LARAMIE — Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced more than $62 million in funding to boost carbon capture and storage research and development. $49.75 million will go towards site characterization studies of promising geologic formations for carbon dioxide storage, and $12.7 million for geologic sequestration training and research.

The 11 projects announced today will increase the understanding of the potential for these formations to safely and permanently store carbon dioxide.

“Given the importance of coal to our energy future in the United States, China and other countries, it's crucial that we develop ways to capture and store carbon pollution,” said Secretary Chu. “These technologies will not only give us a healthier planet, they will strengthen our economy and lay a foundation for a new generation of clean energy jobs.”

The University of Wyoming will receive $4.975 million from the DOE in addition to its own funding of almost $12 million to move from preliminary characterization to commercial development of two CO2 storage sites: the Rock Springs Uplift and the Moxa Arch. Objectives include designing and acquiring 3D and 3C (three component data acquired using three orthogonally oriented geophones or accelerometers, according to Schlumberger’s Website) seismic data and other geophysical surveys of the Rock Springs Uplift; design and complete a stratigraphic test well in the Uplift to obtain wire line logs, core and cuttings to compliment similar information from the Moxa Arch; and complete detailed risk assessments and finally, to design commercial-scale storage projects for both sites. The project duration is 36 months.