The state of Indiana was an early mover in carbon sequestration legislation, resulting in many companies taking an interest in the state to explore carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities. With its well-defined rules around carbon dioxide (CO2) storage projects, the state has seen a dramatic uptick in the number of applications over the last couple of years for Class VI permits submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and test wells permitted by the state to collect vital information for a Class VI permit. Given the interest in carbon sequestration in the state, this project prepared a statewide assessment of the key parameters necessary for a successful underground injection project for the purposes of public education, researcher data collection and sharing, and stakeholder engagement. This project, led by the Indiana Geological and Water Survey (IGWS) housed within Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), collected and analyzed technical data related to saline storage reservoirs, regional caprocks, near-surface groundwater aquifers, and air quality measurements throughout the state. These state-specific data sets will be useful for companies and researchers when preparing assessments via tools such as the DOE’s National Risk Assessment Program (NRAP). Key technical activities of the project included collecting new laboratory data associated with the elemental composition, mineralogy, CO2 storage capacity, and sealing capacity of key reservoir and caprock intervals in the state. Along with data compilation and digitization efforts, these new data were used to develop maps related to storage capacity of saline reservoirs and the sealing capacity of regional caprocks. IGWS staff, along with partners at the Polis Center at IU Indianapolis (IUI), created overlay maps incorporating the reservoir and caprock information, including the mapped locations of parameters that may impact CO2 containment, such as faults and existing wellbores. Colleagues at the Center for Rural Engagement at IUB researched the community impacts of CCS in literature and compiled feedback from communities where CCS projects are proposed.
Douds et al. (Wed,) studied this question.