Port of Corpus Christi, Texas to develop large-scale CCS management hub

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) stating their intention to co-develop a carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage solution in the Coastal Bend in support of national decarbonization targets.

Such a solution would involve infrastructure to transport and permanently store CO₂ captured by various industrial target sources in the greater Port of Corpus Christi area.

Industry leaders recognize the detrimental impacts of excessive CO₂ emissions. Partnering to capture and sequester these emissions has unmatched environmental benefits, according to the port authority.

A recent report from the American Petroleum Institute and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers calls on energy developers to adopt unified actions to help mitigate emissions that meet global carbon reduction goals. Specifically, this report recommends immediate action to reduce carbon emissions by investing into the development of infrastructure to capture and permanently store carbon.

“Our modern society relies on Texas’ rich natural resources for a variety of products that impact countless aspects of our daily lives,” George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner, said. 

“Utilizing new, innovative carbon storage methods is a critical step in demonstrating that energy development and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive.”

The GLO recently issued a request for proposals from entities interested in constructing carbon storage infrastructure on GLO lands in Jefferson County, Texas.

“The Port of Corpus Christi is uniquely suited geographically and commercially to become the nation’s premier hub for carbon management capture and storage,” Jeff Pollack, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer for the Port of Corpus Christi, commented.

Academics from the University of Texas at Austin have mapped the geology of the Texas Gulf Coast and determined this region is ideal for injection and storage of pressurized CO₂. With the latest announcement, the GLO and the Port of Corpus Christi have identified the Texas Coastal Bend region as the next focal point for developing a scalable carbon management solution.

“The energy transition is a strategic focus in hitting both commercial and environmental targets for the Port of Corpus Christi,” Sean Strawbridge, Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Corpus Christi, said.

“We are sending a clear message to the American people, to our industry partners, and to the global energy marketplace that the state of Texas and the Port of Corpus Christi intend to establish a large scale CCS management hub.”

As one of the major U.S. crude oil export ports, the Port of Corpus Christi is the largest port in the United States in total revenue tonnage. Strategically located on the western Gulf of Mexico with a 36-mile, soon to be 54-foot (MLLW) deep channel, the port is a major gateway to international and domestic maritime commerce.