An industrial client partnered with Trihydro to explore the feasibility of a geologic carbon sequestration facility for their dry-mill ethanol plant. Leveraging Trihydro's deep understanding of shallow hydrogeology and experience developing robust environmental conceptual models, the team conducted a thorough site assessment to characterize the shallow subsurface environment and potential risks associated with CO2 injection.
To provide a valuable reference point for future comparisons, Trihydro installed six monitoring stations to establish a baseline for atmospheric, soil gas, and groundwater conditions. These stations have continuously collected data for one year, including real-time monitoring via telemetry systems. By understanding natural variability, these baseline data can help distinguish between actual changes and seasonal fluctuations, reducing the risk of false alarms and unnecessary investigations. The baseline data was incorporated into a shallow subsurface conceptual model, furthering our understanding of the natural variability of the system. In the event of a potential issue, the model developed from the baseline data can be used to assess the significance of any observed changes, potentially avoiding costly interruptions to the CO2 injection project and associated 45Q tax credits.
Trihydro, with a team of partners, organized and completed a Class VI permit application, incorporating the established baseline data, and submitted it to USEPA Region 8 in December 2023. Trihydro continues to conduct baseline monitoring and will provide ongoing support throughout the injection and post-injection phases.