformational seals in 

the Gippsland Basin from a variety of perspectives: these include the observations of actual trapped hydrocarbons with some gas columns in excess of 

100m, measurements of seal capacity (MICP) from core samples, observations of pressure and salinity differences across key intraformational aquitards 

(seal units), and full 3D seismic geobody mapping and attribute extraction of 

seal-related lithologies. [The authors] use these observations to interpret the 

geometry of active seal units and their depositional context within the basin. 

[The authors] will show that a series of backstepping coal sequences are associated with intraformational petroleum traps and aquitards across at least 50 

km of basin dip extent, and 20 million years of geologic time. The basal shales 

and seat earths underlying the freshwater facies of these coals will be shown 

to have distinctive properties that lead to effective sealing characteristics. This 

study is based on depositional geometries and facies interpreted from the extensive open-file 3D seismic data that has been collected in the basin by the 

Esso-BHP Joint Venture and other operators. Individual and composite coal 

beds are mapped and fluvial cut-outs are identified. As a result, a detailed 3D 

basin model is developed which maps fluvial and swamp facies to predict reservoirs and seals at Intra-Latrobe levels, and the lateral connections of these 

facies to coeval paralic barrier bar systems further to the east at top Latrobe 

Group. A revised well and seismic correlation of the Traralgon T2 Member in 

the nearshore Gippsland Basin is presented, and the implications of this correlation discussed.”

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.”

Global Carbon Capture & [Storage] Market Insights, Opportunity 

Analysis, Market Shares and Forecast, 2016 – 2022.

The following is a description of this document: “The [CCS] market globally is estimated to be $4.25 Billion in year 2016, and is likely to grow with 

a [compound annual growth rate (CAGR)] of 13.9 [percent] from year 2016 

to 2022, to grow $8.15 Billion by the end of year 2022. [These capturing] 

technologies separates CO2 from other gases produced via industrial processes and electricity generation mainly by three different ways, pre-combustion, 

post-combustion and last oxy-fuel combustion. Millions of tons of CO2 are being transported for commercial uses every year this can be fulfilled by this capturing process. Transportation stages includes transfer by ship, pipelines and 

road tanker for commercial purpose majorly for oil recovery projects. The CO2

which is stored in cautiously targeted geological rocks that are located several 

[kilometers] below the earth surface. Growth in exploration activities, research, 

and investment is expected to drive the growth. The [CCS] market is likely to 

witness significant growth in the coming years owing to growing investment in 

emission reduction technologies. The carbon capturing and packing technology is still in its stages of development and globally, and later with the increasing 

awareness, growth in the market is expected.”

NOVEMBER 2016

Well Integrity in CO2 Storage Operations: Current Understanding and 

Open Questions.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this National Risk Assessment 

Partnership (NRAP) document: “Among the various risks associated with CO2

storage in deep geologic formations, [wells] are an important pathway for fluid 

[releases] and potential groundwater contamination. Injection of CO2 will typically create a pressure perturbation in the storage reservoir that covers a larger 

area than the CO2 plume itself, and any wells that penetrate that pressure 

footprint are potential pathways for [release] of CO2 and/or reservoir brine. 

Historically, the mechanisms and fate of [release] through and around wells 

have not been extensively studied, especially from the standpoint of quantitative risk assessment. However, since the publication of the review paper by 

Zhang and Bachu (2011), there have been important advances, with significant 

contributions from researchers associated with NRAP. The goal of this report is 

to summarize recent key advances in the state of knowledge, and to detail the 

efforts to develop tools that can estimate [release] over the long time scales 

that are relevant to carbon storage (10s to 100s of years). [Wells] are ubiquitous in regions with a long history of oil and gas exploration, yet until recently 

the construction, completion, plugging, and abandonment of these wells did 

not anticipate the potential use of geologic reservoirs for storage of supercritical CO2. This report explores in detail the ability of abandoned wells to retain 

their integrity against [release] as well as the circumstances when that integrity may be compromised, with careful examination of the coupled physical 

and chemical processes involved. Understanding time-dependent [release] is 

complicated by the coupling of fluid flow, solute transport, chemical reactions, 

and geomechanical stresses, which will interact over decades or longer of site 

operations and post-injection monitoring. The design of a typical well incorporates several components to restrict unintended fluid migration that include 

cement, casing, tubing, and packers. Wells are typically constructed so that a 

loss of well integrity requires the breach of multiple barriers as well as [release] 

of fluids outside of the well. Barrier failures can originate from problems with 

the primary construction of the well (e.g., failure to place cement adequately or 

[connections] in the casing joints) or as a result of subsequent stresses to the 

well system that damage these barriers.”

A Critical Review of the Impacts of [Releasing] CO2 Gas and Brine on 

Groundwater Quality.

The following is the Abstract of this NRAP document: “This report is a summary of modeling efforts, in combination with laboratory batch and column 

experiments and a review of current literature, undertaken to determine the 

effect of CO2 and brine [release] from deep storage reservoirs on the quality 

of overlying groundwater [formations]. For two [formation] types (i.e., carbonate and unconsolidated sand and gravel [formations]), “no-impact” thresholds 

were determined to evaluate the results of the laboratory and modeling. Modeling and laboratory results emphasized the importance of site-specific data 

and analysis for determining potential impacts of CO2 and brine intrusion into 

overlying groundwater [formations]. “No-impact” thresholds were variable between the two studied sites, and were mostly more conservative than the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). 

The [formation] calcite and clay content, as well as the storage reservoir sa-
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

linity and organic and trace metals contents are all crucial site-specific data 

that must be collected for successful evaluation by the developed models. 

Using these inputs, the site-specific reduced-order models (ROMS) were able 

to predict [formation] response and the degree of impact due to leaking CO2. 

Results have indicated that the risk to [formations] is site-specific, and directly 

proportional to the mass of CO2 or brine [released]. Several questions remain 

unanswered, in particular, related to [formation] recovery time, partitioning of 

organic matter between phases, and the limitations of existing ROMs to infinite 

buffering capacity, requiring further investigation to enhance understanding of 

the impact of [releasing] CO2 and brine on groundwater [formations].”

Reduced-Order Model for Estimating Impacts from CO2 Storage 

[Release] to Alluvium [Formations]: Third-Generation, Combined 

Physical and Chemical Processes.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this NRAP document: “NRAP 

is developing a science-based toolset for the quantitative analysis of the potential risks associated with changes in groundwater chemistry from CO2 injection. In order to address uncertainty probabilistically, NRAP is developing 

efficient, ROMs as part of its approach. These ROMs are built from detailed, 

physics-based process models to provide confidence in the predictions over 

a range of conditions. The ROMs are designed to reproduce accurately the 

predictions from the computationally intensive process models at a fraction of 

the computational time, thereby allowing the utilization of Monte Carlo methods to probe variability in key parameters. This research developed ROMs that 

describe changes in diluted groundwater chemistry if CO2 and brine were to 

[release] into an overlying alluvium [formation] similar to the High Plains [formation], Haskel County, Kansas, USA. The protocol allows uncertainty and variability in [formation] heterogeneity, fluid transport and geochemical reactions 

to be collectively evaluated to assess potential changes in groundwater pH, 

total dissolved solids (TDS), As, Ba, Cd, Pb, benzene, naphthalene, and phenol 

concentrations by developing a scaling function that can be applied to correct 

the output from the hydrology ROM for geochemical reactions. The hydrology 

ROM takes into account the uncertainties in brine and CO2 [release, formation] 

heterogeneity and fluid transport, whereas the geochemical scaling function 

considers the uncertainties in chemical reactions. Inclusion of chemical correction increases trace metal plumes by 10 to 100 times, suggesting that CO2

[release] leaches trace metals from the [formation] sediments and should be 

considered. Corrections are needed for other trace metals, such as chromium, 

iron, manganese, and zinc. In contrast to the observed increases in trace metal 

plume volumes, inclusion of bio-degradation greatly reduces plume volumes 

for organics.”

