Geologic Carbon Storage

Geologic carbon sequestration is the process of converting CO₂ into a liquid and injecting it into underground geologic formations to be stored indefinitely. The best formations for storage are saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs. The process of CCS is generally divided into three parts:

• Capture Carbon dioxide gas is collected from an existing facility’s flue gas emissions or directly removed from the atmosphere (Direct Air Capture/DAC). The captured carbon dioxide is then compressed for transportation and/or storage. 
  Transport: Unless the storage facility is co-located with the source, the carbon dioxide will need to be transported by pipeline to a suitable storage site. 
• Storage: The captured carbon dioxide is injected and stored permanently in deep underground rock formations, preventing it from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. 

Senate Bill 2023-016 directed ECMC to seek Class VI primacy. On May 2, 2025, the state of Colorado submitted its primacy application to the federal government. The Commission adopted rulemaking in December 2024 that made possible the application. 

To date, there are no Class VI injection projects in operation in Colorado, though there are two Class VI UIC well permits that have been submitted to the EPA, and several feasibility projects already underway. According to the federal government, there are nearly 20 active Class VI projects and another 250 in development in America. Three states have obtained primacy to regulate Class VI UIC injection wells from EPA: North Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana.