The MichCarb Project
MichCarb was established in the fall of 2009 as a center for research and education, focused on geological carbon sequestration, a technology for capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide below the ground in geological formations. MichCarb was funded by the United States Department of Energy and was a project of the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education at Western Michigan University’s Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.
MGRRE houses the largest collection of subsurface data and rock samples in Michigan, and MichCarb is using these resources to develop digital research databases for Michigan’s deep geological formations. The centrally located data and rock samples are helping scientists assess the potential for geological carbon sequestration in Michigan and to plan appropriate projects. The results of the projects and research conducted by scientists at MGRRE will be used to develop new technologies which have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep consumer energy prices low while creating new jobs in a high-tech industry.
Progress Reports
MichCarb was a time-limited project that has since ended. Although no further reports are anticipated, we have provided the reports below for historical reference.
- 2009: December
Mission
MichCarb’s mission was to establish a geological carbon sequestration resource center for Michigan within the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education, part of the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Western Michigan University. This resource center was tasked with evaluating the potential for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions from industrial point sources through carbon capture and geological sequestration in Michigan. Along with addressing the dual challenges of global climate change and energy security, MichCarb’s mission also includes helping citizens, government officials and industry members better understand not only the science behind geological carbon sequestration, but also its practicality and safety. In order to stay true to its mission, MichCarb established five main objectives.
MichCarb Objectives
- Create a data archive and resource center at MGRRE.
- Conduct technical research on CO2 sequestration and enhanced oil recovery.
- Conduct geologic and fluid flow modeling to evaluate site specific use of geologic carbon sequestration and enhanced oil recovery.
- Affect technology transfer to members of industry and governmental agencies.
- Create a geological carbon sequestration outreach and education center for Michigan at MGRRE.
The following resources are available to those interested in connecting with state, national and international organizations that are developing data, technology and educational materials about greenhouse gases, the environment, carbon capture and storage and additional energy production.
Partnerships
Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership
The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership was formed to assess the regional technical potential, economic viability and public acceptability of carbon sequestration. The MRCSP region consisted of seven contiguous states: Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The MRCSP included more than 30 organizations from the research community, energy industry, universities, non-government and government organizations.
Related Organizations
Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum
A ministerial-level international climate change initiative, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum is focused on the development of improved cost effective technologies for the separation and capture of carbon dioxide for its transport and long-term safe storage.
Environmental Protection Agency
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the U.S. federal government which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress.
International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Program
The International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme is an international collaborative research programme established in 1991 as an implementing agreement under the International Energy Agency. The IEAGHG evaluates technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions derived from the use of fossil fuels.
Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships
The Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships are a nationwide network of universities, national laboratories, private industries, state agencies and other related interest. Established by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, the RCSPs help develop the technology, infrastructure and regulations to implement large-scale CO2 sequestration as one option for mitigating climate change.
We recommend the following electronic resources to those interested in learning more about climate change and carbon capture and storage.
Climate Change
Articles, reports and publications
- Issues in Science and Technology: “The Case for Carbon Capture and Storage”
- United States Global Change Research Program: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States (report for purchase)
Fact sheets
- NCAR/UCAR University Corporation for Atmospheric Research: Global warming and climate change
- NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory – Global Monitoring Division: Climate change and greenhouse gases
- United States Environmental Protection Agency: “Frequently Asked Questions about Global Warming and Climate Change: Back to Basics”
Glossaries
- Climate Prediction Center: Climate glossary
- Schlumberger: Oilfield glossary
- Wikipedia: Glossary of climate change
Websites
Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon capture and storage is an approach to mitigating global warming based on capturing carbon dioxide from large point sources, such as fossil fuel power plants and industrial plants, and storing it deep underground instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.
Link collections
- Bellona CCS: Websites, reports, brochures, papers
- Carbon Capture Journal: Web links by category
- CCS Community Network: Web links worldwide
- CO2CRC: Participants, collaborations, capture, storage, international agencies, research, monitoring, data and news sources
- GreenFacts: CO2 capture and storage links
- University Corporation for Atmospheric Research: Multimedia gateway and global warming resources
Websites
Tools
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: CO2 thermophysical property calculator
- NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory – Global Monitoring Division: Carbon tracker
Software
Mapping
We recommend the following resources to those interested in learning more about the locations of carbon capture and storage projects in Michigan, the United States and other countries. These resources also provide information about where CO2 is being emitted from stationary sources, climate maps and maps of CO2 emissions per capita in different countries.
Carbon Sequestration
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of USGS: MRCSP interactive map
- U.S. Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory: “2010 Carbon Sequestration Atlas of the United States and Canada“
- U.S. Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory: CO2 stationary source and storage formations
- Wikipedia: Annual CO2 emission per capita
The Michigan Basin
- Michigan State University: Introduction to the geography of Michigan
- Michigan State University: Map of the Michigan Basin and surrounding region
- Michigan State University: Map of the Midwest Basin dome
- United States Geological Survey: The National Map
Stratigraphy
- Michigan.gov: Michigan bedrock and cross-section
- Michigan.gov: Michigan geology maps
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Geological Survey Division and the Michigan Basin Geological Society: Stratigraphic lexicon for Michigan
- United States Geological Survey: Regional stratigraphy and petroleum systems of the Michigan Basin, North America