BY Tariq Siddiqui (UEPA)
The Gulf Coast of Texas offers an unmatched combination of geological and logistical advantages for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Positioned near some of the state's largest CO2 emitters, this region’s geological formations, such as deep saline aquifers and robust confining layers, create a safe and effective environment for trapping CO2. As climate change continues to drive the need for sustainable carbon management, the Gulf Coast is emerging as a key player in the nation's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
1. Proximity to Emission Sources
The Texas Gulf Coast’s location is ideal for capturing and storing CO2, as it sits near some of the largest CO2 emitters in the state (title slide). This is critical in reducing emissions from hard-to-decarbonize industries like petrochemicals and power generation, which make up a large portion of the region's industrial base. Texas is home to more than 800 stationary carbon emitters, with over 370 MtCO2 generated annually (ref1). The Gulf Coast, specifically, is responsible for an estimated 270 MtCO2, making it the perfect candidate for CCS infrastructure. Top 23 top emitters (> 2.5 MtCO2) ) alone account for ~ 130 MtCO2 each year.
2. Geology of the Aquifers
The region’s geology is another key asset. Texas’s Gulf Coast is home to multiple aquifers, including potable water sources critical to one third of states population or 8 million people. The Gulf coast is also host to potable drinking water aquifers that covers approximately 42,000 square miles in 56 counties (title slide). The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) provisions and the US Environmental Agency (EPA) mandates legally binding requirements for protection of these aquifers.
The Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers and the Burkeville confining system were deposited on steep slopes dipping toward the gulf. Near the coastline in the southern part, the bottom of Chicot/Evangeline aquifers and the Burkeville confining system lies at an elevation of 1200 ft, 2600 ft and 5000 ft respectively. The maximum thicknesses are 1200 ft, 2800 ft and 1600 ft. Jasper is the deepest aquifer in the gulf coast. The Jasper aquifer and Anahuac confining zone in Miocene age formation. The Jasper lies at a maximum elevation of 8000 ft, with a thickness of about 3200 ft (ref2).
3. Saline Aquifers as CO2 Storage
The Gulf Coast region also boasts the Oligocene age Frio formation, which is particularly promising for CO2 injection. It has estimated storage capacity of 290 Billion MT over area of 12,500 square-miles. Frio's deep saline reservoirs, found in close proximity to emission sources, have excellent reservoir characteristics for CO2 sequestration.
The Anahuac confining layer provides a strong seal that effectively traps CO2, but this seal is present only in counties near the Gulf Coast, such as Liberty, Chambers, Jasper, and Jefferson. To ensure the seal’s extent and its effectiveness, regional and site characterization through 2D/3D seismic surveys is essential. Proximity to these counties also makes land in these areas particularly valuable for CCS hub development. For reference ExxonMobil payed $15.5 million for about 100 near-shore blocks (little over $30/acre) for its proposed Texas CCS hub to capture CO2 from industries around Houston Shipping Channel.
To date no commercial CO2 injection has taken place in Gulf Coast. However, experimental injection pilots, such as the DOE’s project in Liberty County, have shown promising results of injecting CO2 in saline Frio formation at 5000 ft depth (see title slide), with CO2 plume movement stabilizing within five years of after injection. (ref3).
4. CCS Development and Growth
The momentum in the Gulf Coast’s CCS development is growing. As of now, the region has received permits for 121 Class VI injection wells—critical infrastructure for CO2 disposal. Texas alone has 45 of these permits across 11 projects, with several large-scale carbon capture hubs already in development (title slide). Projects like the Bluebonnet CCS Hub (8 mtpa), Lone Star CCS Hub (15 mtpa), and Bayou Bend CCS Hub (20 mtpa) located in Chambers, Liberty, Jefferson and Jasper counties are all poised to become central nodes for the state’s CCS efforts, solidifying the Texas Gulf Coast as a key player in the nation’s carbon reduction strategy.
Insights Going Forward
The Gulf Coast of Texas represents a prime opportunity for large-scale carbon sequestration. Its strategic location near emission sources, combined with its unique geological properties, makes it one of the most promising regions for safely storing CO2. As CCS technology continues to mature and large-scale projects move forward, the Gulf Coast will likely play an essential role in achieving the nation’s climate goals.
References
1-The 2021 EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) the data.
2- Geology of The Gulf Coast Aquifer, Texas Chapter-2.
3-Optimal Geological Environments for CO2 Disposal in Brine Formation (Saline Aquifer) in the United States –Pilot Experiment in the Frio Formation-DOE/NETL
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