HIGHLIGHTS:
PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT OF GEOLOGIC CARBON SEQUESTRATION FOR TWO TVA FOSSIL PLANTS HAS BEEN COMPLETEDS

A "first cut" assessment of the potential for geologic carbon sequestration within 200 miles of TVA's John Sevier and Kingston coal-fired power plants has been completed by Bo Saulsbury and Ellen Smith of the Human Health Risk & Environmental Analysis Group of ESD. Their report concludes that off-site sequestration is likely to be feasible at several locations within a reasonable transportation distance of both plants. Other observations and findings include:

  • The target area with the best near-term potential appears to be the Pocahontas Basin in southwestern Virginia (located within 100 miles of the John Sevier plant and 200 miles of the Kingston plant).
  • The Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) identified coal bed methane reservoirs in the Pocahontas Basin as having great potential for carbon sequestration due to several factors: high methane gas content in coals, favorable reservoir properties, and existing coal bed methane production infrastructure in place.
  • SECARB estimates the sequestration capacity in Buchanan and Dickenson counties, Virginia, to be 308 to 818 million metric tons (about 65 to 175 years of current CO2 emissions from the John Sevier plant).
  • The largest impediment to off-site geologic sequestration is likely to be the cost of transporting, storing, and monitoring CO2. However, the existence of an extensive network of natural gas pipelines in the Pocahontas Basin and enhanced production of natural gas resulting from CO2 injection could help reduce and offset costs.


Smith, E. D. and J. W. Saulsbury. 2008. Preliminary Feasibility Assessment of Geologic Carbon Sequestration Potential for TVA’s John Sevier and Kingston Power Plants. ORNL/TM-2008/024. March.  Available on-line at http://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/files/Pub10107.pdf

For further information, contact:

Bo Saulsbury, Leader
Environmental Analysis Team 
Human Health Risk & Environmental Analysis Group
Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37831-6335
Phone:  (865) 574-4694
e-mail:  saulsburyjw@ornl.gov
or
Ellen Smith
Human Health Risk & Environmental Analysis Group
Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37831-6038
Phone:  (865) 574-7396
e-mail:  smithed@ornl.gov