ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF GEOLOGIC CARBON STORAGE IN THE BASIN AND RANGE PROVINCE THROUGH THE DOE’S CARBONSAFE INITIATIVE

The CarbonSAFE Phase II: Storage Complex Feasibility Basin and Range Southwest Utah project aims to establish the feasibility of a commercial-scale CO₂ storage complex within the Basin and Range province of southwestern Utah. Sediment geology and structural geology are central to evaluating this region’s potential for storing over 50 million tons of CO₂ from Fervo Energy’s potential Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility and Utah Iron’s planned Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant. The project’s core objectives focus on understanding the subsurface geologic characteristics, including reservoir properties, storage capacity, and sealing integrity, across four distinct sites. This involves a comprehensive geologic assessment that leverages existing well data, seismic lines, and core/cuttings samples to delineate viable formations, such as the Navajo Sandstone and Kaibab Limestone, considered primary candidates for CO₂ injection and long-term sequestration.

Key activities include reprocessing legacy 2D seismic data with modern techniques and conducting new 3D seismic surveys to map subsurface stratigraphy and structures in high detail. These efforts will refine the stratigraphy, lithology, and structural features that influence storage capacity and CO₂ retention at each site. Advanced computational tools will model potential CO₂ injection scenarios, focusing on optimizing both storage efficiency and geologic security to minimize leakage risks. These models will then be used to delineate an area of review (AoR) at each site and provide critical data for a potential EPA Class VI injection permit.

The project will employ SimCCS and the DOE’s National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) tools to perform a comprehensive economic and risk assessment, providing critical insights into economic, technical, and environmental risks associated with the project. By evaluating sedimentary formations and structural controls in this region, the project will assess the viability of geologic carbon storage in the region, supporting economic growth and environmental justice for local communities through sustained CO₂ management strategies.