DECEMBER 2016

The Evidence for Deploying Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) in the [United 

Kingdom (UK)].

The following is from the Executive Summary of this Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) document: “Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) is a credible, scalable 

and efficient technology, and is critical to deploy in order for the UK to meet its 

2050 GHG emission reduction targets cost-effectively. Major advances in the 

fundamental science and technology development have been made by the ETI 

and others over the last ten years – significantly de-risking this value chain, 

and evidencing that there are no ‘showstopping’ technical barriers to BECCS. Specifically, advances have been made in understanding: [1] The costs, 

efficiencies and challenges of biomass-fed combustion systems with carbon 

capture. [2] The evidence that numerous bioenergy value chains can deliver 

significant carbon savings, and sizeable negative emissions when including 

BECCS, based on certain feedstocks. [3] The potential availability and sustainability of feedstocks relevant to the UK. [4] The identification and assessment 

of high capacity, low cost, low-risk stores for CO2 around the UK and the infrastructure required to connect to them.”

Putting the Puzzle Together: State & Federal Policy Drivers for Growing 

America’s Carbon Capture & CO2-EOR Industry.

The following is a summary of this document: “This report offers readers both 

an in-depth look at [CO2-EOR], while explaining the current policy landscape 

and recommendations for future action. The report first provides background 

information on the formation of the Work Group and the process utilized to 

develop this report. The next section of the report provides the rationale for 

the capture of [CO2] from power plants and industrial facilities and its use 

and storage through [EOR] as a key component of a U.S. and global energy 

strategy with the potential to provide economic, environmental, and national 

security benefits. The subsequent sections take a detailed look at the current 

policy landscape and several core state and federal policy options. The report 

concludes with a glossary and detailed appendices that provide state-level 

information on existing laws and policies related to CO2-EOR.”

JANUARY 2017

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 from 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 [CCS] market report analyses 

the applications in disparate end 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% 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.”

Combining CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery with Permanent Storage in 

Mexico.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this Battelle Memorial Institute 

document: “The goal of the current project is to review state-of-the-art practices related to combining CO2 EOR with geologic storage for CCUS in Mexico. 

This was accomplished by an assessment of the requirements a CO2-EOR 

project must satisfy in order to qualify as a permanent storage project to earn 

carbon credits. The material presented is based on review of latest literature, 

discussions with relevant experts, as well as Battelle’s direct experiences from 

multiple in-house geologic CO2 storage projects. The report focuses on the 

key technical and practical considerations and provides an overview of related 

technologies for economic and efficient CO2-EOR storage. The technology and 

operational practices for CCUS have been developed over decades of CO2-EOR 

experience established in the oil and gas industry. Hence, the key barriers 

and uncertainties in accounting for associated CO2 storage during CO2-EOR 

operations are not technical but economic and policy-related. While economic 

favorability can be improved by investing in improvements to the current CO2

infrastructure, strong constructive policy measures for geologic CO2 storage 

are also important. CO2-EOR projects demonstrating storage of anthropogenic 

CO2 in Mexico may be eligible to provide carbon credits. The minimum requirements to gain storage credits according to protocols stated in the United 

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), California Cap-and-Trade Regulation Instructional Guidance, 

American Carbon Registry, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulatory guidance were compared and contrasted. The protocols typically outline 

requirements as performance measures without prescribing technologies to 

meet these requirements. Accordingly, there is significant flexibility for the project proponent to fashion the project details and submit for approval plans that 

describe how requirements will be met.”
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

37

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

Scotland’s Energy Strategy: The role of carbon dioxide capture and 

permanent storage.

The following is from this Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage document: “This 

briefing from Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (SCCS) sets out reasons for 

Scottish Government continuing to provide positive support for technologies 

and infrastructure that capture CO2 from emissions and permanently store it in 

geological formations. Such technologies, collectively known as CCS, are complementary to several options being pursued for decarbonisation of the energy 

system. Including CCS in Scotland’s whole energy-system strategy can make 

other options more effective and will be needed to extend the 2032 targets to 

an ambition of a net zero carbon Scotland in 2050.”

FEBRUARY 2017

National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) Phase I 

Accomplishments: 2011-2016.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) document: “NRAP brings together scientists and engineers from five DOE national laboratories (NL), to develop insights into the 

environmental risk behavior of long-term CO2 storage in geologic formations. 

Through stakeholder involvement, the NRAP program also benefits from the 

perspective of industry, government, non-government organizations, and academia regarding research needs on this topic. Phase I of the NRAP effort has 

recently concluded and this report summarizes the results of this 6-year effort. 

Phase I was focused on quantification of risk and related uncertainties, using 

the approach detailed in this report... Improving the science base to build 

confidence for long-term CO2 storage decisions was another key aspect that 

was studied by the project personnel. The main results for this part of the effort 

are: [development of physics based models of geologic carbon storage (GCS), 

systems and system components; demonstration of the validity and limitations 

of reduced complexity models, and integrated assessments models; computational and experimental analysis to address key system uncertainties; and 

simulation of long term carbon storage system performance, in the context of 

those uncertainties]. An important set of products from NRAP’s Phase I effort 

is the set of tools that can be used to explore environmental risk behavior 

at CO2 storage sites. The NRAP toolset is comprised of ten simulation tools 

representing important components of the engineered geologic system related 

to understanding the risk for and associated with potential fluid migration and 

induced seismicity.”

Ready for CCS retrofit: The potential for equipping China’s existing coal 

fleet with carbon capture and storage.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this International Energy Agency (IEA) document: “Retrofitting CCS on existing coal-fired power stations in 

People’s Republic of China (hereafter referred to as ‘China’) represents a major 

opportunity, with significant benefits for emission reductions. In total, some 

310 gigawatts (GW) of existing coal-fired power capacity meet a number of 

basic criteria for being suitable for a retrofit. This number is likely to increase, 

as new efficient plants are being commissioned during the next several years. 

