The USGS released the first-ever assessment of the geologic carbon sequestration storage capacity of the United States. The new estimate, 3000 metric gigatons of storage, is based on USGS assessments of the nation’s technically accessible storage resources, and is based on peer-reviewed methodology.

Ultimately, the USGS identified 36 viable basins for carbon storage, and determined that approximately 65 percent of the storage capacity is located in the Coastal Plains region of the southeastern United States. Basins were chosen based on depth, proximity to groundwater, and the presence of a sealing rock layer to prevent the injected carbon from escaping.

USGS

Map of the conterminous United States and Alaska showing 8 regions (separated by bold dashed lines), evaluated areas (bluish gray) that were not assessed, and 36 areas (pattern) that were assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. Resources in federally owned offshore areas were not assessed, and Hawaii was considered unlikely to have significant storage resources. Regions and study areas are plotted over a shaded-relief image showing higher elevations in brown and tan and lower elevations in green.