CO2 Disposal Potential in Deep Western US Coal

50094-98-I CO2 Disposal Potential in Deep Western U.S. Coal--Sage Discovery, Inc., 345 Market Street, P.O. Box 882, Meeker, CO 81641-3421; (970) 878-5160 Mr. Bruce E. Barnum, Principal Investigator Ms. Jackie R. Barnum, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82659 Amount: $75,000 Recent commitments for major reductions in U.S. "greenhouse" gas emissions within 20 years will require a technological change in electric power production. Combustion of abundant domestic coal provides low cost power, but it releases over 1 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. New technology is needed to reduce these CO2 emissions while maintaining this secure energy source which is so essential to the domestic economy. Long-term geologic sequestration of CO2 in deep western U.S. coalbeds could eliminate 10 to 40 percent of U.S. thermal electric coal emissions. In this project, the integrity, capacity, and cost of this process for CO2 disposal will be quantitatively evaluated. Phase I will evaluate 4 major western U.S. coal regions, from North Dakota to Utah, for specific CO2 disposal characterization. Quantified CO2 disposal capacity and cost will be determined by definition and analysis of secure, long-term storage cells in deep coal units with low mining potential. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Cost effective high volume CO2 disposal technology will be avidly sought by thermal fossil fuel industries as the emission of CO2 becomes more costly. Quantified CO2 disposal process data is also essential for effective governmental policy decisions. _