Publication

The United States has shifted its policy focus from carbon capture and storage technologies to one that emphasizes carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Although there are many uses for carbon dioxide, the primary utilization opportunity in the United States is enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Currently, CO2-EOR offers the only significant price signal for carbon, and it provides the nation’s most viable commercial CCUS pathway. This issue brief discusses the current market landscape for CO2-EOR, highlights early commercial CCUS demonstration projects that are positioned to supply CO2 for EOR, and addresses issues and methods to account for CO2-EOR as carbon storage.