Frequently Asked Questions

At a basic level, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a process that captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and keeps them from going into the atmosphere during a manufacturing process. The CO₂ is then permanently stored safely underground. 

Carbon capture is a safe and effective technology that has been in use for more than 50 years, and there are approximately 30 permanent carbon capture wells in operation. Worldwide, more than 400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide is already permanently stored in what are called pore spaces, or the empty spaces between porous rock layers deep underground. 

Carbon capture and sequestration is a permanent method to keep CO₂ emissions from a manufacturing process from the atmosphere and store it in deep, underground pore space more than a mile below the earth’s surface. It works by capturing and separating CO₂ at an industrial facility before it enters the atmosphere. The CO₂ is then sequestered underground in pore space where it is permanently contained.

These pore spaces are over a mile below the earth’s surface―well below water tables that are in Louisiana. The process of permanently storing the carbon dioxide emissions will not impact drinking and other water supplies.  

CCS is a process that has been in use for more than 50 years, and there are approximately 30 permanent CO₂ sequestration wells currently in operation. This technology is critical to reducing energy emissions and decarbonizing industry.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an extremely common gas that we experience in everyday life. We exhale carbon dioxide when we breathe. Plants use carbon dioxide and water to create energy to grow. It is what makes soda and beer fizzy. It helps baked goods like bread and cakes rise during the baking process. Its solid form is dry ice. 

Many other sources create it as well – including running your car, heating your house with natural gas, and wildfires. CO₂ is also a byproduct of many industrial processes, including the production of hydrogen.

The Louisiana Clean Energy Complex will advance America toward energy independence by creating homegrown energy at a plant constructed right here In Louisiana. The Ascension Parish facility will be able to produce more than 750 million standard cubic feet per day of clean hydrogen, which is enough to power 3 million cars daily.  

The clean energy complex will use a safe and proven technology called carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) to capture 95 percent of the carbon emissions made during the production of hydrogen, and then permanently store it deep underground Lake Maurepas. 

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said that hydrogen has the potential to “help to decarbonize a range of sectors, including long-haul heavy-duty transport, chemicals, iron and steel, where it is proven difficult to reduce emissions.” Our project is critical to enabling this vision. The Clean Energy Complex will capture more than five million tons of CO₂ each year and represents a critical pillar in Louisiana’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions.

The geologic pore space a mile below Lake Maurepas is believed to be the among the best in the world to store carbon dioxide safely and permanently. 

Located more than a mile below Lake Maurepas is an area of porous rock between different layers of cap rock. This layer of porous rock is called a pore space where the carbon dioxide is absorbed. 

The pore space is between two layers of thick caprock. This acts as a seal to make sure the carbon dioxide cannot move in either direction, and importantly, is not released to the atmosphere. 

While this space has been identified as potentially suitable for carbon capture, Air Products is doing additional testing to ensure it’s suitable before any carbon dioxide is permanently stored in the pore space.

Located more than a mile below Lake Maurepas is an area of porous rock between different layers of cap rock. This layer of porous rock is called a pore space where the carbon dioxide is absorbed. Air Products is doing additional testing to ensure it’s suitable before any carbon dioxide is permanently stored in the pore space.

The pore space is between two layers of thick caprock. This acts as a seal to make sure the carbon dioxide cannot move in either direction, and importantly, is not released to the atmosphere. 

The caprock keeps the CO₂ from coming out of the pore space.

After evaluating potential permanent storage locations in the area, Air Products found that Lake Maurepas has far fewer old oil and gas wells and other leak points compared to many areas onshore and offshore Louisiana. Air Products will work with Louisiana regulatory authorities to determine which wells may be potential leak points and fix these wells to prevent any potential future leaks of CO₂.

Of the nearly 30 CCS projects in the last 50 years, there has never been a leak from a CCS well. Air Products has invested in the best available monitoring technology to alert us to a leak and ensure we can take protective action should this extremely unlikely event occur. In addition to the extensive monitoring required of Air Products during sequestration, the company is required to monitor the area for 50 years after injection of CO₂ has ended.

