Turning Farm Waste ‌into a Climate Solution: Iowa state Study Highlights ​Potential of Bio-Oil for Carbon Sequestration

A new study ​from Iowa State University details a promising approach to carbon⁢ removal that leverages agricultural byproducts and addresses a‍ significant environmental challenge:‍ abandoned oil and gas ⁣wells. The⁤ research demonstrates ⁣the economic and environmental viability⁣ of ⁣using bio-oil, derived from sources like corn stover ⁢and wood debris, to permanently seal these wells, effectively sequestering carbon underground.

The United States is burdened​ with a⁤ vast number of undocumented orphaned oil and gas wells – estimates range from 300,000 to 800,000 – posing environmental risks and costing‍ roughly $1 million each ⁤to properly cap.The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $4.7 billion to address approximately 120,000 of these wells, but a considerable gap remains. This new system offers⁢ a potentially cost-effective‌ and beneficial alternative.

the⁢ proposed system centers around ​mobile⁣ fast pyrolysis units, capable of processing around 10 tons of biomass feedstock daily. In the Midwest, ​the primary source would be corn stover – the leaves and stalks‌ of corn plants left⁢ in fields after ⁤harvest.In the West, the feedstock would be wood debris removed during⁣ forest management to mitigate wildfire risks. Researchers also examined switchgrass and oriented strand board ​as viable options. These units convert ⁣the biomass into bio-oil, which is then transported to well sites for⁢ injection.

according to the study,building each pyrolysis unit would cost approximately $1.3 million, and the ⁢resulting bio-oil‍ would need to ⁤be ​sold for at least⁣ $175 per ton to be economically sustainable.⁢ carbon removal costs are estimated at around $100⁢ per ton when using wood-based⁤ materials. These costs​ can further decrease with ​increased production volume – a “learning rate” effect – as manufacturing and operational efficiencies improve.

The research, partially funded by carbon removal startup Charm Industrial, ⁢suggests this method is⁢ competitive with direct ​air capture (DAC) technology, which extracts carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. ‌While DAC has comparable per-ton abatement costs, it is significantly more⁣ expensive to build and lacks the ⁢added benefit of addressing the issue of abandoned wells.

“what we’re trying ⁤to show here is that carbon removal doesn’t need to be either/or. Ther are ‌a lot of opportunities,” explains researcher Mba-Wright.

Charm Industrial has‌ already secured carbon-removal deals ⁢with corporations seeking to offset emissions and is actively ⁢utilizing ⁤vacant wells for bio-oil sequestration.CEO Peter⁣ Reinhardt‌ emphasizes the quality and cost-effectiveness of this ⁢approach, stating that bio-oil sequestration consistently ranks‍ highly ​among carbon-removal ⁣buyers.

The Iowa⁣ State analysis provides self-reliant validation of the⁣ technology’s ‌potential, ‍confirming both the amount of carbon that‍ can be sequestered‌ and the economic feasibility of⁣ the process. The study highlights ‍a potential for new revenue streams in rural areas through​ the collection and processing of biomass,​ offering economic benefits alongside⁤ environmental solutions.