U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved Class VI permits to sequester carbon dioxide captured from STRATOS when the world’s largest direct air capture facility begins operating in Ector County later this year. Occidental and subsidiary 1PointFive said Monday the permits “allow Occidental to leverage its expertise managing large quantities of CO2 while advancing technology that strengthens the United States’ energy security and furthers economic growth in Texas.” The permits are the first EPA has issued to sequester CO2 from a DAC project.
Occidental said during the review process it “demonstrated that its technologies, processes, monitoring systems and other procedures meet or exceed federal and state requirements for injection wells that store CO2 in geological formations more than one mile underground.” Vicki Hollub, president and CEO, added, “We are continuing to develop vital infrastructure that will help the United States achieve energy security… The permits are a catalyst to unlock value from carbon dioxide and advance direct air capture technology as a solution to help organizations address their emissions or produce vital resources and fuels.”
STRATOS is designed to capture up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. EPA issued permits for three wells to Oxy Low Carbon Ventures in the underground injection control program of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Oil and Gas Journal said the project 14 miles from Odessa will store about 722,000 tonnes per year of CO2 in saline formations near Penwell at depth of 4,400 feet.