One Kansas State University geologist becomes a “rock” star as he tests aquifer rocks as containers to permanently trap carbon dioxide.
Associate Professor for the Department of Geology at Kansas State University, Saugata Datta has been testing the capability of injecting carbon dioxide into porous rocks within the Arbuckle Aquifer here in Kansas and seeing if it is truly possiblity to trap the carbon dioxide.
Datta says “this is an important study because it could be beneficial to manufacturing and production industries who currently monitor carbon dioxide production levels due to regulations”.
Beginning January of 2013, the project will be in its third phase with a large scale injection experiment, where 40,000 metric tons of compressed carbon dioxide will be injected about 5,000 feet below the ground.
The injection process will continue until about 2014, followed by a few years of monitoring the rocks and making sure that the carbon dioxide is not being released back in the atmosphere.
The aquifer is one of ten throughout the nation that is currently being studied. The other states participating in this four year study are Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
