THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY—A CRITICAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE USGS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF GEOLOGIC CARBON DIOXIDE STORAGE RESOURCES

The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (Public Law 110–140) authorized the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of geologic carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage resources in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and State geological surveys. The initial phase of the assessment was the development of a probabilistic methodology (Brennan and others, 2010). Subsequent assessment phases employed the methodology to identify, define, and evaluate potential reservoir-seal intervals within geologic basins. Early in the assessment planning it was recognized that project completion within the allotted time was dependent on a comprehensive data base on geologic attributes of individual basins. Also recognized was that cooperation of the State geological surveys for data acquisition, and local expertise would expedite the assessment. Hence, prior to the active assessment phase, the USGS invited all States to participate, and subsequently entered into cooperative agreements with 34 State geological surveys or state universities when a state survey could not participate. Individually, the products supplied by each State varied by basin and their data archives. Collectively, however, the State geological surveys contributed many of the critical geologic elements vital to the timely completion of the project—including, but not limited to: seal and reservoir characteristics, extent, and thickness; porosity and permeability data; formation water salinity; basin structural elements; petroleum production data; and summary reports. Significant also were the GIS products produced, or made available by the States for the USGS assessment. Unquestionably, the State geological surveys made a significant contribution to the completion of the USGS national assessment of geologic CO₂ storage resources.