NETL Carbon Storage Atlas Skill

Reading the credentials file (Go):

func resolveEDXKey() (string, error) {
    home, _ := os.UserHomeDir()
    creds := filepath.Join(home, ".config", "netl-edx", "credentials")
    if data, err := os.ReadFile(creds); err == nil {
        for _, line := range strings.Split(string(data), "\n") {
            if strings.HasPrefix(line, "api_key=") {
                return strings.TrimPrefix(line, "api_key="), nil
            }
        }
    }
    if key := os.Getenv("NETL_EDX_API_KEY"); key != "" {
        return key, nil
    }
    return "", fmt.Errorf("no NETL EDX key; using ScienceBase fallback")
}

API Structure

Primary: ScienceBase Catalog (no key required)

Base URL: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/

The Carbon Storage Atlas V is hosted on ScienceBase. Retrieve item metadata and file download links using the catalog API.

# Get the Carbon Storage Atlas V main item with file list
curl -s "https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5b89436fe4b0702d0e808ba7?format=json&fields=title,summary,files,webLinks"

# Search for carbon storage capacity datasets
curl -s "https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/items?q=carbon+storage+capacity&format=json&fields=title,summary,files&max=10"

# Search focused on Appalachian basin
curl -s "https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/items?q=carbon+storage+Appalachian+saline&format=json&fields=title,summary,files,webLinks&max=10"

# Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership data
curl -s "https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/items?q=RCSP+carbon+sequestration+partnership&format=json&fields=title,summary,files&max=10"

Key ScienceBase item IDs:

ScienceBase item JSON structure:

{
  "id": "5b89436fe4b0702d0e808ba7",
  "title": "National Carbon Sequestration Database and Geographic Information System (NATCARB) Atlas Version V",
  "summary": "...",
  "files": [
    { "name": "AtlasV_Chapter2_Saline.pdf", "url": "https://...", "size": 12345678 }
  ],
  "webLinks": [
    { "title": "Data download", "uri": "https://..." }
  ]
}

Secondary: NETL EDX CKAN API (API key required)

Base URL: https://edx.netl.doe.gov/api/3/action/

# Search EDX for carbon storage datasets
curl -s "https://edx.netl.doe.gov/api/3/action/package_search?q=carbon+storage+saline+aquifer&rows=10" \
  -H "EDX-API-Key: $NETL_EDX_API_KEY"

# Search for CCS project data
curl -s "https://edx.netl.doe.gov/api/3/action/package_search?q=CCS+project+CO2+injection&rows=10" \
  -H "EDX-API-Key: $NETL_EDX_API_KEY"

# Get specific dataset details by ID
curl -s "https://edx.netl.doe.gov/api/3/action/package_show?id=DATASET_ID" \
  -H "EDX-API-Key: $NETL_EDX_API_KEY"

# Search resources (files) by name
curl -s "https://edx.netl.doe.gov/api/3/action/resource_search?query=name:carbon+storage+capacity" \
  -H "EDX-API-Key: $NETL_EDX_API_KEY"

NATCARB Atlas Reference Data

The NETL NATCARB Atlas V (2015) provides the canonical U.S. storage capacity estimates. Key figures by reservoir type:

Estimated U.S. CO2 Storage Capacity (Atlas V):

Appalachian Basin specifically:

See references/api_reference.md for capacity unit conversions and regional breakdown tables.

Workflow

Step 1 — Resolve Intent

Map the user query to a data type:

• "Storage capacity" → ScienceBase Atlas V data
• "Active CCS project" → EDX project datasets or NATCARB facility list
• "Class VI injection wells" → EPA UIC (see epa-enviro skill for UIC_WELL table)
• "Appalachian basin" → MRCSP partnership data (search "MRCSP" in ScienceBase)
• "Saline aquifer" → Chapter 2 of Atlas V
• "Depleted reservoir" → Chapter 3 of Atlas V

Step 2 — Fetch Metadata

# Discover available files in the Atlas V item
curl -s "https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5b89436fe4b0702d0e808ba7?format=json&fields=title,summary,files" \
  | jq '.files[] | {name: .name, url: .url, size: .size}'

Identify which chapter PDFs or data files are relevant to the user's question.

Step 3 — Fetch Data

For specific basin data, search by region name:

curl -s "https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/items?q=MRCSP+carbon+storage+Appalachian&format=json&fields=title,summary,webLinks&max=10" \
  | jq '.items[] | {title: .title, summary: .summary}'

For EDX project data (if key available):

curl -s "https://edx.netl.doe.gov/api/3/action/package_search?q=CCS+injection+Appalachian&rows=5" \
  -H "EDX-API-Key: $NETL_EDX_API_KEY" \
  | jq '.result.results[] | {title: .title, notes: .notes, resources: (.resources | length)}'

Step 4 — Parse Response

ScienceBase returns JSON with items array. Each item has title, summary, files[], and webLinks[]. Extract relevant fields:

curl -s "https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/items?q=carbon+storage+saline&format=json&max=5" \
  | jq '.items[] | {
      title: .title,
      summary: (.summary // "no summary"),
      files: [.files[]? | {name: .name, url: .url}]
    }'

EDX CKAN returns result.results array with standard CKAN package metadata.

Step 5 — Produce Output

For capacity queries: Table format + narrative For project queries: Project list table + narrative

Output Format

Storage Capacity Query Output

## U.S. CO2 Geological Storage Capacity — [Region/Basin]

| State / Formation | Type | Capacity Low (GtCO2) | Capacity High (GtCO2) | Confidence | Source |
|-------------------|------|---------------------|-----------------------|------------|--------|
| WV / Oriskany Fm  | Saline | 0.5 | 4.2 | Moderate | NATCARB Atlas V |
| ...               | ...  | ... | ... | ...        | ...    |

**Summary:** [narrative covering current best estimates, confidence range,
key uncertainty factors, and relevance to CCUS deployment]

**Data Note:** Capacity estimates from NETL Atlas V (2015). Values represent
theoretical pore space, not economic or accessible capacity. Injectivity and
regulatory constraints will reduce realizable capacity.

CCS Project Query Output

## Active/Planned CCS Projects — [Region]

| Project Name | Type | State | Operator | Status | Annual CO2 (Mt/yr) | Source |
|--------------|------|-------|----------|--------|--------------------|--------|
| ...          | ...  | ...   | ...      | ...    | ...                | ...    |

**Summary:** [narrative on project status, DOE funding context, and injection targets]

Error Handling

Unit Conversion Reference

Annual U.S. CO2 emissions context: ~5 Gt CO2/year (2023). The 8,000 GtCO2 saline aquifer estimate represents ~1,600 years of current U.S. emissions.

Caveats and Data Limitations

• Atlas V is from 2015. Site-specific feasibility studies may update these estimates significantly. Check EDX for post-2015 characterization data.
• Capacity ≠ injectivity. High estimated pore volume does not guarantee injectability — permeability, pressure, and brine chemistry matter.
• Class VI permitting is handled by EPA (primary) or state programs (Louisiana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana). Use epa-enviro skill for UIC well locations.
• MRCSP (Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership) covers the Appalachian basin. Their final reports are on ScienceBase and EDX.
• Offshore saline aquifer capacity is not included in the Atlas V state totals.