Regardless of how much retrofitting will finally be required in a low-emissions 

pathway, this analysis indicates that there is ample potential available. Simultaneously the world’s leader in renewable electricity capacity and the world’s 

largest emitter of energy-related CO2, China emitted some 8.6 billion [metric 

tons] in 2014. Around half of these emissions were from coal-fired power stations. China currently has around 900 GW of installed coal-fired power capacity, representing almost 50% of global coal-fired capacity, and has nearly 200 

GW under construction. The existing power plants considered in this study 

represent potential emissions of 85 billion [metric tons] of CO2 (GtCO2), if they 

continue to operate at current load factors for the remainder of their lives, even 

if smaller units are retired early. Despite such massive emissions, the Chinese 

coal-fired power fleet is on average one of the world’s most efficient, as over 

two thirds of the capacity was built since 2005. As a result, the average operational efficiency of the Chinese coal fleet increased six percentage points in the 

last ten years, bringing it to the same level as that in OECD countries. Through 

its ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contribution’ (INDC) under the UNFCCC 

framework, China has committed to peaking CO2 emissions by 2030. The enduring emissions from China’s coal-fired power plants present a challenge to 

efforts to reduce [GHG] emissions beyond any peak. Coal use is also being 

shaped by policies to control local pollutants, which make low carbon electricity and power plant upgrades more attractive. A part-solution can be found in 

retrofitting existing coal-fired power stations with CCS, which can reduce their 

emissions rate by around 85%. The emissions of a CCS-retrofitted coal plant 

are equivalent to less than a quarter of that of a combined cycle gas plant. In 

the best conditions, equipping a power plant with CCS only requires investment 

in the equipment for CO2 capture, transport and storage and not in the power 

plant itself. In other situations, the power plant can be upgraded at the same 

time as CCS retrofit, delivering several additional decades of lifetime to the 

plant. In both cases, a CCS retrofit can avoid the need to write-off otherwise 

productive generating capacity, or otherwise limit its use, and be a cheaper 

option than a new low-carbon generation capacity.” 

Carbon Capture And Storage (CCS) Market Analysis By Application 

(EOR, Industrial & Agriculture), By Capture Technology 

(Pre-Combustion, Industrial, Oxy-Firing & Post-Combustion), 

Competitive Strategies, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 – 2025.

The following is from a summary of this report: “The rising energy demand 

globally has led to the increasing uses of fossil fuels, the major source of 

carbon emission. Though many alternate technologies such as wind, solar and 

nuclear are now in practical use or under development, CCS is the most viable 

technology currently available to mitigate [GHG] emissions from large scale 

fossil fuel usage. Currently, over 22 CCS projects are in operation globally 

and another 14 planned projects are expected to be functional in the next 

few years. However, the global CCS industry is still at its nascent stage in 

comparison to the amount of [CO2] emitted yearly. Some of the factors such as 

inconsistent government regulations and economic slowdown in the past few 

years are the main factors responsible for the slow growth of the market. The 

current regulatory [framework] is not designed prominently to address some of 

the special issues that arise in the CCS industry such as cautious monitoring 

[and] long-term stewardship and the need for thorough site characterization.” 

Global Carbon Capture and Storage Market 2017-2021.

The following is from a description of this document: “The use of CCS technology is one of the novel ideas that help reduce the amount of CO2 released 

into the atmosphere by fossil fuel-dependent industries such as power generation and oil and gas processing. The basic functioning of the CCS technology 

includes capturing the CO2 before its release into the atmosphere and then 

transporting and storing it in an environmentally safe location. Technavio’s analysts forecast the global [CCS] market to grow at a [compound annual growth 

rate (CAGR)] of 9.18% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the 

present scenario and the growth prospects of the global [CCS] market for 

2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report analyzes business dimensions with an eye on individual growth trends and contribution of upcoming 

market segments. The market is divided into the following segments based on 

geography: Americas, APAC, EMEA. Technavio’s report, Global Carbon Capture 

and Storage Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth 

market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market 

landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also 

includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.”

MARCH 2017

Siting and Regulating Carbon Capture, Utilization 

and Storage Infrastructure.

The following is the Background of this DOE Workshop Report: “[DOE’s] first 

Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) identified CO2 pipelines as ‘an important 

enabling infrastructure for GHG emissions in the future.’ Carbon dioxide 

capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) may involve moving CO2 significant 

distances from power plants and other industrial sources to storage sites, including saline geologic formations and oil fields (where CO2 is stored during 

and potentially after EOR operations), as well as to entities that employ other 

technologies to utilize captured CO2, such as photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, or mineralization. The regulation of CO2 pipelines and other CCUS infra-
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

38

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

structure is a joint responsibility of Federal and State governments. However, 

states typically play a primary role in establishing the requirements for siting, 

construction, and operations of CO2 pipelines. The first QER found that the 

development of a national CO2 pipeline infrastructure should ‘build on state experiences, including lessons learned from the effectiveness of different regulatory structures, incentives, and processes that foster interagency coordination 

and regular stakeholder engagement.’ DOE sponsored a technical workshop 

in April 2016 in Washington, D.C., to identify and promote best practices for 

siting and regulating CO2 infrastructure (pipelines, EOR, and other geologic 

CO2 storage sites). The purpose of the workshop was to foster communication, 

coordination, and sharing of lessons learned and best practices among states 

and entities that are involved in siting and regulating CO2 infrastructure, or that 

may have CO2 infrastructure projects within their borders in the future. The 

scope of the technical workshop also encompassed issues being addressed 

in the second installment of the QER, including discussions around regulation 

and management of CO2 storage sites, which serve as critical infrastructure for 

entities capturing CO2.”

Probabilistic approach to CO2 plume mapping for prospective storage 

sites: The CarbonNet experience.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this Global CCS Institute document: “In CO2 storage, there is a requirement to predict the range of possible 

plume extents and travel paths and associate a probability with this range. This 

requirement is in the context that subsurface uncertainty is a given, and that 

no single plume prediction can be 100% precise. The probabilistic expectation 

of the plume at future times is used for project purposes and for regulatory assurance that the plume will remain within the defined storage boundaries (both 

geographical and stratigraphic) for the required period of time with an appropriate high level of confidence. In particular, Australian GHG storage regulations 

call for a prediction of all plume paths with more than 10% probability of occurrence (i.e. plume paths at P90 confidence level). Here [the authors] outline a 

probabilistic approach based on reservoir modelling sensitivity and uncertainty 

analysis, adapted from the petroleum industry and suitable for high-mobility 

CO2 plumes in thick and well-defined reservoirs. The method can also be extended to other basins and geological circumstances. In the petroleum industry, it is commonplace to evaluate resources in probabilistic terms with some 

objective parameter such as oil in place, recoverable reserves, or nett present 

value. This methodology can be adapted easily to objective measures such as 

vertical ascent of a plume relative to a caprock or lateral approach of the plume 

to a boundary or other geographic feature to be avoided (e.g. a mapped fault). 

What is novel in [the authors’] approach is to analyze plume paths (extents) 

in a statistical manner to generate probabilistic maps and cross-sections of 

plume extents to inform on containment risks and areas with key monitoring 

requirements. In [the authors’] approach, the reservoir layering must first be 

analyzed and the principal hydrodynamic flow units (HFU’s) and the intervening 

seals identified. In the Gippsland Basin, multiple reservoir layers of 100-150m 

of multi-darcy, clean quartz-dominated sands form the main reservoir units 

and are proven by over 1,500 hydrocarbon exploration and development wells 

and are mappable on extensive 3D marine seismic data. The reservoirs are 

supported by an ideal, almost infinite aquifer which buffers pressure effectively 

and dissipates it regionally over short timescales (100 km in decades). In these 

reservoirs, CO2 plumes are highly mobile and must be controlled by either 

structural trapping, or by careful mapping and use of non-structural (saline 

aquifer) storage. The CarbonNet Project aims to store a nominal 125 million 

tonnes of CO2 over 25 years in the same basin still in use for hydrocarbon 

extraction, and adjacent to an important onshore aquifer. Plume management 

and containment is therefore vital and high confidence must be placed on 

plume path modelling, including the analysis of rare statistical outliers.”

