CCUS 1

The CapturePoint CCUS 1 project in Osage Nation, Oklahoma, proposed injecting CO₂ into the Arbuckle Formation, a thick (about 1,100 feet) karstic and fractured dolomite and limestone reservoir at depths of 3,500–4,300 feet. The plan envisioned injecting approximately 14.7 million cubic feet of CO₂ per day, with an estimated storage capacity of 100 million metric tonnes. The Arbuckle exhibits a complex triple-porosity system (interparticle, fracture, and vuggy pores), but its fractured and karstic nature introduced significant uncertainty regarding plume migration, containment, and pressure behavior. The Area of Review was about 11,320 acres, with the CO₂ plume expected to cover 3,500 acres. Regulators raised serious concerns about the project’s reliance on limited regional data instead of site-specific geologic and geomechanical studies. They noted that the Woodford Shale and Lower Mississippian, identified as confining layers, were too thin and potentially fractured, while the Arbuckle’s proximity to basement rock heightened risks of induced seismicity from reactivated faults. The Department of Energy also highlighted the absence of sufficient data to demonstrate safe long-term storage. Due to these issues, the permit application for the project was ultimately withdrawn.