Community Corner Archive
August 15, 2011
Work progressing on geologic characterization well pad
Union contractor, UCM is making quick progress in the construction of a drilling pad. The pad will be for the characterization well at the site in Morgan County. The drilling pad is made of compacted gravel and is 300 feet by 350 feet. The farm road leading to the site has been upgraded substantially to allow for safe truck travel. To construct the pad, an area was cleared by removing and reserving the top soil for ultimate site restoration. The reserved soil has been formed into a berm to decrease noise levels to the surrounding area during drilling. After drilling and installation of the wellhead and casing, the size of the pad will be reduced by removing some of the gravel and replacing the topsoil. In addition to serving as a geologic characterization well in the short-term, the well may serve as a monitoring well for decades to come.
The Alliance anticipates that site preparations will be completed the week of August 15. Immediately thereafter, a small drill owned by the Illinois State Geological Survey will be onsite for several days to drill a shallow characterization and groundwater monitoring well. Shortly thereafter, the larger drilling rig for the deep geologic characterization well will arrive onsite. The characterization well will extend to the full depth of the Mount Simon formation and about 150 below into the underlying granite. The total depth will be nearly a mile below the earth’s surface. The purpose of the characterization well is to thoroughly evaluate the full column of rock, including the caprock overlying the Mount Simon, to confirm that the area is an excellent match for CO2 storage. The geologic characterization well drilling and installation effort is expected to take about 3 months to complete. No CO2 will be injected into the well now or in the future. It is for characterization and monitoring only.
FutureGen Citizens’ Board meets to discuss ideas for visitor, research and training facilities
On August 9, the FutureGen Citizens’ Board met in Jacksonville. The focus was on identifying functional requirements for the visitor, research and training facilities.
The Alliance presented information on the budget, scope, and operating model of similar facilities in the region, the U.S., and the world to help stir the discussion. Board members provided excellent input on the potential functions of the planned facilities. They were asked to identify three to five functions that they would like considered in the final design of the facilities. For each suggested function, board members are identifying the audience that would benefit from the function, the partners needed to make sure the function can be successfully implemented, and the funding model for helping to cover operational costs.
If anyone in the community has ideas that they want to make sure are considered in the design of the facilities, please contact anyone on the board and share your thoughts so that they may be included or email the Alliance at info@futuregenalliance.org.
