Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)

As one of the first states with Class VI Well Primacy and a strong leadership in enhanced oil recovery techniques, Wyoming has been trailblazing the technologies around carbon capture, utilization and storage for decades.

What is CCUS?

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is the process of ‘capturing’ and separating the carbon dioxide (CO₂) in air or other gases. This CO₂ can be harvested from the emissions output of large industrial facilities that have higher concentrations of CO₂ (for example, 12-14% for coal-fired power plants), including power generation facilities, oil refineries, ethanol plants, chemical, cement, steel and other manufacturing facilities. Carbon dioxide can also be separated out from the atmosphere, where the concentrations are much lower (approximately 0.04%). The separated carbon is then either transported via pipeline to permanent storage sites over a mile underground in storage reservoirs, or repurposed for various processes, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR), as a chemical compound in fertilizer production, in building materials such as concrete, bricks, and cement, or to carbonate soft drinks, preserve food, and more.

Bridging Innovation and Environment

The Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) is researching carbon capture and conversion technologies using coal-based flue gas from a power plant to create a more sustainable future. By capturing CO₂ from flue gas, the ITC works to develop alternative uses for it. As a public-private partnership, the Wyoming ITC has gained significant support. With an investment of $15 million from the state of Wyoming, $5 million from private industry, and an additional $1 million from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, there is a collective commitment to further research in carbon capture, utilization and storage technology

How the Carbon Capture Development Process Works

Coal mining operations in the Wyoming Powder River Basin supply around 40% of America’s coal. Once the coal has been mined, it is transported to a power plant, such as the Dry Fork Station, and then burned in a boiler to heat water and generate steam. This steam is then harnessed to power a steam turbine that produces electricity. Air pollution control systems remove particulates, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and nitrogen oxides from the flue gas. Additionally, 5% of the flue gas from Dry Fork passes through a carbon steel duct in the Wyoming ITC. This gas is then subjected to carbon capture technology testing to remove CO₂ from the delivered flue gas. The CO₂ removed from the gas can be permanently stored through enhanced oil and gas recovery, used to create various valuable products through conversion technologies, or sent to deep geological formations for permanent underground storage.

Storing CO₂

With its abundant CO₂ geologic storage capacity, estimated at 750 million metric tons (MTs), Wyoming is positioned to become a leader in the carbon capture space. The potential for job creation in the state is substantial, with the deployment of carbon capture and storage technology at ten industrial and power facilities generating an annual average of up to 3,340 project jobs over 15 years and 1,964 ongoing operations jobs.

Enhanced Oil Recovery

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is a process for extracting oil that otherwise remains trapped in reservoirs after primary depletion. The process uses heat, chemicals, and gas injection. The most commonly used method involves injecting CO₂ into the reservoir to mix with the remaining oil, causing it to flow better, enhancing the well’s productivity, enabling it to recover up to 30% – 60% of the reservoir’s original oil.

Class VI Well Primacy

Class VI wells are used to inject CO₂ into deep rock formations in a long-term underground storage, or geologic sequestration. Wyoming has abundant geologic storage potential for carbon sequestration and a history of carbon management leadership. In 2020, Wyoming was granted Class VI primacy by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – the second of three states to do so. Primacy grants the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality the right to issue Class VI drilling permits directly, bypassing the need to go to through the EPA.

Additional Reading and Resources

Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute

Petroleum Association of Wyoming

Wyoming ITC

University of Wyoming