CALGARY, Alberta (June 3, 2026) — Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the leading energy data analytics platform, has published the latest installment in its quarterly report series tracking developments in U.S. carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) initiatives. This new report provides a comprehensive update on the expanding roster of Class VI wells, highlighting permit applications, status changes, approvals, and newly revealed project details.
EIR’s report finds that Class VI permitting momentum improved in early 2026, with two permits approved in 1Q26 and a third permit issued in early 2Q26, matching 2025’s total approvals within the first part of the year. In parallel, five draft permits were issued in 1Q26 across Louisiana, Texas, Kansas and Colorado, and the EPA indicates nearly two dozen additional applications could receive draft permits in 2026, although “timeline extensions remain common”.
At the same time, new application volume tabled slightly. Three new Class VI applications were submitted in 1Q26, below the four-year quarterly average of seven, and four existing applications, totaling nine wells and 10 mtpa of capacity were withdrawn. EIR’s report also notes evolving state primacy dynamics, with Utah advancing to Phase III (proposed rulemaking) and Indiana enacting a law requiring the state to pursue primacy.
“Across the Class VI landscape, 1Q26 shows approvals beginning to build even as new submissions slow. That’s creating a large but uncertain near-term pipeline,” noted Brad Johnston, an analyst within EIR’s energy transition division. “Draft-permit activity suggests capacity can scale materially over the next several years, but schedule extensions, withdrawals and iterative regulator feedback remain key variables for project timing and investment planning,” Johnston said.
Key takeaways:
- Three final Class VI permits had been issued in 2026 as of early 2Q26 (two approvals in 1Q26 plus one issued April 10), matching the total number of approvals in 2025.
- Application activity slowed: three new Class VI applications were submitted in 1Q26 (below the four-year quarterly average of seven), while four applications were withdrawn totaling nine wells and 10 mtpa of capacity.
- At quarter-end, EIR tracked 106 Class VI applications under review (387 total wells), with 54 under the EPA (211 wells), 30 under Louisiana’s permitting authority (96 wells) and 18 under Texas’ permitting authority (69 wells), among others.
- Five CCS projects were actively injecting CO₂ through Class VI wells at the end of 1Q26; current injection capacity was 5.2 mtpa, and EIR forecasts capacity could exceed 100 mtpa by end-2027 and 300 mtpa by 2030 (subject to ongoing timing risk).
FIGURE 1 | Class VI Permit Applications Received by Year
EIR’s analysis pulls from a variety of products including Enverus ONE™.
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About Enverus Intelligence® Research
Enverus Intelligence ® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations and macro-economic forecasts; and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies and capital providers worldwide. Enverus is the most trusted, energy-dedicated SaaS company, with a platform built to create value from generative AI, offering real-time access to analytics, insights and benchmark cost and revenue data sourced from our partnerships to 95% of U.S. energy producers, and more than 40,000 suppliers. Learn more at Enverus.com.
