Grants and Contracts Details
Description
An evaluation of the carbon sequestration potential of the Cambro-Ordovician Strata of the Illinois and Michigan Basins would encompass most of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. This interval underlies much of the Midwestetern United States and, for some areas, may be the only available sequestration target. However, only cursory studies have been done on the reservoir zones (sinks) and no field experiments or detailed studies have been conducted on the seal potential of the carbonate Knox Supergroup and the Maquoketa Shale. A consortium, led by the Illinois State Geological Survey, that also includes the Indiana Geological Survey, Kentucky Geological Survey, Western Michigan University, and Schlumberger will conduct such studies. During the USDOE Phase I research program, the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) and Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) found that the Mt. Simon was not a uniform blanket sandstone across much of the Midwest and that there were areas that are too deep for the Mt. Simon to be a viable target because of limited porosity and permeability. For this reason, we propose to evaluate the Cambro-Ordovician strata above the Mt. Simon for sequestration potential. The target reservoirs for the Cambro-Ordovician are the porous zones within the Knox Supergroup and the St. Peter Sandstone. In addition, the Knox Supergroup and the Maquoketa (Utica) Shale are seals for the Cambro-Ordovician interval and are considered secondary seals for the Mt. Simon. The project has been divided into three different yearly budget periods. The first budget period (1) emphasizes the compilation of base data, the acquisition of whole core from the Decatur Project in Illinois, regional maps and cross sections, and the injection of CO2 into a well in Hancock County, Kentucky. Budget period (2) emphasizes the regional capacity estimates, injectivity of the formation, and, in the latter part of the year, the study of the seals and interactivity of the CO2 with brine, rock reactions, and seal analysis of any faulting. The final budget period (3) will emphasize the integration of the diverse types of data and recommendations for types of data needed to characterize particular reservoirs. The final budget period will include the writing of best practice manual and the creation of GIS layers of high and low potential areas (to be included in the NATCARB database). This project will have a significant impact in delineating a new geologic interval that could be used for sequestration. This should open new areas for sequestration in Southern Illinois, southern Indiana, Michigan, and Western Kentucky. It will also confirm the Knox and Maquoketa as secondary seals for the Mt. Simon.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 12/8/09 → 4/30/14 |
Funding
- University of Illinois: $1,714,597.00
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