Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is a technology aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated by the burning of fossil fuels during industrial and energy-related processes. CCS involves the capture, transport and long-term storage of carbon dioxide, usually in geological reservoirs deep underground that would otherwise be released to the atmosphere.

CCS is an important part of the State’s efforts to assess methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions within California’s overall strategy to mitigate anthropogenic climate change.

The Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources’ role in developing CCS technologies

Assembly Bill 1925 (Blakeslee, Chapter 471) required the California Energy Commission, in coordination with the Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources and the California Geological Survey to prepare a report recommending how the State could facilitate the adoption of geologic carbon sequestration. The Phase 1 part of the report may be obtained through the following link:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2007publications/CEC-500-2007-100/CEC-500-2007-100-SF.PDF

Also, the Division is a partner in the West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (known as WESTCARB). WESTCARB is exploring opportunities in six Western states and one Canadian province for removing CO2 from the atmosphere by enhancing natural processes and by capturing it at industrial facilities before the gas is emitted and storing it securely underground. Such measures will help slow the atmospheric buildup of this greenhouse gas and its associated climatic effects. The following link provides more information on WESTCARB:

http://www.westcarb.org/

The Division was an active member on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission’s Geological CO2 Sequestration Task Force that examined the technical, policy and regulatory issues related to safe and effective storage of CO2 in the subsurface (depleted oil and natural gas fields, saline formations and coal beds). The IOGCC report, Carbon Capture and Storage: A Regulatory Framework for States, is available through the following link:

http://www.iogcc.state.ok.us/issues_carbon.aspx