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Safe, long-term carbon capture and storage requires the involvement of a variety of oil and gas professionals.  Using GRAVES’ integrated team with multiple professional disciplines reduces the carbon sequestration project budget.

Projects for carbon capture, transportation and sequestration have a high degree of complexity.  The role of an oil and gas consulting team in the implementation of a new Carbon Capture, Usage & Storage (CCUS) facility is varied, with different but equally important technical issues being handled.  Some firms only have licensed engineers, whereas the GRAVES highly collaborative consulting approach includes professional landmen, reservoir engineers, and geologists.  Our strategic alliances with KBR, Signa Engineering, and others deliver drilling and facilities specialists, environmental and permitting experts, and project managers necessary to complete the full scope of the CCUS project – including staying involved for matters that arise during the construction, completion, certification and operation phases.

Our in-house CCUS experience includes preliminary planning for a DOE-sponsored carbon sequestration pilot project in the Central Appalachian Basin.  GRAVES’ principals have experience with CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”) projects, and our engineers have considerable experience and capabilities with respect to gas storage in depleted reservoirs and aquifers.  We have analyzed multiple forms of pore space leases and related conveyances, and our strong oil and gas leasing and mapping capabilities are applicable to any CCUS leasing project.

CO2 storage is not significantly different from methane or other gases, and the well design, equipping, facilities and pipelines used in CO2 EOR projects will be nearly identical to that used for permanent storage.  The practice of injecting CO2 for EOR projects demonstrated the potential for long-term geological storage of CO2, and our established expertise developed in EOR projects is directly transferable to carbon sequestration.

The GRAVES team delivers specialist advice and services covering:

  • Geologic characterization of subsurface features and potential storage formations.
  • Site selection based upon geological suitability, long-term well integrity risk, and the economic viability of the repository reservoir.
  • Determining areal extent of the reservoir.
  • Predicting the potential future migration of CO2 to inform the leasing process.
  • Mapping the surface and preparing GIS exhibits.
  • Determining title to surface and mineral rights.
  • Acquiring pore space leases, surface leases, easements, and mineral leases and/or subordinations as needed.
  • Identifying environmental concerns; conducting baseline environmental assessments, and planning for ongoing monitoring.
  • Pipeline planning, designing, permitting, construction & supervision, and the operation of pipelines to transport CO2 from its sources to the storage site(s).
  • Obtaining and complying with permitting requirements, including for (a) Class VI UIC wells, (b) CO2 handling, transport, storage, and monitoring, and (c) compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
  • Designing wellbores, creating drilling procedures, engaging drilling contractors, supervising well drilling and completions.
  • Injection well and compressor facilities design, planning, contractor selection and construction supervision.
  • Developing an operational plan, including financial assurance, decommissioning of surface structures, and adequate well P&A procedures.
  • Annual independent measurement, verification and accounting (MVA) by a registered professional engineer of stored carbon dioxide volumes in order to secure Section 45Q Tax Credits.
  • Contingency planning to address potential CO2 leakage events and well integrity failures.
  • Monitoring CO2 sequestration and regulatory reporting of repository performance.
  • Creation of a repository closure contingency plan, including well abandonment.

As a one-stop-shop, GRAVES has a team that knows each other and works together, so the resolution of issues that arise can be met quickly.  The ease of collaboration between our professional disciplines results in a streamlined permitting application process and reduced costs.  It is a great benefit to not have to manage several consultants with different business cultures and competing priorities for leasing, geological characterization, reservoir and drilling engineering, environmental assessments and permitting for a CCUS facility.