Company planning carbon sequestration test well in Hancock County

Scott Murray, a representative of Sonaskor, told the Hancock County Commission that the company will drill a stratigraphic test well near Murray and Washington School Road as part of a tri-state carbon sequestration (CCS) hub.

Sonaskor said the project covers parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and that it is developing storage capacity in partnership with local private landowners. "We're currently actively developing a carbon sequestration project for Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania," Murray said, adding the company is "in 6 counties on all 3 states" and is "starting to drill 3 stratigraph test wells, across the project equipment with the 1 to be located here in Hancock County."

The company described the Hancock County well and the other test wells as purely scientific, intended to collect geological information such as rock porosity and permeability. "These are purely geological science, testing wells. We're purely going down and collecting geological information, whether it be porosity and permeability of the rock," Murray said. He said the other two test wells would be drilled later in Ohio's Jefferson and Harrison counties.

Murray said the hub is intended to serve businesses that want to capture carbon dioxide emissions — examples he cited ranged from power facilities to "steel boundaries or other" businesses — and that Sonaskor has seen customer interest that prompted the tests. He said the company will work with a local geological consultant and with private landowners during the coming months.

No county vote or formal approval was requested during the presentation and the commission did not take action on the project at the meeting. Commission members responded with routine thanks; Murray said the company would continue follow-up with the commission and property owners.