Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage 2026

DBS&A will be presenting “Environmental Compliance Considerations for Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Projects: Baseline and Beyond” at CCUS 2026, taking place at The Woodlands, Texas, from March 30–April 1, 2026. DBS&A applies our expertise in geology, engineering, and environmental consulting to support geologic carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects throughout the US.

The event is co-sponsored by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), and will focus on carbon management and development from capture to storage. Presentation themes will encompass: CO₂ capture, CO₂ transportation, commercial and regulatory considerations, enhanced oil recovery and other CO₂ utilization, regional characterization, site-focused characterization, subsurface modelling, well design and integrity, testing and monitoring, and operational results.

Presentation: Environmental Compliance Considerations for Class VI UIC CCUS Projects: Baseline and Beyond

Co-authors: Gabriel Iltis, PhD, PE; Lisa Alpert, PhD, PG and Gregory Schnaar, PhD, PG

Objectives and Scope:

Environmental compliance monitoring for Class VI UIC CCUS projects involves sampling and analysis of various types of environmental media including ambient air, soil gas, underground sources for drinking water (groundwater) and formation fluids in the injection zone and above the reservoir confining zone. Seismic and vegetation monitoring can also be required, depending on governing regulatory requirements. The required monitoring frequency can be continuous, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, or even less frequent, depending on the monitoring tools and techniques that are utilized.

The anticipated monitoring life-cycle for Class VI UIC projects includes: 1) baseline monitoring, to establish initial (baseline) conditions of environmental media prior to injection; 2) monitoring during operations and active injection; and 3) monitoring following injection, during the post-injection site care (PISC) period.

Key considerations for monitoring network design, tools and methods, installation, and timeline will be discussed.  In addition, a current focus for Class VI UIC projects  is baseline data collection prior to first injection. As projects complete initial baseline (pre-injection) monitoring and transition to routine detection monitoring, statistical methods for data evaluation should be implemented. A generalized approach to ongoing detection monitoring, using statistical methods, will be presented.

Methods, Procedures, Process:

The design and execution of an environmental monitoring program includes: 1) tool and method selection for each type of environmental media to be monitored; 2) establishment of the monitoring area and potential migration/leakage pathways for sequestered CO₂ so that a monitoring network can be established; 3) installation of equipment for the monitoring network, 4) initiation of the monitoring and sampling program, 5) statistical assessment of collected data to monitor for potential releases.

A variety of tools and techniques are available for meeting the intent of regulatory requirements for Class VI UIC projects. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of tools and methods for monitoring ambient air, soil gas, groundwater and fluid chemistry, vegetation, and seismicity, including methods that we have successfully implemented for baseline and operations monitoring at Class VI UIC projects.

Major considerations for monitoring network design will be discussed, including spatial distribution of monitoring network components, consideration of probable migration conduits for migration, and sensitive regions within the area of review or zones above the confining zone.

Results, Observations, Conclusions:

Equipment procurement and installation time is an important factor to consider when establishing a project timeline for baseline and operations monitoring. Procurement and installation time can range from zero (e.g. satellite imagery using existing orbital satellites) to 3 to 6 months for monitoring equipment procurement, to 6 to 12 months for monitoring well installation scheduling and execution. Weather, supply chain, and drilling contractor availability are the most significant variables that we have encountered in establishing comprehensive monitoring programs for Class VI UIC projects.

Significance/Novelty:

Since December 2022, we have successfully designed, implemented, and operated baseline monitoring programs for Class VI UIC projects in the western United States. Several projects have received authorization to begin injection operations.