Carbon Sequestration Feasibility Study

Trihydro partnered with an industrial client to explore the feasibility of a geologic carbon sequestration facility for their dry-mill ethanol plant.

With this objective in mind, Trihydro’s carbon capture and sequestration team designed and implemented a shallow subsurface monitoring program and assisted the client in submitting a Class VI underground injection well permit.

Leveraging our knowledge in shallow hydrogeology and experience developing robust environmental conceptual models, Trihydro’s team conducted a thorough site assessment to characterize the shallow subsurface environment and potential risks associated with carbon injection.

Implementing a Baseline Monitoring Program

Trihydro installed six monitoring stations to establish background atmospheric, soil gas, and groundwater conditions, providing data for future comparisons. This baseline data helps distinguish between actual changes and seasonal fluctuations, reducing the risk of false positives and unnecessary investigations.

We incorporated the data into a shallow subsurface conceptual model, furthering our understanding of the system’s natural variability. If there’s a potential issue, we can use the model to assess the significance of any observed changes, potentially avoiding costly interruptions to the carbon injection project and associated 45Q tax credits.

The six monitoring stations have continuously collected data, including real-time telemetry, and will remain active during and after injection.

Developing a Class VI Permit Application

Trihydro and a team of partners prepared and submitted a Class VI permit application incorporating the established baseline data. We continue to conduct baseline monitoring and provide ongoing support throughout the injection and post-injection phases.