CO2 leakage from
CCS projects, either from pipelines or from the ground itself is a real concern
with CCS. CO2 is a fluid that is more buoyant, or “energized” than other
subsurface fluids. Thus, trapping and sealing are very important for evaluating
potential CO2 sequestration reservoirs and for keeping the fluids from leaking
or migrating out of the reservoir. This has happened on a few occasions due to
the injection rate exceeding the fracture gradient of the reservoir rocks, essentially
unintentionally hydraulically fracturing the reservoir. That is very rare,
however, and should be fairly easy to avoid with good evaluation. Using CO2 as
a working fluid for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has given scientists and
industry personnel a good idea of the subsurface behavior of CO2 in those contexts.
The recent acknowledgment
of fluid migration at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) CCS project monitoring well in
their Decatur, Illinois project has caused some concerns, but it is extremely unlikely
to affect nearly a mile above the zone of migration due to many low
permeability confining layers between the zone and the aquifers. The project has
been in operation for a decade. A previous monitoring well leak resulted in
that well being plugged in October 2023. The company reported the new leak as
they are required to do. “Noise” logs indicate that fluid has migrated into
zones the project was not designed to do. However, it is better described as
unintentional fluid migration in terms of the reservoir. It is a well leak and
not a reservoir leak. The zone to which the fluid migrated was not authorized
to collect CO2 according to the Class VI injection well permit conditions. Thus,
the EPA issued a Proposed Order requiring ADM to take action to ensure the
safety of the project. According to the EPA:
“The proposed order will require ADM to take compliance
measures at its well, including implementing provisions of the permit’s
emergency and remedial response plan. These measures include identification and
implementation of remedial actions. The order also requires a comprehensive
evaluation of the fluid migration and that the company take the necessary steps
to address the alleged violations.”
“The fluid migration was caused by holes in one of ADM’s
monitoring wells. According to the company, the lower portion of the well has
been plugged to stop further fluid migration. The movement of fluid into an
unauthorized zone is an alleged violation of the EPA’s underground injection
regulations and ADM’s operating permit. EPA also alleges that ADM failed to
monitor the Class VI injection well in accordance with the permit.”
Thus, there is
indeed a leak in one of the monitoring wells and it is likely that the leak can
be repaired.
Oddly perhaps, according
to the Center Square article referenced below a Republican state senator,
Chapin Rose blamed Democrat policies for the leak:
“This is exactly what I was sounding the alarm about back
in May when Democrats were ramming through their supposedly ‘green’ Carbon
Sequestration bill,” Rose said on Sept. 13. “This is exactly why that bill
should not have passed, why Governor Pritzker should never have signed that
bill. Because it leaves the Mahomet Aquifer exposed to this exact danger. And
this is why my legislation … which would protect the aquifer from CO2 injection
needs to be passed immediately.”
It is not at all feasible that any fluid would migrate that
far up section in the subsurface to reach a drinking water aquifer without a permeable
pathway.
Democrats in the state
are now advocating for a bill to “to prohibit carbon sequestration activity
over, under, or through a sole-source aquifer.” However, Illinois governor,
J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, is rightly skeptical of the need for such a bill,
which environmental groups support.
As I read some
LinkedIn posts and mostly commentary about the monitoring well leak I see that the
monitoring well is an uncommon design unique to the ADM project in that it penetrates
the confining interval and that most operators prefer “indirect monitoring
in wells that TD above the injection targets to avoid any mishaps.” Corrosion is also thought to be an issue with
the failure of the monitoring well, we know that CO2 is very corrosive in the
presence of water and that corrosion monitoring will always be needed in CCS
projects. One commentator noted that corrosion was found in two of the monitoring
wells.
The ADM CCS
project injects into a deep saline reservoir, the Cambrian-aged Mt. Simon
Sandstone, as depicted below.
On October 4, ADM released more information about the issue including the following:
What Happened
• Currently ADM has a CO2 injection well supported by two
deep monitoring wells installed for downhole monitoring and periodic fluid
sampling more than 5,000 feet below ground level. ADM’s CCS operation has
extensive monitoring in place to ensure that it promptly detects and can
address any issues detected.
• In 2023, ADM detected some corrosion in a section of
one of our deep monitoring wells at approximately 5,000 feet. That monitoring
well was plugged in October 2023 and is not being used. Given the extreme depth
of the fluid and the multiple layers of shale and other confining rock up to
the surface, at no time was there an impact to the surface or groundwater sources,
nor any threat to public health.
• In March 2024, ADM discovered an anomaly in a rock
layer known as the Ironton-Galesville at an approximate depth of 5,000 feet.
This rock layer, while still several thousand feet below domestic water wells,
is just above the zone where ADM is permitted to inject, which is 5,553 to
7,043 feet in depth.
• ADM sent fluid samples for independent testing to
assess the anomaly. ADM received the independent testing report in late July
2024, which confirmed CO2 had entered a different rock zone at a depth of
approximately 5,000 feet, just above the zone where ADM is permitted to inject.
What ADM Is Doing
• ADM plugged deep monitoring well #2 in October 2023.
For deep monitoring well #1, we are currently conducting additional diagnostic
tests in close consultation with U.S. EPA and external experts.
• We detected, evaluated and addressed these developments
as we learned about them, reported them to U.S. EPA, and continue to work
closely with the agency to respond to their follow-up questions.
• ADM will use separate, dedicated wells for sampling
above and below the CO2 confining zone in new deep monitoring wells.
We will also work with U.S. EPA to update the
configuration of our two existing deep monitoring wells.
• ADM is a global pioneer in the development of CCS and
will continue to invest and advance this critical technology.
𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗖𝗦 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀:
2. Material Selection: Corrosion resistant materials for tubing and casing that can withstand CO2 and water interactions is crucial to prevent integrity failures.
3. Emergency Preparedness: Having and following a robust emergency response plan is non-negotiable.
4. Regulatory Adherence: Compliance with all regulations and permits is essential to avoid legal repercussions.
5. Transparent Communication: Keeping open lines with regulatory bodies and stakeholders is crucial for effective incident management.
References:
Move
underway to protect Illinois aquifer from carbon sequestration leaks. Greg Bishop.
The Center Square. October 7, 2024. Move
underway to protect Illinois aquifer from carbon sequestration leaks (msn.com)
EPA
Announces Proposed Order Requiring Archer Daniels Midland Co. to Take Actions
to Ensure Safe Operation of its Carbon Sequestration Well in Decatur, Illinois.
September 19, 2024. U.S. EPA. EPA
Announces Proposed Order Requiring Archer Daniels Midland Co. to Take Actions
to Ensure Safe Operation of its Carbon Sequestration Well in Decatur, Illinois
| US EPA
US EPA
Permit Number IL-115-6A-001 Follow up Report regarding Preliminary Data. Archer
Daniels Midland (ADM). September 27, 2024. Scanned
Document (townnews.com)
ADM
Monitoring Well Developments: Factual Overview and Timeline. Archer Daniels
Midland. October 4, 2024. ccs-monitoring-well-developments-overview_100424-2.pdf
(adm.com)
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗗𝗠 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗢𝟮 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁.
Tahir Chisti. Linked In post. September 2024. (25)
Post | Feed | LinkedIn
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