The Wyoming CarbonSAFE Project, which stands for Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise, is one of thirteen original carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) project sites in the U.S. funded by the DOE with the ultimate goal of ensuring carbon storage complexes will be ready for integrated CCUS system deployment. With the advancement of each stage and varying success, fewer sites continued to the subsequent stages. The Wyoming CarbonSAFE project in the Powder River Basin near Gillette, Wyoming is currently in Phase III of the multi-phase project. Learn about each of the varying stages of the project and details of the current undertakings.
US-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC)The Center for Economic Geology Research (CEGR) is a founding partner of the US-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC), a U.S. Department of Energy effort to foster collaborative research and development of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology between the U.S. and China. This partnership accelerated the rapid development of clean coal technology in both countries while forging meaningful relationships between American and Chinese researchers and advancing U.S. and Chinese leadership in energy technology and innovation. The project is schedule to conclude in the summer of 2021.
Wyoming Carbon Underground Storage Project (WY-CUSP)The Center for Economic Geology Research (CEGR) currently leads the Wyoming Carbon Underground Storage Project (WY-CUSP), a pioneering three-year research project designed to characterize two potential carbon storage reservoirs (the Weber Sandstone and Madison Limestone, both deep saline aquifers) on the Rock Springs Uplift in southwestern Wyoming. Preliminary estimates suggest that together, these reservoirs could safely store 26 billion tons of CO2 thousands of feet below the closest drinking water aquifers.
Wyoming is CCUS Ready! StoryMap by the Enhanced Oil Recovery InstituteThe Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI) at the University of Wyoming has published a “Wyoming is CCUS Ready!” StoryMap that highlights the state’s leadership in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in order to meet midcentury net-negative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions goals. The StoryMap highlights Wyoming’s preparedness for CCUS through infrastructure, geology and tax incentives. Wyoming is CCUS Ready! also identifies financial and environmental benefits to Wyoming and the nation by using CCUS technology.
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Phase I: Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative for U.S.
Basins - Powder River Basin (PRB)U.S. coals and associated by-products and waste streams can be used as feedstocks for domestic production of rare earth elements (REE) and CM to enhance our national and economic security. They can also be used as sources of carbon for production of high-value, nonfuel, CBP. The project will address the upstream and midstream critical minerals (CM) supply chain and downstream manufacturing of high-value, nonfuel, carbon-based products (CBP), to accelerate the realization of full potential for carbon ores and critical minerals within the Powder River Basin. The project further seeks to catalyze regional economic growth and job creation by realizing the full potential value of natural resources, such as coal, across basins throughout the U.S.
Phase I: Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative for U.S.
Basins - Greater Green River Basin (GGRB)U.S. coals and associated by-products and waste streams can be used as feedstocks for domestic production of rare earth elements (REE) and CM to enhance our national and economic security. They can also be used as sources of carbon for production of high-value, nonfuel, CBP. The project will address the upstream and midstream critical minerals (CM) supply chain and downstream manufacturing of high-value, nonfuel, carbon-based products (CBP), to accelerate the realization of full potential for carbon ores and critical minerals within the Greater Green River Basin. The project further seeks to catalyze regional economic growth and job creation by realizing the full potential value of natural resources, such as coal, across basins throughout the U.S.
Treatment of Produced Water and Rare Earth Element Resource Cost-offsets, WyomingCEGR and a CEPWM student are studying ways to put produced water in Wyoming to better use. This investigation will attempt to split produced water into critical materials, excess materials, and clean water. These samples came from basins across the United States, and included hydrocarbon-bearing basins that had elevated temperatures.
Assessing REE Concentrations in Geothermal and Oil and Gas Produced Waters: A Potential
Domestic Source of Strategic Mineral CommoditiesCEGR led an investigation of the critical materials and REEs in geothermal water samples. These samples came from basins across the United States, and included hydrocarbon-bearing basins that had elevated temperatures.