From Uncertainty to Opportunity in Iowa’s Subsurface

Geologic carbon storage in Iowa has long been viewed as challenging, particularly in traditional saline formations, which past assessments considered risky and low potential. However, recent research developments and growing policy attention are driving renewed evaluation of the state’s relatively unexplored subsurface. In Iowa, deep sedimentary basins associated with the Midcontinent Rift System (MRS) contain thick sandstone sequences known as the Red Clastics, whose potential for saline storage has not been fully evaluated. Limited subsurface data create significant uncertainty regarding capacity and injectivity, highlighting the need for further evaluation. Iowa’s basalt formations offer a second potential pathway for carbon storage. Ongoing research aims to determine whether CO2 injected into basalt can mineralize into stable carbonate rock, a process tested elsewhere but not yet demonstrated at commercial scales or in Iowa’s subsurface. These uncertainties have important implications for Iowa’s ethanol industry, as viable in-state storage options could create substantial economic value through 45Q and 45V tax credits. At the same time, Iowa’s subsurface has attracted growing interest in its geologic hydrogen potential. Recent mapping by the U.S. Geological Survey highlights basalt formations of Iowa and the broader MRS as favorable for hydrogen generation through water-rock reactions, or serpentinization, prompting active exploration to evaluate commercial potential. The combined prospects for carbon storage and geologic hydrogen improve the economics of exploratory drilling by creating multiple pathways for subsurface resource development and tax incentives. Continued research and data collection are critical to reducing geologic uncertainty and determining Iowa’s potential for economic energy opportunities. Presented by Battelle Subsurface Scientist Laura Norris