Challenge

The Carbon Containment (CC) Lab was attempting to develop a geologic carbon sequestration project and needed assistance in evaluating the most suitable locations for carbon sequestration in the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG). Regulatorily, carbon can only be sequestered where total dissolved solid (TDS) concentrations exceed 10,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L), other groundwater users will not be impacted by a loss of porosity or reduction in groundwater resources, and injected fluid is unlikely to migrate outside the target zone for sequestration.

Solutions

GLA wholly owned subsidiary Summit Water Resources assisted the CC Lab in exploring the potential for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide in the CRBG using an approach where carbon dioxide (CO₂) is dissolved in water to create a carbonated solution. When injected underground, the carbonated water reacts with rock to precipitate solid carbonate minerals. Summit utilized existing data published by Washington State Geological Survey and Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Department of Ecology, the United States Geological Survey, and the CC Lab to evaluate suitable locations in the CRBG. Our team evaluated a wide variety of resources, including geologic mapping, a variety of subsurface and groundwater databases, well drilling logs, water resource inventory areas, groundwater management subareas, and digital elevation models.

Results

Summit identified three locations where deep CRBG aquifers are likely to have elevated TDS concentrations, be hydraulically isolated from one other, and capable of supplying the target yield.