Williams Echo Springs CarbonSAFE Completes Deep Characterization Well for Carbon Storage

The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER), in partnership with Williams, completed a deep stratigraphic test well to assess the carbon dioxide (CO2) storage feasibility in the Echo Springs area of south-central Wyoming.

The project is part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy, specifically the Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) Initiative, Phase II, which aims to demonstrate the storage potential of subsurface geologic formations that can safely, securely and economically store commercial quantities of CO2.

Utilizing Wyoming-based True Rig 38, the team recently completed the Class II characterization well, reaching a total depth of 19,098 feet. Deep saline storage in Wyoming basins offer the advantage of miles of overlying containment rock. However, at this depth, temperatures can exceed 330 degrees Fahrenheit, posing challenges to data collection. Deep characterization projects, such as Echo Springs, not only aim to understand the subsurface storage systems, but also can help prepare Wyoming industries to meet deep-basin drilling challenges through new innovation and research.

"Drilling to this depth for any reason is a remarkable feat, and we are exceptionally proud of the drilling crew's achievements when drilling the deepest well in this area, into unexplored rock over three and a half miles below the surface," says Charles Nye, SER's co-principal investigator (PI) on the project. "Data recovered from this well will enable safe carbon storage opportunities in the eastern part of the Greater Green River Basin."

The storage complex feasibility study will determine the site's suitability for saline CO2 storage, providing an option for future and current industries in the Echo Springs area. It also will produce the foundational documents needed for subsequent CarbonSAFE phases.

"I applaud our teams in the flawless execution of this incredible project, which provided a valuable opportunity to explore long-term carbon storage potential in collaboration with the University of Wyoming," says Jaclyn Presnal, vice president of new energy ventures at Williams. "The partnership fostered meaningful advancements and surfaced important insights that will inform our broader approach to low-carbon solutions. We're proud of the teamwork and technical progress achieved through this effort."

Following completion of fieldwork, the team will analyze the collected logs, sample data and other documents to build models of the site and predict how CO2 would flow into the targeted formations if it were injected at a later date. Those models will be crucial for determining the injectivity and storage potential of the site.

Looking ahead, the final phase of the project will include core rock characterization, water sample analysis, geological modeling, a comprehensive site suitability assessment and a pre-FEED analysis to evaluate how the project could be developed in an economically viable way.

A key project in Wyoming's energy sector, the Williams-supported initiative highlights significant benefits for the state, spurred by private investment. It demonstrates how industry partnerships can directly boost the local economy by creating jobs and keeping resources within the state.

"We are incredibly grateful to Williams for their collaboration that extends far beyond financial support," says Autumn Eakin, assistant director in SER's Center for Economic Geology Research and co-PI on the project. "They have been a key collaborator in advancing research and development in crucial areas like hydrogen and carbon management. This partnership exemplifies how industry and academia can work together to drive progress and foster innovation."

About Williams

Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams owns and operates more than 30,000 miles of pipelines and handles approximately 30 percent of the natural gas in the United States. The company's operations span 26 states in regions including the Gulf of Mexico, Rockies, Pacific Northwest and Eastern Seaboard, providing its customers with safe and reliable processing facilities, natural gas and liquids pipelines for gathering and transmission, and storage facilities. Williams has dedicated significant resources to new energy ventures and has made major investments in clean energy innovation, including carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies, and hydrogen research.