Would a carbon capture and storage project work in the US?

[MomToTwoBoys]

http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/Initiatives/1438.asp

The Alberta Government has announced a $2 billion kick-start to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through new Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, read more in the news release , the CCS Fact Sheet or the Expression of Interest .Illustration of a plant with carbon capture storage (CCS)

The expected result is five million tonnes in annual reductions by 2015. That is comparable to taking one million vehicles or about a third of all registered vehicles in the province, off of the road.

The investment in CCS initiatives and a $2 billion commitment to The Green Transit Incentives Program (Green TRIP), which will improve and expand local and regional transit systems, is designed to ensure Alberta’s Climate Change Action Plan has the financial action to cut projected GHG emissions in half by 2050.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a process that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and stores them in geological formations deep inside of the earth, read more in the CCS fact sheet.



Graphic courtesy - Alberta Geological Survey (AGS)
Rather than being emitted into the air by a power plant or a refinery, CO2 is separated from other emissions, dehydrated, compressed and transported by pipeline (yellow) where it can be injected into geological formations to help increase production from coals beds or oil and gas reservoirs. Or it can be injected one to two kilometers deep into porous rock formations where it is sealed and monitored by experts to ensure there is no leakage or impact on public safety or the environment.



Alberta Carbon Capture and Storage Development Council

On April 24, the Government of Alberta announced the membership of the new Alberta Carbon Capture and Storage Development Council. The council will develop Alberta’s plan to move ahead with carbon capture and storage projects in our province by the fall of 2008.

The council’s work will help Alberta achieve the goals outlined in its Climate Change Strategy as well as follow up on the report of the federal-provincial ecoENERGY Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force.

Carbon capture and storage technology involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources and transporting them by pipeline to sites where they are injected into deep rock formations for permanent storage. Alberta’s energy industry has been injecting carbon dioxide into depleted oil fields to enhance oil recovery for more than 20 years.

Council members from industry, academia and government were selected for their proven track record implementing of large-scale projects and innovative technologies.

[DonnainME]

that is very interesting.

I don't think the general population in the US would like it BUT I do think some areas would like it.

I wonder if there is a way to use the CO2 for something - instead of just putting it somewhere in a rock formation (if I read that correctly).

[MomToTwoBoys]

The CO2 would be injected into the coal and oil beds to help produce more. It's sort of a way of recycling the CO2 and fostering fossil fuel production. They can also inject it far enough and seal it off to where it will not pose a problem to any life forms.

[santoria]

interesting isn't it? we were reading about that.

(ps I'm in Calgary too)