Storage of carbon dioxide in the Permian may be problematic due to well blowouts and earthquakes

12/14/2024

(Reuters) – Texas has seen growing interest from companies hoping to bury carbon dioxide in their oil fields, putting the state at the forefront of a government-backed program to combat climate change.

But pumping carbon dioxide into the ground could exacerbate earthquakes and well blowouts already occurring in the Permian Basin, where Texas is struggling to manage wastewater disposal, potentially undermining public support.

“Without legitimate oversight of underground injection in Texas, we expect more geyser-like well blowouts, collapses, leaks from plugged and unplugged wells, and injection-triggered earthquakes,” said Virginia Palacios, executive director of the SHIFT Commission, a Texas watchdog group. For more stringent oversight of the oil and gas industry.

Such consequences have rarely occurred as a result of carbon dioxide injection over the decades that the technology has been deployed. However, the unprecedented sheer volume of carbon now proposed for burial has activists and researchers concerned.

Carbon capture is vital to the U.S. government's goals to reduce global warming emissions. The Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a landmark climate change legislation, includes billions of dollars in subsidies for carbon capture and storage projects.

While President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to abolish the IRA, energy experts say CCS subsidies are likely to continue due to bipartisan support.

Trump's transition team did not provide comment.

Several companies, including Occidental Petroleum, plan to take advantage of IRA subsidies. The projects are concentrated in Texas, where CCS proponents say the underground geology is ideal for storing liquid and gaseous waste.

Allow apps to jump

Over the past 12 months, the number of applications submitted to the EPA for carbon injection permits in Texas jumped 63% to 43, according to the agency, making it a national leader.

But Texas has problems associated with underground wastewater disposal. The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulatory body faced the problem of leaks and blowouts from orphan wells, as well as earthquakes caused by high underground pressure caused by water injection.

Reuters spoke with dozens of landowners and researchers in Texas who said the proposed carbon dioxide projects need greater oversight than the state can provide to avoid environmental and safety risks.

The RRC is seeking permission from the EPA to oversee its permitting program for carbon sequestration to expedite approvals. The EPA, which is also reviewing Texas' wastewater handling after the explosions, said the request is being considered.

The Radio Resources Committee said in a statement that it is able to effectively organize carbon dioxide injection wells, adding that it has appointed more staff.

Experts say that Trump's victory increases the chances of Texas gaining this power. North Dakota was the first state to gain oversight authority during Trump's first term, and its governor, Doug Burgum, was Trump's choice for Secretary of the Interior, which includes responsibility for drilling permits on federal lands.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Leah Douglas; Editing by Rod Nickel)

Related news

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos