ADM pauses Illinois carbon injection as it probes second leak

By Carlos Anchondo | 10/03/2024 06:41 AM EDT

Archer-Daniels-Midland sent EPA a letter about the conditions it is monitoring deep underground.

An Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. plant in Decatur, Ill.

An Archer-Daniels-Midland plant is seen in Decatur, Illinois. PR Newswire

Agribusiness giant Archer-Daniels-Midland has suspended injection of carbon dioxide at the company’s storage site in Illinois after recent testing showed a possible fluid leak underground.

Chicago-based ADM wrote last week to the head of the water permits branch at EPA’s Region 5, detailing the company’s decision to “temporarily” halt CO2 injection at its Class VI well in Decatur, Illinois.

In a letter to the agency, ADM said a recently conducted noise survey at a monitoring well “indicated potential brine [salty water] movement between different formations” at a depth of roughly 5,000 feet.

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“Prior to receiving this preliminary data, there had been no indication of this potential condition,” said Todd Davis, a plant manager for ADM, in a Sept. 27 letter. “Given the extreme depth of this anomaly and the multiple layers of shale and other confining rock up to the surface, there is no risk or impact to the surface or groundwater sources or any threat to public health.”

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