A Business Case for a UK Industrial CCS Support Mechanism.

The following is the Introduction of this Teesside Collective document: “Large 

manufacturing industry is a major contributor to the British economy: in 2015, 

for example, nationally it accounted for 2.6 million jobs, [$195] billion Gross 

Value Added and contributed around half of UK exports. However, it also has 

around 70 million tonnes (mt) annual direct CO2 emissions. As the UK Government formulates its industrial strategy, it is inevitable that the impact of 

legally binding carbon budgets form part of that consideration – including the 

provision of necessary infrastructure to reduce industrial emissions. Beyond 

further energy efficiency, deep emissions reduction for many industries is only 

possible through CCS technology. During the most recent UK competition for 

CCS on power, modest funding was provided by Government to scope CCS 

for industry, as represented by Teesside Collective. Following the cancellation 

of the CCS Commercialization Program in 2015, and an evident need to gain 

industry confidence after a number of failed competitions, there is a need to 

revitalize this effort in a more structured approach. This report proposes a 

business model that could make cost-effective, near-term investment in CCS 

attractive to the Government and to Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) and so 

form a basis to enable the Government and industry to jointly to take forward 

delivery of Industrial CCS.”

APRIL 2017

Feasibility study for full-scale CCS in Norway.

The following is the Introduction of this Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and 

Energy document: “In the Sundvolden Political platform, the Government states 

that it will ‘invest on a broad front to develop cost-effective technology for CCS 

and seek to build at least one full-scale carbon capture demonstration plant 

by 2020.’ The Government’s CCS strategy was presented in Proposition 1 S 

to the Storting (2014-2015). The strategy covers a wide range of activities, including the assessment of potential full-scale CCS projects in Norway. Gassnova’s pre-feasibility ‘Study report on potential full-scale CCS projects in Norway’ 

from May 2015 identified several emission sources and storage sites that may 

be technically feasible for a CCS project. It also identified industrial players that 

could be interested in participating in further studies. In the autumn of 2015, 

the Government decided to continue this work and initiated a feasibility study. 

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) has had overall responsibility for 

the feasibility study. Gassnova SF has been project coordinator and responsible 

for the CO2 capture and storage components of the study, while Gassco AS 

has been responsible for the CO2 transport component. Three companies have 

studied the feasibility of CO2 capture at their industrial facilities. Norcem AS has 

assessed the feasibility of capturing CO2 from the flue gas at its cement factory 

in Brevik; Yara Norge AS has assessed CO2 capture from three different emission points at its ammonia plant at Herøya in Porsgrunn; the Waste-to-Energy 

Agency in Oslo municipality (EGE) has assessed CO2 capture from the energy 

recovery plant at Klemetsrud (Klemetsrudanlegget AS). Gassco has carried out 

a ship transport study with assistance from Larvik Shipping AS and Knutsen 

OAS Shipping AS. Statoil ASA has assessed the feasibility CO2 geological storage at three different sites on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The aim of this 

feasibility study was to identify at least one technically feasible CCS chain (capture, transport and storage) with corresponding cost estimates and this has 

been achieved. The results of this study demonstrate that a flexible CCS chain 

is feasible that makes use of CO2 transport by ship from multiple sources to a 

single storage hub. That would mean the initial investment in CO2 infrastructure 

can benefit several CO2 capture projects.” 

Energy Security and Prosperity in Australia: A ROADMAP FOR CARBON 

CAPTURE & STORAGE.

The following is from this document: “As the world makes the necessary and 

urgent transition to a low carbon future, resource and system diversity will 

be key to maintaining a resilient, competitive energy economy. Australia’s 

abundant, cost competitive and high quality coal and gas resources have long 

underpinned the economic strength and high standard of living achieved in 

Australia. The challenge that Australia and the world face is to continue to 

realize the benefits and value of fossil energy resources without the associated 

emissions. It is therefore imperative that commercial-scale CCS is developed 

and available. This assures that Australia and its trading partners can maintain energy security and meet future emissions reduction targets at the lowest 

economic cost. Australia has the capability to provide leadership in CCS, especially CO2 storage with the Otway and Gorgon projects. These are considered 

leading examples of CO2 storage research, development and demonstration 

(RD&D) and commercial-scale deployment. Urgent investment in CO2 storage 

site characterization, CCS projects, techno-economic assessments, and public 

engagement is required to ensure that CCS can be deployed to achieve the 

deep reduction in greenhouse gas emissions required to meet national and 

global targets.”
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

39

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

MAY 2017

Review of UK Energy Policy.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this UK Energy Research Center (UKERC) document: “This review takes stock of UK energy policy ahead of 

the Autumn Statement, the Industrial Strategy and the Emissions Reduction 

Plan that is expected in 2017. It is an evidence-based commentary covering 

the major components of the energy system and the links between them. The 

focus of the review is not only on progress with emissions reductions to tackle 

climate change, but also on synergies and trade-offs with other policy goals: 

security, affordability and (due to the recent creation of [the Department of 

Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)]) industrial development. The 

UK has a world leading policy framework for emissions reduction in the Climate 

Change Act, including legislated carbon budgets to 2032. This does not have 

to be affected by Brexit. In October, ten years on from his landmark report, 

Lord Nicholas Stern reiterated that clean, green development is the only route 

to global economic growth. As the Committee on Climate Change have noted, 

there has been good progress with emissions reductions so far. This has been 

driven by changes in the electricity system and reductions in energy demand, 

some of which have been policy driven. But this progress will not last into 

the 2020s unless policies are significantly strengthened in this Parliament. 

As [the authors] discuss in this review, priority areas for action include energy 

efficiency, low carbon heat, the investment framework for low carbon power 

and citizen engagement.”

Pathways to a low carbon future.

The following is from the Introduction of this Energy UK document: “A low 

carbon society is a long term project requiring a vision to take us through 

the transition and transformation necessary, with buy-in from government, all 

political parties, the public, business and industry. A whole system approach 

that considers the interactions between heat, power and transport must be 

adopted to deliver an infrastructure that is fit for purpose to achieve high energy efficiency, low carbon heat, power and transport and a highly flexible 

and secure energy system. Long term predictable policy and planning will lay 

the foundations for the investment needed to create a modern, efficient and 

sustainable low carbon society. The Climate Change Act (2008) set an ambitious commitment to reduce [GHG] emissions in the UK by at least 80 percent 

of 1990 levels by 2050. The UK has so far delivered on its interim targets 

through the Carbon Budget process, mainly through reducing emissions in 

the power sector. The period 2028 – 2032 (known as the fifth carbon budget) 

is set to be more challenging as it requires action from both the heat and 

transport sector, and further decarbonization of power. This paper presents 

Energy UK’s recommendations that government should consider as a minimum 

necessary to set the country on track to deliver its fifth carbon budget. Some 

recommendations highlight the increasing interdependencies between sectors, 

industries, customers and providers, and demonstrate the need to use a whole 

system approach to ensure a holistic vision and capture the role of each and 

all stakeholders...”