Air Products worked diligently with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries when designing this project to ensure the integrity of the lake and its wildlife.  As evidenced by Air Products’ long-standing operations in Louisiana, we are fully committed to the Lake Maurepas area and will go beyond what is required by state laws and regulations to limit any impacts construction or operations may cause.

Permanently storing the carbon dioxide under Lake Maurepas instead of in the Gulf of Mexico is better for the environment because it requires a shorter pipeline, disturbs less wildlife, and results in no coastal erosion.  Air Products found that Lake Maurepas has far fewer old oil and gas wells and other leak points compared to many areas onshore and offshore Louisiana. Air Products will work with Louisiana regulatory authorities to determine which wells may be potential leak points and fix these wells to prevent any potential future leaks of CO₂. 

Over time, CO₂ has built up in the atmosphere and trapped heat from the sun, creating a greenhouse effect. This is why it is often called a greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide accounts for nearly 80 percent of all greenhouse gases and over time has become a significant contributor to global warming. 

The geologic pore space located a mile under Lake Maurepas is the ideal kind of rock to safely store CO₂. Testing is underway right now to confirm these characteristics before any CO₂ can be stored in the pore space.

It is important to keep additional levels of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There is not a problem with the gas itself, but with the volume that has accumulated. Carbon dioxide is an incredibly common gas. We exhale carbon dioxide when we breathe―and plants use it to grow. This project is intended to try to reduce the amount of CO₂ that is released into the atmosphere using the proven engineering technology of CCS.

Of the nearly 30 CCS projects in the last 50 years, there has never been a leak from a CCS well. Air Products has invested in the best available monitoring technology to alert us to a leak and ensure we can take protective action should this extremely unlikely event occur. In addition to the extensive monitoring required of Air Products during sequestration, the company is required to monitor the area for 50 years after injection of CO₂ has ended.

Air Products is taking extreme care to protect the health and safety of the lake environment, its users, and its wildlife as it develops this project. We have worked diligently with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries when designing this project to ensure the integrity of the lake and its wildlife. Where possible, Air Products will minimize the amount of tree clearing required and will employ a robust environmental mitigation plan to minimize potential impacts during construction. We are fully committed to mitigating and completely restoring any impacts construction or operation may cause. 

Currently, a third-party environmental contractor monitors and reports on Air Products’ seismic survey work on Lake Maurepas. These third-party reports are provided by the independent contractor to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Livingston Parish after each day’s seismic testing work.

In addition, Air Products has engaged Southeastern Louisiana University to monitor Lake Maurepas to ensure our activities protect the lake environment.

While the water table is well above where the carbon dioxide will be stored, Air Products has, and will continue to, monitor the groundwater to ensure that it remains safe. This is and will be required by federal, state, and local agencies, including the EPA and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

The Louisiana Clean Energy Complex is a multibillion-dollar Air Products investment that will create 170 permanent jobs, over 400 indirect jobs, and 2,000 construction jobs over the next three years. Parishes can expect tax revenue from the project, as the complex and any pipelines and wells will be subject to annual property taxes. Materials, equipment, and supplies used to build the wells and pipelines will also be subject to sales and use tax. 

This project ultimately will create 170 permanent jobs, with an average salary of $93,000. During the construction phase, the project will create 2,000 jobs over three years. 

Air Products is committed to hiring Louisiana residents for the operational and administrative jobs needed to construct and operate the project. 

Air Products is equally committed to training workers from other industries with a goal of hiring from the river parishes and lake communities.

In Louisiana, carbon capture could retain more than 105,000 jobs, create up to 4,920 project jobs every year, and generate 2,500 ongoing operations jobs. Overall, estimates show the carbon capture industry could create up to 155,000 direct jobs and 1.76 million temporary jobs in the United States.

The Louisiana Clean Energy Complex alone will create 170 direct jobs and Louisiana Economic Development estimates it will create another 400 indirect jobs. During construction, the project will create 2,000 construction jobs.