CCS for North Dakota Ethanol Production
Red Trail Energy’s ethanol-manufacturing facility near Richardton, North Dakota, produces approximately 64 million gallons of ethanol annually.
This research project is assessing the technical and economic feasibility of
integrating carbon capture
and storage (CCS) with ethanol production processes to reduce net
CO2
emissions. North Dakota has both significant ethanol production
capacity and geology well suited for safe, permanent CO2 storage.
CCS may also be an economical option for reducing CO2 emissions to
qualify for market credits by meeting the requirements of
low-carbon fuel programs
in other states. No CO2 injection will occur during this research
project.
What Will the Project Achieve?
Commercial technologies to capture and separate CO2 emissions from
the fermentation process already exist. The study provides local ethanol
producers with a detailed assessment of the commercial feasibility of
incorporating capture, transport, and storage of the CO2 emissions
within their production operations. The ultimate goal of this effort is to
implement commercial CCS at an ethanol production facility to make a fuel that
qualifies for low-carbon fuel programs.
What Is the Project Investigating?
The project is looking at a commercial CCS effort associated with
Red Trail Energy’s
ethanol-manufacturing facility near Richardton, North Dakota. This
includes capture technology, permanent geologic storage, economic
impact, and permitting. Two deep rock layers are under consideration
for permanent storage. The Broom Creek Formation, a thick sandstone
rock layer located approximately 6400 feet below the Richardton facility,
and the Inyan Kara Formation, a sandstone layer about 4800 feet deep, are
being considered as the target injection zone for potential geologic storage
of captured CO2. According to previous studies conducted by the
Energy & Environmental Center (EERC), these formations are sealed by shales
thousands of feet thick and are expected to make an suitable storage
container. The research is also investigating qualifications to be eligible
for low-carbon fuel programs while complying with North Dakota regulations
for CO2 injection and permanent storage.
Who Is Doing the Research?
The EERC in Grand Forks, North Dakota, manages the project on behalf of
the partners, which include Red Trail Energy, the North Dakota Industrial
Commission Renewable Energy Program, Trimeric Corporation, Schlumberger
Carbon Services, Computer Modelling Group Ltd., and the U.S. Department
of Energy.
What Are We Learning?
Starting in late 2016, the Red Trail Energy case study began evaluating
the potential for CCS integration with ethanol production at the Richardton
location. EERC research successfully demonstrated preliminary technical
and economic feasibility of CCS technology at the site. The current phase
of research includes more in-depth assessments, such as detailed designs
and plans for capturing, transporting, and storing CO2 specifically
for the Red Trail Energy ethanol facility, investigating the site’s geology,
and gathering the information needed to comply with state regulations for
injection and permanent storage.
What Are the Next Steps?
Results of a geophysical survey carried out in March 2019 show promising
geology under the ethanol plant east of Richardton. The next step is to
drill a hole to the potential storage zones to collect rock samples, fluids,
and other geologic data to enhance the geologic models and improve the
accuracy and precision of the CO2 injection simulations. Drilling
and sample collection are taking place in spring 2020. Analyzing
the data and evaluating the geology/refined models will take most of 2020.
For more information, contact Kerryanne Leroux, Project Manager, EERC, kleroux@undeerc.org (701) 777-5013
or Dustin Willet, Chief Operating Officer, Red Trail Energy, dustin@redtrailenergy.com, (701) 974-3308.
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