China-Australia CCUS Integrated International Cooperation 

Demonstration Project.

The following is from the Introduction of this document: “Yanchang Petroleum 

has been engaging in CO2 capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) for a 

coal conversion project in northern Shaanxi Province since 2010. The pilot experiment for CO2 flooding and sequestration (known as CO2-EOR) was initially 

completed in the Jingbian and Wuqi counties, Shaanxi Province. By July 2015, 

Yanchang Petroleum had built the skid-mounted injection stations for CO2-EOR 

to serve five well groups in Chang-6 Oil Reservoir of Qiaojiawa Block, Jingbian 

County, with the cumulative injection volume of 48,000 tonnes (t) liquefied CO2. 

Yanchang also built the skid-mounted injection stations for CO2-EOR to serve 

five well groups in Chang-4+5 Oil Reservoir of Yougou Block in Wuqi County, 

with a cumulative injection volume of 2,767.8t liquefied CO2. Both injection 

projects are ongoing. Safe and secure storage of CO2 is the cornerstone of CO2

geological sequestration (herein sequestration). After injection of CO2 into the 

reservoir, the location and state of CO2 migration in the reservoir needs to be 

determined. Additionally, the permanency and effectiveness of sequestration 

must be evaluated...”

JUNE 2017

Development of a General Form CO2 and Brine Flux Input Model.

The following is the Abstract of this National Risk Assessment Partnership 

(NRAP) document: “The NRAP project is developing a science-based toolset 

for the quantitative analysis of the potential risks associated with changes in 

groundwater chemistry from CO2 injection. In order to address uncertainty 

probabilistically, NRAP is developing efficient, reduced-order models (ROMs) 

as part of its approach. These ROMs are built from detailed, physics-based 

process models to provide confidence in the predictions over a range of conditions. The ROMs are designed to reproduce accurately the predictions from the 

computationally intensive process models at a fraction of the computational 

time, thereby allowing the utilization of Monte Carlo methods to probe variability in key parameters. This report presents the procedures used to develop 

a generalized model for CO2 and brine leakage fluxes based on the output 

of a numerical wellbore simulation. The resulting generalized parameters and 

ranges reported here will be used for the development of third-generation 

groundwater ROMs.” 

Characterizing Construction of Existing Wells to a CO2 Storage Target: 

The Kimberlina Site, California.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this NRAP document: “Early 

versions of the NRAP integrated risk model treated plugged wells as a continuous cemented interval of homogeneous porous media from the storage 

formation to an underground source of drinking water (USDW) and the atmosphere. This assumption of homogeneity is simplistic, but was necessary for 

the purpose of calculating CO2 and brine movement via these features without 

a better statistical understanding of well characteristics. Future generations of 

the integrated risk model will move toward incorporating more detail, such as 

heterogeneity of the geological formation along the well path, and construction 

heterogeneity of the wells themselves. This study identified approximately 100 

wells penetrating the Vedder Formation storage reservoir within the simulated 

6 bar (0.6 MPa) or greater pressure increase associated with a hypothetical 

Kimberlina industrial-scale CO2 injection and storage operation. This study collected cemented interval information for these wells from scanned well records 

maintained by the State of California, and developed a statistical representation of cement seal and plug extents and depths from those data.” 

Commercial Scale Feasibility of Clean Hydrogen.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this European Zero Emission 

Technology and Innovation Platform document: “It is widely recognized that 

hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize a number of different industries and 

play a key role in the energy transition. Decarbonized hydrogen can be produced through the application of CCS on established natural gas to hydrogen 

production units (‘clean’/‘low GHG emissions’ hydrogen), or electrolysis using 

renewable energy sources. This report addresses the role of clean hydrogen 

and provides recommendations for its promotion. Clean hydrogen currently 

has lower production costs than that of electrolysis-derived hydrogen from 

renewable energy (3-4 €/kg ex-works at 30-40 bar) and could be a key accelerator of the hydrogen economy. This report shows that, depending on location 

specifics, clean hydrogen production is currently achievable at the same cost 

as that projected for the renewables route for around 10 to 25 years. Furthermore, hydrogen production equipped with CCS in industrial clusters - where 

several large users for hydrogen can co-exist - could also trigger the initiation 

of a CO2 transport and storage network. There are multiple country roadmaps 

and studies that discuss the ability of hydrogen to decarbonize different industries...The technologies required to produce clean hydrogen from natural gas 

are available, with multiple projects already capturing CO2 from the hydrogen 

production process. Today the limiting factors are the availability of CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, demand for hydrogen as a clean fuel, and the 

requirement for substantial hydrogen infrastructure and adaptations at points 

of use.”
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

40

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

Enabling Efficient Networks for Low Carbon Futures: Options for 

Governance & Regulation.

The following is from Chapter 1 of this report: “This report summarizes key 

themes emerging from the Energy Technologies Institute’s (ETI) project ‘Enabling efficient networks for low carbon futures’. The project aimed to explore 

the options for reforming the governance and regulatory arrangements to 

enable major changes to, and investment in, the UK’s energy network infrastructures. ETI commissioned four expert perspectives on the challenges and 

options facing the UK. The ETI decided to initiate this new thinking because its 

scenarios for a low carbon UK energy transition highlight major challenges for 

energy network infrastructures and how investment decisions are governed, 

incentivized and regulated. The ETI scenarios were developed from a ‘whole 

system’ perspective, and point to the high value of enabling a broader mix 

of energy vectors (heat, power and gaseous fuels), within a more integrated 

‘system’ of energy transmission, storage and distribution.”

JULY 2017

Empirical Analysis of Seismicity Induced by Brine Injection in the U.S. 

Bureau of Reclamation Paradox Valley PVU#1 Well and Development of 

an Induced Earthquake Simulation Model.

The following is from the Abstract of this NRAP document: “The U.S. Bureau of 

Reclamation (USBR) has been injecting brine in the deep PVU#1 well located in 

the Paradox Valley in Colorado continuously for the last 25 years. Injection-induced seismicity in the shallow crust surrounding the well has been monitored 

by the Paradox Valley seismic network operated by USBR since 1985. The long 

duration, high fluid volumes and flow rates, the depth of injection, and the large 

number of recorded earthquakes make this project an ideal case to investigate 

several aspects of fluid-induced seismicity important to the development by 

NRAP of a toolset to assess hazard and risk from earthquakes that may be induced by subsurface injection of CO2. The toolset currently under development 

includes both short-term seismic hazard forecasting based on empirical analysis of earthquakes recorded during and after injection, and a physics-based 

simulation approach to assess hazard and risk before injection begins. Empirical analyses of time- and space-dependent frequency-magnitude distributions 

of earthquakes that occurred in the vicinity of the PVU#1 well between July 

1996 and March 2012 show that the overall level of activity progressively 

decreased over the four phases of continuous injection during this period; but 

the Gutenberg-Richter b-value, which characterizes the relative numbers of 

large to small events, remained approximately constant. The b-value during 

continuous injection was significantly lower than that during initial injection 

trials carried out between 1991 and 1995, corresponding to a relatively larger 

number of small events during this period. Spatial analysis indicates that seismicity associated with interpreted faults that are favorably aligned for shear 

failure within the prevailing tectonic stress field is characterized by relatively 

low b-values. The results of these analyses inform the development of time-dependent empirical short-term induced seismicity hazard forecasting methods, 

and will be used to calibrate and validate the simulation-based hazard assessment method.”

