Earth Sciences and Resources Institute -and- |
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| Project Coordinator | Dr. John M. Shafer Director, Earth Sciences and Resources Institute University of South Carolina 1233 Washington St., Suite 300, Columbia, SC 29208 803-978-7527 website |
| Co-Principal Investigator | Dr. James H. Knapp Professor of Geology and Geophysics, Tectonics and Geophysics Lab, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of South Carolina, 701 Sumter Street, Suite 617 Columbia, SC 29208 803-777-6886 website |
| Co-Principal Investigator | Dr. Camelia Knapp Associate Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of South Carolina 701 Sumter Street, Suite 617 Colombia, SC 29208 803-777-6082 website |
| Co-Principal Investigator | Michael G. Waddell Research Associate Professor, Earth Sciences and Resources Institute, University of South Carolina 1233 Washington St., Suite 300, Columbia, SC 29208 803-978-7549 website |
| Chief Scientific Investigator | Dr. Charles W. Clendenin, Jr. State Geologist, SC Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey 5 Geology Road, Columbia, SC 29212 803-896-7702 website |
Carbon dioxide sequestration in geologic formations includes oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams, and deep saline reservoirs. These are structures that have stored crude oil, natural gas, brine and CO2 over millions of years. Many power plants and other large emitters of CO2 are located near geologic formations that are amenable to CO2 storage. Further, in many cases, injection of CO2 into a geologic formation can enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons, providing value-added byproducts that can offset the cost of CO2 capture and sequestration.
The primary goal of the Energy Department's sequestration research is to understand the behavior of CO2 when stored in geologic formations. For example, studies are being done to determine the extent to which the CO2 moves within the geologic formation, and what physical and chemical changes occur to the formation when CO2 is injected. This information is key to ensure that sequestration will not impair the geologic integrity of an underground formation and that CO2 storage is secure and environmentally acceptable.
