Allen Police Jury asks for state to delay permits for carbon capture wells

ALLEN PARISH, La. (KPLC) - The Allen Parish Police Jury is asking the state to delay approval of carbon capture well permits or projects until the legislative session is over.

The idea is so no companies can avoid compliance with new laws by getting grandfathered in. Meanwhile, opposition to CO2 pipelines and projects seems to be growing.

Pipelines carrying hazardous substances are not new to Louisiana, but concerns about transporting carbon dioxide and storing it underground are raising red flags for residents and landowners.

Charles Kingrey and John Cannon of Allen Parish have been researching CO2 plans in their area and beyond.

Kingrey believes storing carbon dioxide in areas with abandoned wells and dry holes is concerning.

“When they pump it in the ground, there’s a chance that it’s going to go twenty miles one way, thirty miles another way east and west, north and south. And it will go up to the salt water zone. And right above the salt water zone is our aquifers, our fresh water zone,” he said.

Kingrey believes carbon capture projects could disrupt oil and gas production, as he said drilling through carbon dioxide would be disastrous.

“This Tuscaloosa made people millionaires, multi-millionaires in one year. That you’re not going to be able to get to. That was the best oil find around until they started fracking,” he said.

Kingrey and Cannon agree with the police jury to ask that no permits should be issued until after the legislative session.

There are Class 6 well applications on file with the State Department of Energy and Natural Resources in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Vernon parishes.

We are waiting to hear back from the state on whether they will put new permits on hold until after the legislative session.

“We’re dealing with a very dangerous product here. If there’s a major leak in the area similar to what happened in Sartesia, Mississippi, this could be a disaster for our community,” said Cannon.

The CO2 pipeline leak in Mississippi led to illness and even vehicles that wouldn’t start because CO2 displaced oxygen in the air. However, no one died.

More information on carbon capture in Louisiana is available HERE.

Here’s an artist’s rendition of a carbon capture site from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources

Exxon Mobile is one of the companies eyeing southwest Louisiana for a carbon capture project. It said safety is priority one and that storage locations are carefully selected to ensure CO2 remains safely and securely underground.

There are guidelines to follow if any abandoned wells are in these areas. Additionally, stored carbon dioxide is closely monitored to detect any movement of the plume.

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