CCS for industry – Modelling the lowest-cost route 

to decarbonizing Europe.

The following is a summary of this Zero Emissions Platform (ZEP) document: 

“ZEP modelled the lowest-cost route to decarbonizing Europe by looking at 

CCS for industries as refining, steel and cement. After modelling the lowest-cost route for decarbonising European power, ZEP turned its attention to 

industry. With direct industry-related emissions accounting for a quarter of total EU CO2 emissions, it is clear that Europe must look beyond the power sector 

to include core industries such as refining, steel and cement. Not only is CCS 

the only option for substantially reducing CO2 emissions in these industries, but 

the costs of CO2 transport and storage – 10-30% of the total CCS costs – can 

be significantly reduced by clustering power and industrial emitters.”

Global Carbon Capture and Storage Market 2017-2021.

The following is from a summary of this document: “The use of CCS technology 

is one of the novel ideas that help reduce the amount of CO2 released into the 

atmosphere by fossil fuel-dependent industries such as power generation and 

oil and gas processing. The basic functioning of the CCS technology includes 

capturing the CO2 before its release into the atmosphere and then transporting 

and storing it in an environmentally safe location. Technavio’s analysts forecast 

the global [CCS] market to grow at a CAGR of 9.18% during the period 2017-

2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the 

global [CCS] market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report 

analyzes business dimensions with an eye on individual growth trends and 

contribution of upcoming market segments...Technavio’s report, Global Carbon Capture and Storage Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an 

in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers 

the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The 

report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.”

Challenges related to carbon transportation and storage – 

showstoppers for CCS?

The following is from the Introduction of this Global CCS Institute document: 

“As two of the authors have described in previous work, CCS technologies 

can become an important tool in a wider carbon mitigation portfolio in the 

coming decades. That earlier study concentrated mostly on challenges related 

to capturing carbon, with a special focus on the United States (U.S.). However, 

transportation and storage infrastructure is required to remove CO2 captured 

from power plants and industrial installations, and to inject the CO2 into deep 

saline geological formations or depleted oil and gas fields for permanent sequestration. Transportation can be undertaken using pipelines or (if in an offshore environment) ships, and storage facilities are analogous to those used 

for temporary or seasonal natural gas storage. The U.S. has a substantial network of CO2 pipelines and injection facilities that has been developed over four 

decades for use in oil production in a process known as EOR. Unlike the U.S., 

the European Economic Area (EEA) has not developed such an infrastructure 

and consequently Europe needs to start from scratch if CCS is to be deployed 

at scale as a decarbonization tool. Existing European oil and gas transport 

and production infrastructure does, however, offer some potential for re-use in 

some limited circumstances...”

AUGUST 2017

A Reduced-Order Model for Wellbore Permeability Induced by 

Geomechanical Damage.

The following is the Executive Summary of this NRAP document: “This work is 

part of a broader effort to develop risk assessment models of potential leakage 

of CO2 from existing and new wells at a CO2 sequestration site. This report 

focuses on potential geomechanical damage to wells following injection of CO2

into the storage reservoir and the resulting changes in reservoir and caprock 

stress. This report includes a description of the development of a geomechanical model of the wellbore, two different stress-permeability relations, the creation of a reduced-order model (ROM) providing a simple algebraic representation of the results of geomechanical stress on the wellbore, and the results 

of the application of the model to an example reservoir at 1,000 m depth. The 

model is preliminary in nature, and future work will include the development 

of a more complete representation of the stress relationships in the wellbore 

system. The preliminary work shows that relatively high injection pressures 

would be required to damage the wellbore.”
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

41

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 REPORTS and PUBLICATIONS

Compressive and Tensile Strength of Class H Cement Exposed 

to High Pressure and Temperature Storage Conditions.

The following is the Abstract of this NRAP document: “In the United States, the 

implementation of [co]-storage (CO2-O2-SO2 mixtures) from oxy-fueled combustion, coal gasification and sour gas is currently being considered in saline 

geologic formations. DOE NETL, as part of NRAP, was tasked to determine the 

risk related to geologic carbon storage. This report addresses the potential 

impacts on wellbore cement integrity following exposure to storage conditions. 

When plumes of injected CO2 (or co-stored) gas come in contact with existing 

wells, the cement lining in the well is vulnerable to geochemical alteration, 

and impact the well’s effectiveness as a barrier for unwanted fluid migration. 

In this study, cured Class H cement paste, used in well construction, was exposed to co-storage conditions, and the tensile and compressive strength were 

measured to understand the effects of co-stored gas on the geomechanical 

properties of cement. In addition, co-storage settings at higher formation temperatures may result in loss of cement strength under acidic conditions, though 

cement integrity has not been tested under fully in situ conditions. These observed effects have implications for the long-term effectiveness of wells using 

Class H cement paste in co-storage scenarios.” 

UK decarbonisation and carbon capture and storage.

The following is the Summary of this document: “CCS is a way of ‘decarbonising’ fossil fuel power generation, through capturing and storing the CO2

produced. CCS involves three steps; [1] Capturing CO2 from power plants or 

industry, band compressing it to a liquid state [2] Transporting the CO2 (usually 

via pipelines) to deep geological storage points such as depleted oil and gas 

fields or deep saline aquifers; and [3] Storing the CO2 in these sites. [Carbon 

dioxide] can be captured pre- or post-combustion; [1] Post-combustion removes CO2 from flue gases. This can be retro-fitted. [2] Pre-combustion reacts 

the fuel with oxygen, air, or steam, and after a further catalytic process removes 

the CO2 and uses the hydrogen left over as fuel in a combined cycle gas turbine 

generating station. Only new fossil fuel power plants can be equipped with this. 

[3] Oxyfuel technology burns fossil fuels with nearly pure oxygen producing a 

flue gas of CO2 and steam; the water condenses leaving flue gas of almost 

pure CO2. This can be applied to new and existing fossil fuel stations. The ideal 

site for CCS generation is therefore close to a storage reservoir like depleted oil 

and gas fields and saline aquifers. A network of onshore and offshore pipelines 

to transport the captured CO2 is also required. This could perhaps even be on a 

scale equivalent to the North Sea oil and gas industry. CCS is regulated through 

a licensing regime laid out in the Energy Act 2008. The Secretary of State for 

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is the licensing authority for 

offshore storage except within the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland.”

SEPTEMBER 2017

Compressive and Tensile Strength of Class H Cement Exposed 

to High Pressure and Temperature Storage Conditions.

