# Saline Aquifer CO2 Storage and Mineral Rights

**TL;DR:** Deep saline aquifers—underground formations containing non-potable brine—are the primary target for permanent CO2 sequestration in the United States. While these formations hold enormous storage capacity, they typically do not contain oil or gas, and pore space ownership usually vests with the surface owner rather than the mineral owner. Mineral owners in CCS-active areas retain non-interference protections but generally do not receive direct sequestration revenue.

## Key Takeaways

- **Deep saline aquifers contain brine (high-salinity water) unsuitable for drinking or agriculture and sit thousands of feet below productive groundwater zones.**
- **Major U.S. saline storage formations include Mt. Simon Sandstone (Illinois Basin), Knox Group, Frio Formation (Gulf Coast), Broom Creek Formation (North Dakota), and Madison Formation (Wyoming).**
- **Saline aquifers are not hydrocarbon-productive; traditional mineral rights typically do not control or convey pore space in these formations.**
- **In most states with explicit CCS frameworks (Indiana, North Dakota, Wyoming), pore space ownership in saline formations is vested in the surface owner, not the mineral owner.**
- **CCS lease payments and 45Q tax credit revenue typically flow to surface owners; mineral owners do not receive direct royalty income from CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers.**
- **Mineral owners retain non-interference protections—CCS operators must not impede existing or reasonably anticipated future oil and gas operations.**
- **Mineral owner notification and consent or non-objection may be required during EPA Class VI permitting processes.**
- **Buckhead Energy purchases mineral and royalty interests in areas with active or planned CCS projects, offering direct acquisition with 18+ years of experience.**

## Page Highlights

**What Are Deep Saline Aquifers?**  
Subsurface rock formations (typically sandstones or carbonates) containing high-salinity brine, located thousands of feet below the surface and separated from usable groundwater by impermeable confining layers. These formations are the primary U.S. target for permanent geologic CO2 sequestration due to their vast storage capacity and reliable confinement.

**Major U.S. Saline Aquifer Storage Targets**  
Key formations include Mt. Simon Sandstone (Cambrian sandstone underlying the Illinois Basin), Knox Group (Ordovician carbonates beneath the Mt. Simon), Salem Limestone (Mississippian carbonate in Illinois), Frio Formation (Gulf Coast Tertiary sandstone), Broom Creek Formation (North Dakota Permian sandstone), and Madison Formation (Wyoming Mississippian carbonate). Each serves as a primary or secondary storage target for regional CCS projects.

**Mineral Rights vs. Saline Aquifer Storage**  
Saline aquifers are not productive of oil or gas—they contain only brine. The legal question centers on pore space ownership: who controls the void space within the formation? Most U.S. states allocate pore space to the surface owner, especially in jurisdictions with explicit statutory frameworks. CCS lease payments and 45Q-related revenue typically flow to surface owners, not mineral owners, though mineral owner consent or non-objection may still be required during Class VI permitting.

**Selling Mineral Rights in CCS-Active Areas**  
Buckhead Energy purchases mineral and royalty interests in areas with active or planned saline aquifer CO2 sequestration projects. The company provides direct acquisition with free valuations and 18+ years of acquisition experience across 33 states.

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## Related Topics

- [How to Sell Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/how-to-sell-mineral-rights)
- [What Are My Minerals Worth?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/what-are-my-minerals-worth)
- [Should I Sell Mineral Rights?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/should-i-sell)
- [Beginner's Guide to Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/beginners-guide)
- [Getting a Fair Price for Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/getting-a-fair-price)

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**About Buckhead Energy**  
Buckhead Energy is a BBB-accredited mineral rights acquisition company serving mineral owners across 33 states since 2007. The company provides direct purchase offers, free valuations, and transparent transactions for mineral and royalty interests.

**Ready to explore your options?** [Get your free mineral rights valuation at Buckhead Energy](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell).