Louisiana state regulators have scheduled two public hearings and are accepting comments this month on proposals to drill test wells for potential carbon dioxide storage sites.

Last month, the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a draft permit authorizing ConocoPhillips to drill a test well in Cameron Parish, in Southwest Louisiana. ConocoPhillips plans to use the well to collect geological information for a proposed carbon sequestration site, Project Gumbo.

The agency will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. local time on July 11, 2024, in the Cameron Parish Police Jury meeting room, 148 Smith Circle, Cameron, Louisiana 70631. Written comments can also be submitted until July 12, 2024. See the public notice for more information.

In June, the DENR also issued a draft permit authorizing Denbury Carbon Solutions to drill a test well in St. Helena Parish, northeast of Baton Rouge. Denbury, which last year was acquired by ExxonMobil, plans to use the well to collect geotechnical information for a proposed carbon sequestration site, the Virgo Sequestration Hub.

The hearing on the Virgo test well will be at 6 p.m. local time on Aug. 8, 2024, in the St. Helena Policy Jury meeting room, 17911 LA-43, Greensburg, Louisiana 70441. See the public notice for more information.