7.1.14 CO2 Injection and Pore Space Regulations

Authorized the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to regulate carbon dioxide sequestration projects.

Established that the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management has the authority to issue permits for underground injection of carbon dioxide for secondary or tertiary recovery of oil or natural gas.

Directed the Kansas Corporation Commission to develop specific regulations establishing requirements, procedures, and standards for the safe and secure injection of carbon dioxide.

Divides authority to regulate CO2 injection in different types of reservoirs to different state agencies.

Created a presumption that the surface owner of a property is also the owner of the subsurface geologic storage reservoir, and authorizes the state to unitize a subsurface reservoir for geologic storage of CO2 under certain conditions.

Established a process for unitization, or pooling, of geologic sequestration sites. Delegated authority over injection of CO2 for sequestration and EOR to separate agencies.

Established permit requirements for carbon dioxide geologic storage operators and conditions for obtaining the consent of the owners of storage reservoirs.

Directed CO2 storage operators to make good faith attempts to acquire the rights to pore space needed for long-term storage, following which the state may order the pooling of the entire pore space to enable its use for CO2 storage.

Authorized the Mississippi Oil and Gas Board to approve the use of reservoirs for injection and storage of CO2 provided that a majority interest in the reservoir has provided its written consent.