ExxonMobil advances Rose carbon storage project in Texas with Class VI permits

ExxonMobil Corp. received three final Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI permits from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), advancing the operator’s Rose carbon storage project in Jefferson County, Tex.

The Rose project scope includes storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) sited on over 13,000 acres of privately owned land containing three CO₂ storage wells and CO₂ monitoring systems including 3 water monitoring wells and 1 in-zone monitoring well, according to an ExxonMobil project fact sheet. The CO₂ storage will take place 0.5-1.5 miles below the surface and an 18-mile pipeline will connect the captured CO₂ to the storage area.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, these permits allow ExxonMobil to convert three existing test wells permitted by the state to CO₂ storage injection wells for long-term storage, EPA said in a release Oct. 21.

The permits allow ExxonMobil to inject an average of 1.1-1.67 million metric tons/year (tpy) of CO₂ into each well, with a maximum total of 5 million metric tons/year across all three injection wells. Over the 13-year injection period, ExxonMobil would be allowed to inject a maximum of 53 million metric tons of CO₂.

EPA regulations require ExxonMobil to conduct comprehensive site analyses ensuring the wells protect the environment during construction and operation, including preventing drinking water contamination and human-induced seismic activity. EPA also mandates that all operational plans meet site-specific conditions, covering construction materials, mechanical integrity, and emergency response protocols, the agency said.