CTV Elk Hills 26R

The Elk Hills 26R Storage Project, led by Carbon TerraVault (a subsidiary of California Resources Corporation), is located in the Elk Hills Oil Field of Kern County, California. The project proposes the development of four Class VI injection wells in the Monterey Formation’s 26R reservoir, situated about 6,000 feet below ground surface. It is designed to permanently store up to 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ annually for 26 years, with injection planned to begin in 2025. The captured CO₂ will be sourced from the Elk Hills natural gas power plant, renewable diesel refineries, and other nearby industrial emitters . The storage formation is overlain by the Reef Ridge Shale, a thick, regionally continuous and low-permeability confining layer that has successfully trapped hydrocarbons for millions of years and contained more than 40 years of water and gas injection in the field. Extensive geologic and seismic characterization shows strong vertical and lateral confinement, minimal fault risk, and favorable porosity and permeability for injection. The project also benefits from decades of oilfield data, including over 7,500 wells and 3D seismic surveys, which provide a high degree of confidence in the site’s containment integrity. With its established infrastructure and proven reservoir performance, Elk Hills 26R is positioned as a cornerstone CO₂ storage hub within California’s San Joaquin Basin.