February 24, 2026 – ADM and the Decatur Fire Department held their first Carbon Capture Sequestration tabletop drill, simulating a well-site incident and testing emergency response. The exercise strengthened communication, built relationships and set the stage for future collaboration in safety.
Recently, ADM colleagues joined the Decatur, Illinois, Fire Department at the Sequestration Education Center at Richland Community College for a first-of-its-kind carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) tabletop emergency drill, bringing both teams together in a shared learning environment to build familiarity and understanding of emergency response scenarios. The exercise simulated a well-site incident, giving both teams an opportunity to test response procedures, strengthen communication and build a lasting relationship.
During the drill, participants walked through a simulated scenario involving a flange and gasket failure at ADM’s injection well site, paired with an automatic valve that did not shut as designed. In the exercise, carbon dioxide was assumed to be releasing between the wellhead and master gate valve, prompting the Fire Department to walk through the steps required to manually close the valve while gaining familiarity with the site layout, equipment and processes.
ADM colleagues led the exercise through a unified command structure, with leaders from the CCS, engineering and EHS teams guiding the scenario. Drone support from the air operations team provided clear aerial views of the site. Throughout the exercise, ADM and the Fire Department worked closely together to set priorities, identify incident objectives, and develop strategies and tactics that formed an effective Incident Action Plan to mitigate the threat.
Tara Tolly, director of process optimization, who attended the drill, said the tabletop exercise created a valuable space for shared learning. “It gave ADM and the Fire Department an opportunity to practice our Emergency Action Plans together and learn each other’s processes in a collaborative, low-stress environment, building a strong foundation of understanding and trust if we ever need to respond together in the future.”
The drill also reinforced partnership beyond the exercise. ADM gifted CO₂ monitors to the Fire Department, underscoring the importance of ongoing collaboration and preparedness. ADM has also sponsored five members of the Decatur Fire Department to participate in Texas A&M’s TEEX HazMat Liquid and CO₂ Pipeline and Industrial Fire Emergencies training in College Station, Texas, during the fourth quarter of 2025.
Bill Cottrell, global emergency response manager, who helped organize the drill, said: “As we continue to advance our capabilities in emergency planning and response, you can expect to see more drills conducted throughout the complex. Today’s exercise not only allowed us to test our Emergency Action Plan and response procedures but also helped strengthen our relationship with our external first responders.”
The successful drill marks an important step forward in the partnership between ADM and the Decatur Fire Department. By combining expertise, testing real-world scenarios and fostering open communication, both teams are better aligned on how they would work together to respond safely and effectively if an incident occurs. As relationships continue to grow and future exercises are planned, this tabletop drill sets a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration and a shared commitment to safety.
