Occidental Petroleum and its 1PointFive subsidiary said the first phase of the STRATOS direct air capture project in Ector County, Texas, is expected to begin operating in the second quarter of 2026. According to the company, the facility is in the final stage of startup, while commissioning for Phase 2 is also set to begin during the same quarter, with the broader operational ramp-up continuing through the rest of the year. Once fully online, STRATOS is designed to capture as much as 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The update also outlined key progress already made at the site, including wet commissioning, testing of the CO2 compression system at design pressure, burner testing on the calciner, and the addition of potassium hydroxide for atmospheric CO2 capture. The project has also received Class VI permits for geologic sequestration, with plans to use three wells to store about 722,000 metric tons of CO2 annually in deep saline formations. For mineral owners and energy market watchers, the project adds to the broader conversation around how carbon capture initiatives impact oil and gas leasing and the potential CCUS revenue opportunities tied to emerging infrastructure in Texas and the Permian Basin.
Source: Oil & Gas Journal
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