Scoring, Ranking, and Technoeconomics of Carbon Capture and Storage Opportunities in the Central Valley of California

Abstract

Previous studies of geological carbon storage are reviewed, redefined, and evaluated to locate the most prospective candidate storage sites in California's Central Valley (San Joaquin Basin USA). This study clarifies the CO2 capture and storage (CCS) opportunity and also the potential economic benefit. Three stages consist of screening using geological criteria, defining exclusion zones, and qualifying sites. Nine saline formations and 133 hydrocarbon fields were examined resulting in qualified sites. Qualified sites were then prioritized. The estimated CO2 storage resource in the qualified saline formations ranged from 16.6 to 52 GtCO2 whereas the estimated CO2 storage resource in qualified hydrocarbon fields ranged from 0.45 - 1.15 GtCO2. The prospective 41 CO2 storage sites in and around Kern County were linked to selected large CO2 emitters in Southern California including Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties. Importantly, the technoeconomics of prospective storage sites and emitters were analyzed using SimCCS (Scalable infrastructure model for Carbon Capture and Storage) to find optimal deployment conditions. Regional GHG emissions from oil and gas facilities such as EOR steam generators and combined heat and power units can be captured and stored economically in geological formations as a result of California low carbon fuel standard and U.S. Federal 45Q credits. The 45Q credit value and duration are critical factors to incentivize CCS deployment. The deployment scenarios evaluated using SimCCS teach that the Southern San Joaquin basin is an excellent potential regional carbon storage hub.