The following is the Abstract of this National Risk Assessment Partnership 

(NRAP) document: “In the United States, the implementation of [co]-storage 

(CO2-O2-SO2 mixtures) from oxy-fueled combustion, coal gasification and sour 

gas is currently being considered in saline geologic formations. [DOE’s] NETL, 

as part of NRAP, was tasked to determine the risk related to geologic carbon 

storage. This report addresses the potential impacts on wellbore cement integrity following exposure to storage conditions. When plumes of injected CO2 (or 

co-stored) gas come in contact with existing wells, the cement lining in the well 

is vulnerable to geochemical alteration, and impact the well’s effectiveness 

as a barrier for unwanted fluid migration. In this study, cured Class H cement 

paste, used in well construction, was exposed to co-storage conditions, and 

the tensile and compressive strength were measured to understand the effects of co-stored gas on the geomechanical properties of cement. In addition, 

co-storage settings at higher formation temperatures may result in loss of 

cement strength under acidic conditions, though cement integrity has not been 

tested under fully in situ conditions. These observed effects have implications 

for the long-term effectiveness of wells using Class H cement paste in co-storage scenarios.”

Chemical – Mechanical – Transport Model for Wellbore Permeability 

for CO2 Storage.

The following is the Introduction of this NRAP document: “Wellbores are considered to be a primary pathway of concern for potential CO2 and brine leakage from storage reservoirs to drinking water aquifers and the atmosphere. 

This study investigated how chemical alteration of wellbore cement affects the 

mechanical and hydraulic properties of wellbore fractures and interfaces to 

better assess the risk for CO2 leakage from storage reservoirs. The observed 

trends are explained in hydraulic aperture in these experiments by proposing 

that chemical alteration weakens the asperities that hold open pathways at 

cement-caprock interfaces, thereby causing the fracture to close in response 

to pressure placed on the sample.”

Public outreach approaches for carbon capture and storage projects. 

The following is a description of this International Energy Agency Clean Coal 

Center (IEA CCC) document: “Following a few early failures of large-scale CCS 

demonstration projects due to public opposition to the technology, a considered public communication strategy is now regarded as an essential factor in 

the success of any prospective CCS project. Most active opposition to CCS 

has occurred in parts of Europe, where public fears over CO2 leaks, water 

contamination, or ‘[industrialization]’ of rural areas have combined with opposition by environmental groups and others to fossil fuels playing any role in a 

future energy mix. However, many other projects have since won acceptance 

or even widespread support, thanks either to improved public engagement or 

more [favorable] local context. Several key features of a successful communications strategy have been identified, including the need for engagement early 

in the process, encouraging and responding to community feedback, building 

and maintaining trust in the project developers, and use of a dedicated communications team with clear messages which are tailored to their intended 

audience. This report provides a comprehensive review of the public outreach 

strategy and results at most notable CCS demonstrations to date, and looks to 

future challenges for CCS communication. With the barrier of local acceptance 

appearing surmountable in most regions, the problem of making the wider 

case for CCS as a viable option for climate change mitigation largely remains. 

This could potentially be addressed through education initiatives and more 

effective use of mass media.” 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

42

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OCTOBER 2016

NRAP Featured in Journal.

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 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. 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 carbon dioxide (CO2) storage.

NOVEMBER 2016

Team Formed to Study CCUS Technologies.

Japanese companies are collaborating with the International CCS Knowledge 

Center to assess the potential application of Japanese technologies in future 

carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects in Saskatchewan, Canada. In addition to identifying potential global applications of the technologies, 

the consortium intends to show how the technologies could improve carbon 

capture system and air-quality control system applications for CCUS projects 

in Saskatchewan.

CCS Study Aims to Boost Industry.

A new study will explore carbon capture and storage (CCS) and the refinement and development of a financing option for the industrial CCS network 

in Teesside, England, known as the Teesside Collective. The study will also 

recommend a regulatory regime to manage the system, known as the Hybrid 

Incentive Model. The work will take account of existing documented work on 

industrial CCS financing, storage, and regulation. 

DECEMBER 2016

CO2 Capture Project Releases CO2 Storage Report.

The CO2 Capture Project (CCP) published a report looking at international best 

practices for transitioning from carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-

EOR) to CO2 storage sites. The report studied the legal frameworks for carbon 

capture and storage (CCS) and CO2-EOR sites within the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. 

RGGI Releases Report.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) released the “Report on the Secondary Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: Third 

Quarter 2016.” The report, prepared by independent market monitor Potomac 

Economics, provides a summary of activity in the secondary market in the third 

quarter of 2016 and discusses the results.

Research Report Explores Global CO2 Market.

This report examines the sales of CO2 in the global market, providing a basic overview of the current state of the CO2 industry. The report, titled “2016 

Market Research Report on Global Carbon Dioxide Market,” also discusses development policies and plans, manufacturing processes, and cost structures.

JANUARY 2017

Final Report on the Task Force on CO2 Utilization.

The U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) Task Force on CO2 Utilization released a report representing their findings and recommendations. The 

Task Force set out to describe a framework for a U.S. Department of Energy 

(DOE) research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) program on carbon 

dioxide (CO2) utilization technologies that have the potential to reduce CO2

emissions. 

MOU Signed for CCS Collaboration.

Pale Blue Dot Energy, an energy sector management consultant company 

based in Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom (UK), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Guangdong Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Centre in China for collaboration on carbon capture and storage 

(CCS) projects. In addition, the MOU provides for the exchange of capability and 

learning between UK and Chinese project design and development. 

EU Adds to Emissions Trading Scheme.

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted to include maritime 

transport in the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by 2023.

FEBRUARY 2017

NETL Signs MOU to Advance Fossil Energy Technologies.

Representatives from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and 

the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) 

with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to collaborate on the advancement of fossil energy technologies and to foster assessments of technology options and economics.

Energy Collaboration Extended.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Italian energy company Eni renewed their collaboration on low-carbon research. The agreement 

also extends research support for three of the MIT Energy Initiative’s (MITEI) 

Low-Carbon Energy Centers in the areas of solar energy; energy storage; and 

carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). 

U.S.-China Energy Center Receives Funds.

The Berkeley-Tsinghua Joint Research Center on Energy and Climate Change

received a donation that will be used to further its scientific research and analysis on clean energy solutions in areas such as low-carbon cities, carbon markets, and clean energy system planning and integration. The U.S.-China Energy 

Center was announced in 2015 as a partnership between Beijing’s Tsinghua 

University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). LBNL is managed by the University of California for DOE’s Office of Science.

MARCH 2017

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 2016.” Prepared by the independent market monitor Potomac Economics, the report addresses the period from October through December 2016 

and contains information on the secondary market for RGGI carbon dioxide 

(CO2) allowances, such as future prices, market activity, and allowance holdings. In addition, RGGI released the “2016 Interim Compliance Summary Report,” which contains data regarding CO2 allowances provided by CO2 budget 

sources to meet their 2016 interim control period compliance.

New Report Backs CCS in Australia.

An independent report on carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Australia, commissioned by government, industry, and research organizations, has been released. Titled “A Roadmap for Carbon Capture and Storage,” the report states, 

among other findings, that CCS could play a vital role in decarbonizing energy-intensive industries in Australia. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

43

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2016 – September 2017 ANNOUNCEMENTS

APRIL 2017

Carbon Storage Webinar.

The Global CCS Institute, with Australian National Low Emissions Coal Research 

and Development (ANLEC R&D), conducted a webinar focused on managing 

carbon storage and natural resources in sedimentary basins. The webinar, the 

eighth of a series being held by Global CCS Institute and ANLEC R&D, presented a framework for the management of basin resources. 

