California launches first operational carbon storage project with initial CO₂ injection
California Resources Corporation (CRC) has achieved the first carbon dioxide injection at its Carbon TerraVault I (CTV I) project in Kern County, marking the launch of California’s first operational carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility and a major milestone for carbon management in the state.
Located at CRC’s Elk Hills Field, the project is designed to capture CO₂ from the company’s cryogenic gas plant and permanently store it more than one mile underground in depleted oil and natural gas reservoirs. The development establishes a commercial pathway for industrial carbon storage in California and positions CRC among a limited number of companies globally to bring large-scale CCS projects into operation.
CTV I consists of two depleted reservoirs, known as 26R and A1-A2. At full capacity, the 26R reservoir alone is expected to store up to 1.46 million metric tonnes of CO₂ annually, equivalent to removing nearly 350,000 cars from the road each year. Total storage potential across the project is estimated at 38 million metric tonnes.
CRC President and CEO Francisco Leon said the first injection demonstrated that California could lead in “practical, scalable and cost-effective” climate solutions while strengthening energy resilience.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the project as a first-of-its-kind initiative that would permanently store carbon pollution underground in California for the first time.
The project forms part of the Carbon TerraVault joint venture between CRC and Brookfield. CTV I – 26R is also the first reservoir in California to receive final Class VI permits from the US Environmental Protection Agency for underground carbon storage operations.
Alongside the project launch, CRC announced a community benefits commitment of more than $1 million to support local communities across Kern County. A Community Advisory Council is expected to be established during 2026 to help identify and address regional priorities.
California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez said carbon capture, utilisation and storage would play an important role in helping California achieve carbon neutrality, adding that the milestone showed the state was advancing multiple climate solutions simultaneously.
CRC has also submitted eight additional Carbon TerraVault storage reservoirs for EPA Class VI permitting. Together, these projects represent around 352 million metric tonnes of potential future CO₂ storage capacity across California.
Craig Frenette, Senior Vice President at Brookfield, said the first injection represented the beginning of a scalable new phase for carbon management in the state, while Chris Gould, Managing Director of Carbon TerraVault, said the project demonstrated the company’s ability to safely develop complex CCS infrastructure capable of lowering the carbon intensity of energy production in California.
