CarbonSAFE Phase II:
Integrated Midcontinent Stacked Carbon Storage Hub

On October 15, 2019, Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) and the Regional Carbon Capture Deployment Initiative hosted its Third Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage in Kansas conference at the Beren Conference Center in the recently opened Earth Energy & Environment Center at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

This year, more than seventy individuals from different industries and organizations participated in the annual event, including representatives from industry (e.g., power generation, ethanol, pipeline, oil and gas, waste management), regulatory and public policy organizations, governmental officials, and scientists involved in two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded Phase II CarbonSAFE projects. Jarad Daniels, DOE Director of Office of Strategic Planning and Global Engagement and Kurt Hildebrandt and other representatives from US Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 participated as well. Kansas government officials included State representative Jason Probst and former representatives David Heinemann and Tom Sloan. Officials from Kansas Department of Health and the Environment were in attendance as well.

Rolfe Mandel, KGS Director, gives introductions and provides an overview of the CO2 research that has been ongoing at the Survey for the past 25 years.

Kurt Hildebrandt, EPA Region 7 Director, provides an overview of Class VI permitting regulations. Hildebrandt and Region 7 worked closely with the Energy Research team on a successful Class VI application under DE-FE0006821.

Tiraz Birdie asks a question to the group during the afternoon session. Birdie worked extensively on the Class VI permit application on the previous CO2 research project.

Chris Steincamp serves as the legal representative for the IMSCSH project. As an attorney and licensed professional geologist, Steincamp offers vast experience to guide legislation necessary to implement CCUS at a commercial scale in the state.

Jason Probst, a State of Kansas House Represenative, has shown his support for CCUS. He has provided his input to guide best practices and is helping with outreach in the state.

Attendees separated into 3 topic areas during the afternoon session. Participants focused on their primary area of interest, including; transportation, policy, and economics. Small group sessions enabled more discourse and direct sharing of ideas.

Five main meeting objectives were accomplished through eleven presentations, topical breakout sessions, and finally by an all-group discussion:

• Discussed regional and national CO₂ capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) initiatives, anticipated activities related to 45Q tax credits, and the Kansas CO₂-EOR Deployment Work Group
• Provided an overview of US DOE Carbon Storage Program and report on DOE-funded Integrated Midcontinent Stacked Carbon Storage Hub and plans for Phase III
• Announced plans for regional CO₂ pipeline infrastructure
• Announced Kansas CCUS Task Force and discussed proposed changes to regulatory and policy framework
• Networked for a collaborative carbon capture and EOR initiative in Kansas and surrounding states

The main conclusion of the meeting: the industry, mainly ethanol plants and oil and gas, are ready for project deployment; however, the regulatory framework on federal (45Q guidance) and state (pore space, permitting, eminent domain, etc.) levels must be established. Other CO2-producing industries (including power generation) are interested in CCUS, but business models require further development. Regional pipelines will be a game-changer for CO₂ sources, oil and gas, and other stakeholders to develop CCUS projects in Kansas and the region.

National and Regional Collaborative Efforts to Develop CCUS Projects / 45Q and Other Updates, by Patrice Lahlum, Great Plains Institute

US Department of Energy Carbon Storage Program Highlights, by Jarad Daniels, US Department of Energy

Oxy's Regional Pipeline Plans, by William Swetra, Occidental Petroleum

CCUS Task Force Updates, by Eugene Holubnyak, Kansas Geological Survey

Policy and Regulatory Changes Needed for CCUS Deployment in KS, by Chris Steincamp, Depew Gillen Rathbun & McInteer, LC

Integrated Midcontinent Stacked Carbon Storage Hub Project Update (a Carbon SAFE Phase II Project), by Andrew Duguid, Battelle

Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership – Major Projects and Class VI Primacy, by Neil Wildgust, Energy and Environmental Research Center

Kansas Utilities - Perspective, Challenges, Local Impact on Job Creation and Local Community Integration, by Dan Wilkus, Evergy

Update on USEPA UIC Class VI wells regulations, by Kurt Hildebrandt, US Environmental Protection Agency - Region 7

Acid Gas Well Injection and Carbon Management, by Russell Bentley, WSP

Class VI and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, by Tiraz Birdie, TBirdie Consulting