MAY 2017

IEAGHG Information Papers Available.

The International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Research and Development 

Program (IEAGHG) produces Information Papers (IPs) on a variety of topics to 

provide timely reporting within the carbon capture and storage (CCS) arena. 

Most IEAGHG IPs are free to access and will be uploaded as they are published. 

Recent uploads include IPs on the implications of the 2016 global carbon budget and a European Union (EU) project to advance environmental monitoring for 

offshore carbon dioxide (CO2) storage projects. 

10 Years of CCS Research Available.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has released 10 years of CCS research, 

including videos, news, and other resources. According to ETI, the mission is 

to invest in innovation to reduce the cost of capture and reduce the risks of 

storage; build knowledge to understand the infrastructure requirements for 

CCS application in the UK; and build knowledge to create confidence amongst 

investors, policy makers, and industry towards CCS opportunities.

JUNE 2017

RGGI Releases Reports.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) released the “Annual Report on the Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances.” Prepared 

by independent market monitor Potomac Economics, the report evaluates 

2016 activity in the RGGI carbon dioxide (CO2) allowance market. In addition, 

RGGI also released the “Report on the Secondary Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: First Quarter 2017,” which addresses the period from January through 

March 2017 and contains information on the secondary market for RGGI CO2

allowances, such as future prices, market activity, and allowance holdings. 

New Carbon Economy Effort Launched.

The Center for Carbon Removal launched an industrial innovation initiative to 

develop solutions that transform waste atmospheric CO2 into products and 

services. The launch is in partnership with Arizona State University, as well 

as Iowa State University and Purdue University; Lawrence Livermore National 

Laboratory (LLNL) also participated in the launch event.

New CCS Campaign Implemented.

The Global CCS Institute is implementing a new campaign to raise awareness 

of the role carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has in meeting international targets. The campaign involves releasing a suite of “memes” – virally 

transmitted cultural symbols or social ideas – that communicate facts about 

CCS, such as its chemical process, safety, and low cost. 

CCS Webinar Series.

The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), with support from the 

Global CCS Institute, is conducting a series of webinars showcasing academics 

and researchers working in the CCS field. The first webinar, held in April 2017, 

focused on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in the United Arab 

Emirates (UAE).

JULY 2017

ETI Report on CO2 Storage Capacity in the UK.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) published a report, titled “Taking Stock 

of CO2 Storage,” which analyzes aspects of carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

that have changed since their previous report was published in 2013. Specifically, their research found that the United Kingdom (UK) has enough potential 

carbon dioxide (CO2) storage sites to meet its needs out to 2050.

New Carbon Economy Consortium.

The Center for Carbon Removal launched a “New Carbon Economy” consortium in partnership with several research institutions. The initiative will look to 

remove CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into valuable products and 

services. The partners of the consortium agreed to produce a roadmap that 

will outline the steps needed for translating relevant research into business 

and policy actions.

Report on Global Carbon Storage Market.

A recently released report studies the global market for carbon storage in North 

America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India. Specifically, the report focuses on top manufacturers in the global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue, and market share for each manufacturer.

AUGUST 2017

CSLF 2017 Mid-Year Meeting Proceedings Available.

The proceedings from Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum’s (CSLF) 2017 

Mid-Year Meeting, held April 30 through May 4, 2017, in Abu Dhabi, United 

Arab Emirates, are now available online. The documents and presentations 

cover the Projects Interaction and Review Team Meeting, Technical Group 

Meeting, and Policy Group Meeting. 

Collaboration to Test CO2 Reduction in Residential Houses. 

Iida Group Holdings Co Ltd (Iida GHD) and Osaka City University will collaborate 

to test residential houses that store carbon dioxide (CO2) by using artificial 

photosynthesis. The houses supplied for the test will not only reduce CO2 emissions, but also “consume” it by using an artificial photosynthesis technology 

that uses solar energy to convert CO2 into hydrogen.

SEPTEMBER 2017

CCS Research Grant Extended.

Gassnova, a Norwegian state-owned carbon capture technology firm, extended a grant for research at the CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM). TCM 

conducts carbon capture and storage (CCS) emissions testing using carbon 

dioxide (CO2) from a combined heat and power plant and an oil refinery cracker.

RGGI Releases Reports on Secondary Market and Results 

for Auction 37.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) released the “Report on the Secondary Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: Second 

Quarter 2017,” addressing the period from April 2017 through June 2017. 

Prepared by independent market monitor Potomac Economics, the report includes information on the secondary market for RGGI CO2 allowances, including futures prices, market activity, and allowance holdings. In addition, RGGI 

also announced the results of their 37th auction of CO2 allowances, in which 

14,371,585 CO2 allowances were sold at the auction at a clearing price of 

$4.35. More details are available in the Market Monitor Report for Auction 37.

Report Details Growth of CCS Market.

A study by Global Market Insights details how the growing demand for CCS 

technologies, along with government regulations to reduce greenhouse gas 

(GHG) emissions, will drive the CCS market size. The report states that the 

product’s ability to reduce carbon emission by 85 to 90 percent makes its 

adoption preferable over other available alternates.

India Plans to Establish Voluntary Carbon Market.

According to India’s union minister for environment, forest, and climate change, 

India plans to establish a voluntary carbon market. The announcement was 

made at the Business and Climate Summit (BCS) 2017 in Delhi.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2017

ABOUT DOE’S CARBON 

STORAGE PROGRAM

The Carbon Storage Program advances the development and validation of 

technologies that enable safe, cost-effective, permanent geologic storage of 

CO2. The Carbon Storage Program also supports the development of best practices for CCS that will benefit projects implementing CCS at a commercial 

scale, such as those being performed under NETL’s Clean Coal Power Initiative 

and Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage Programs. The technologies being 

developed and the small- and large-scale injection projects conducted through 

this program will be used to benefit the existing and future fleet of fossil fuel 

power-generating facilities by developing tools to increase our understanding 

of the behavior of CO2 in the subsurface and identifying the geologic reservoirs 

appropriate for CO2 storage.

The Carbon Storage Program Overview webpage provides detailed information 

of the program’s structure, as well as links to the webpages that summarize 

the program’s key elements.

CARBON STORAGE PROGRAM RESOURCES

The National Energy Technology Laboratory’s CCS Database includes active, 

proposed, and terminated CCS projects worldwide. The information is taken 

from publically available sources to provide convenient access to information 

regarding efforts by various industries, public groups, and governments towards development and eventual deployment of CCS technology. NETL’s CCS 

Database is available as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and also as a customizable layer in Google Earth.

Newsletters, program fact sheets, best practices manuals, roadmaps, 

educational resources, presentations, and more are available via the 

Carbon Storage Program Publications webpage.

Get answers to your carbon capture and storage questions at NETL’s 

Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

ABOUT NETL’S CARBON 

STORAGE NEWSLETTER

Compiled by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, this newsletter is 

a monthly summary of public and private sector carbon storage news from 

around the world. The article titles are links to the full text for those who would 

like to read more.

NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of DOE’s national laboratory system, is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 

NETL supports DOE’s mission to advance the national, economic, and energy 

security of the United States. 

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