Heidelberg Materials North America has achieved a new milestone for its Carbon Capture and Storage project in Indiana.
Test well drilling began on January 22 with the goal of characterising the subsurface geology at the Heidelberg Materials’ Mitchell cement plant in southern Indiana. The plant is located in the Illinois Basin which is well known for its carbon storage potential.
“This is an exciting step for the project as we learn which potential formations may be suitable to permanently and safely store the CO2,” Heidelberg Materials North America vice president for carbon transport and storage development Greg Roncza said.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) CarbonSAFE project is being led by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS). The study’s objective is to collect data to confirm the suitability of the geology to store carbon dioxide (CO2) as part of the proposed CCS project.
The first drill rig began operating which included installation of the conductor, surface casing and wellhead. This milestone will be followed by drilling and installation of intermediate casing and ultimately drilling to an approximate depth of 7,250’. Various tests will be performed and samples collected including geophysical logging, injection tests and rock core and fluid sampling. Three potential carbon storage formations and their caprocks or seals are being evaluated to safely trap and secure the CO2. Once testing is complete, this well will be plugged and abandoned in accordance with the State of Indiana Drilling and Operating Permit.
The geologic testing will characterize several prospective reservoirs under the Mitchell cement plant property for safe storage of more than 50 million metric tons of CO2 over a 30-year timeframe. ISGS at the University of Illinois (UoI), in coordination with the Indiana State Geological Survey, serves as the recipient for this project, with the company acting as a technical and industrial partner and cost share provider.
“This knowledge will help us design the injection and observation well network and allow us to prepare a complete and accurate U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Class VI permit application,” Ronczka said.
The project began in early 2023 with two-dimensional seismic data collection on over 54 miles of public roadways in June 2023.
