Abstract
Planning for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) infrastructure needs to address the impact of store uncertainties and store flow variability on infrastructure costs and availability. Key geological storage properties (pressure, temperature, depth and permeability) can affect injectivity and lead to variations in CO2 flow, which feed back into the pipeline transportation system. In previous storage models, the interface between the reservoir performance and the transportation infrastructure is unclear and the models are unable to provide details for flow and pressure management within a transportation network in response to changes in the operation of storage sites. Variation in storage demand due to daily and seasonal variations of fossil fuels uses and by extension CO2 flow is also likely to influence transportation infrastructure availability and the capacity to deliver. This work evaluates, at the level of infrastructure planning, the impact of geological uncertainty on CCS pipeline transportation and injection infrastructure. The analysis presented shows how to consider uncertainty in store properties in combination with CO2 flow variability to estimate the likely impact on pipeline infrastructure design. The operational envelope of the storage site infrastructure is estimated by combining the Darcy flow analysis of simple reservoir models with rigorous process simulation of the storage site wells. The proximity of wellhead conditions to the CO2 equilibrium line and the maximum velocities inside the well constrain the operational envelope of the storage site and limit the ability of the storage site infrastructure to handle CO2 flow variation. These factors, which are significantly influenced by variations in subsurface conditions, have also an impact on the design of the offshore pipeline infrastructure, needing to accommodate changes in pressure delivery requirements. Based on the evaluation of examples developed for different offshore transportation scenarios relevant to the United Kingdom, detailed insight on the expected impacts of store properties on pipeline transportation infrastructure design and operation is provided. For instance, it is found that enabling storage site flexibility is simpler in stores with an initial pressure above 20MPa. Given reductions in reservoir permeability, the requirements for pressure delivery are strongly dependent on the store temperature. Although the analysis is performed for specific geological characteristics in the North Sea the evaluation methodology is transferable to other locations and can be used for site screening to identify sites which are more flexible in terms of uncertainty in store performance.
Highlights
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been given considerable attention in the last few decades as a useful technology to miti-E
The analysis is performed for specific geological characteristics in the North Sea the evaluation methodology is transferable to other locations and can be used for site screening to identify sites which are more flexible in terms of uncertainty in store performance
The scenarios analysed in this work consider two storage regions that represent two major alternatives previously proposed for the large scale development of CCS infrastructure in the UK sector of the North Sea: Northern development and Southern development (Element Energy et al, 2014, 2005; SCCS, 2009)
Summary
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been given considerable attention in the last few decades as a useful technology to miti-. Middleton et al (2012) use a multi-scale modelling approach that provides the overall behaviour of a CCS system including the impacts of uncertainty They fail to make the link between the changes in the operation of storage sites and pipeline design to account for unforeseen factors within the subsurface that reduce injectivity and lead to variations in CO2 flow and conditions that feed back to a pipeline transportation network. The economic models developed for CO2 pipeline transportation (Knoope et al, 2014, 2013, 2015) can be used to economically evaluate alternative solutions (e.g. investing in larger diameter pipelines, increasing the operating pressure or placing compression or pumping stations along the pipeline) These models do not consider the changes in storage site performance or the impact of geological uncertainty on CO2 injection rates during the life time of CCS infrastructure. The results will help to assess the feasibility of infrastructure design under flexible scenarios, to understand the implications for pressure management and flow constraints in the offshore pipeline system and provides useful information for screening of potential stores
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
