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THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2011
WWW.KANSAN.COM
WEIRD SCIENCE
Ancient rock may assist in climate control efforts
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 106
ARBUCKLE AQUIFER A porous rock formation between 250 and 8000 feet below the ground. It underlies 17 counties in southern Kansas.
BY IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
The Arbuckle Group, a watery, underground rock structure, was created in southern Kansas 480 million years ago, when fish were just beginning to evolve. Since then, time has buried it as much as 8,000 feet beneath the earth's surface.
In modern times, the 17-county area over the Arbuckle has been a profitable territory for the oil industry, but now those oil rigs are being used for a different purpose. If all goes as anticipated, instead of pumping out oil, the rigs will pump in carbon dioxide in an effort to curb climate change. Deep inside the earth, the Arbuckle's aquafier system will become a depository for the greenhouse causing gas.
With $10 million in federal grants, members of the University's Kansas Geological Survey have drilled 5,000 feet into the Arbuckle in Sumner County, just south of Wichita, to investigate its potential for storing carbon dioxide.
SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS CO2 PROJECT
Geologic carbon sequestration, the pumping of man-made carbon dioxide deep underground, is a nationwide Department of Energy (DOE) initiative to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases.
The DOE estimates that geologic formations in the U.S. such as saline aquifers and oil and gas reservoirs have the potential to absorb the nation's total output of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel emissions for the next 600 years.
By trapping carbon dioxide underground, policy makers hope to help the U.S. meet its goal of halting the increase in greenhouse gas. They also hope to make a new industry as private businesses find economic incentives to dispose of carbon dioxide.
However, some studies question current estimates of the volume of carbon dioxide those geologic spaces can hold, while others raise questions about groundwater contamination.
"The 800-pound gorilla in the room is putting it in the ground safely," said W. Lynn Watney, senior KGS scientific fellow. "We're trying to prove the concept so that it will be palatable to regulators."
Watney, and Saibal Bhattacharya, the lead KGS engineer, are the principal investigators of the project. Their team is using oil rigs and advanced
Watney
seismic imaging technology to test the Arbuckle aquifer's ability to store carbon dioxide within the saltwater and pores in the rock. The KGS initially received a $5 million grant from the DOE in 2009 and received another $5 million last month.
Watney said the goal of the project, which is to be completed in December of 2012, is to measure the volume and test the safety of the Arbuckle. The current project plan does not involve any injection.
CO2 AS OIL/GAS INDUSTRY TOOL
The petroleum industry has been injecting carbon dioxide into the earth for more than 30 years, but not for the purpose of trapping it. Enhanced oil recovery is the industry term for pumping carbon dioxide into oil or gas reservoirs in order to increase productivity. As practiced today, it has no significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
The KGS has subcontracted with petroleum firms such as Berexco LLC, Beredoc Drilling and Bittersweet Energy Inc. in order to accomplish the drilling, gain access to practical expertise and draw private industry into the business of carbon dioxide.
"If the industry looks at it as an asset, they might help build the pipeline and make it feasible for a power plant," Watney said.
SEE WEIRD SCIENCE ON PAGE 6A
Revue creates bonds, supports charity
BY LISA ANDERSEN landerson@kansan.com
Thursday through Saturday marks the 62nd annual Rock Chalk Revue at the University of Kansas. This year's theme is "No Turning Back".
Each year, five shows are selected from 13 shows auditioned by greek organizations are performed at the Lied Center for the Lawrence community with all proceeds going to the United Way of Douglas County.
For Cam Killen, a senior from Omaha, Neb. and a member of Phi Delta Theta, this means his first stage appearance. He'll be dancing
Chris Pyle, a senior from Leawood, sings during practice for Rock Chalk Revue at the Lied Center Tuesday evening.
with his prosthetic leg.
Killen was diagnosed with bone cancer at nine-years-old and has had a prosthetic leg since. He looks forward to his role as one of the 'lost boys' in the show entitled "Myth of the Campanile".
"I've always helped build the sets and whatnot but this is my first year dancing." Killen said.
Aaron Harris/KANSAN
Killen said participating in Rock Chalk Revue helps him feel connected to the University.
"It's one of those things I've just never let hold me back," Killen said. "I'm an athlete. I like to be an athlete."
SEE GREEK ON PAGE 6A
Classifieds...7B
Crossword...4A
Cryptoquips...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...1B
Sudoku...4A
INDEX
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
HEALTH | 8A
Study: HPV vaccine is safe for men
Women have been getting the vaccine for more than 10 years. A new study says it is also effective for preventing infection and cancer in men.
Listen to the beat
JAYPLAY | Inside
Students show their passion for
music at KJHK, Lawrence's college station devoted to alternative and local content
CAMPUS
Renew KU filed a complaint against its opponent, KUnited, for allegedly breaking campaign rules.
KUnited accused of chalking too early
BY HANNAH DAVIShdavis@kansan.com
The student senate coalition, Renew KU, filed a complaint Wednesday morning with the student senate elections commission. In the complaint, Renew KU alleges that KUnited, an opposing student senate coalition, broke campaign rules by prematurely "chalking" on campus.
The formal complaint continues with an allegation that the Student Senate Chief of Staff and former member of KUnited, Aaron Dollinger "failed to publish the elections calendar and appoint an elections commissioner within the required time frame." As of Wednesday, no elections calender had yet been published.
Dollinger said the calender will be published in the next few days. Dollinger said his former ties with KUnited will not pose a conflict of interest.
"Even though the calendar isn't out yet, the code clearly states that chalking cannot begin earlier than five weeks before the senate elections." Dollinger said, "and KUnited adhered to those restrictions."
Section 401:1 of the student senate election code said this about chalking: "Chalking shall begin no earlier than five weeks prior to the week of the general election."
"I am not aligned with KUited this year. I have no stake in the process," Dollinger said.
Dollinger defines "week" as an academic week. The week of Spring Break is not counted. Michael Wade Smith, student body president and member of KUnited, agrees with Dollinger's interpretation.
"There are hardly any students on campus during Spring Break so campaigning basically comes to a halt," Smith said.
SEE CHALKING ON PAGE 6A