Online Hub Centralizes Data to Empower Carbon Storage Projects

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launched an online tool that centralizes geological, technical, and regulatory data to inform carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) opportunities. The Alaska CCUS Hubsite is designed for resource industry explorers, technical professionals, and the public.

Consolidating Scattered Data

Governor Mike Dunleavy requested CCUS legislation in 2024 as an opportunity for the state to earn revenue by storing carbon dioxide in depleted underground oil and gas basins. Two days after he signed it, Hilcorp announced an agreement with Japanese corporations to study the feasibility of storing their waste beneath Cook Inlet.

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The Alaska CCUS Hubsite offers access to well data, seismic surveys, land information, and spatial data to aid in site selection, project development, and research. The hub consolidates information that was previously scattered across multiple agencies. The database streamlines the process of evaluating subsurface conditions, identifying promising storage reservoirs, and understanding the regulatory landscape for new ventures.

“The Alaska CCUS Hubsite is an exciting new resource for explorers and developers,” says John Crowther, DNR Commissioner-designee. “By making critical technical data and regulatory information available in one place, we’re helping unlock new opportunities and drive responsible development across the state.”

Whether assessing the feasibility of new projects, reviewing historical production data, or planning future exploration campaigns, users can quickly access the information they need to make informed decisions. The platform also supports collaboration between government, academia, and private sector partners.

Local contractors from engineering firm HDR compiled the database. The DNR Division of Oil and Gas partnered with the DNR Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at UAF, and Alaska Resource Education on this tool. The project was made possible by a grant from the US Department of Energy.

“We successfully leveraged federal funding and brought Alaska organizations together to provide the public with information for carbon storage and other resource industries,” says Haley Paine, Division of Oil and Gas Deputy Director. “This will help advance the development of Alaska’s natural resources in both established and emerging industries.”