Integrated Economic Model CO2 capture, transport, ECBM and saline aquifer storage

Abstract

Abstract As the world continues to develop plans for addressing climate change induced by elevated levels of CO 2 , a better understanding of the economics of CCS projects will become more urgent. One promising avenue involves CO 2 injection into coal beds for incremental production of methane and storage of CO 2 . In order to clarify the economic impact of CCS projects, an Integrated Economic Model (IEM) for CCS has been developed. The IEM was designed to simulate the underlying engineering process and resulting economics of post combustion CO 2 capture from large fixed emitters, the cost of transport to coal reservoir sinks and prediction of methane production response induced by CO 2 injection. Post combustion CO 2 capture is modeled in the context of retro-fitting existing CO 2 source plants with currently available capture technology consisting of inlet flue gas “wet-lime” desulphurization, CO 2 recovery with “hindered amine (MEA)”, CO 2 compression, pipeline transport to coal reservoir (and saline aquifer) CO 2 sinks and the simulation of enhanced methane production from the coal reservoir. A comprehensive database of Alberta coal reservoir parameters was developed and is used by the IEM to predict site specific injection and production performance due to CO 2 injection. Estimation of injection and production from the coal is modeled by incorporating a compositional reservoir simulator. CCS project economics is rolled up and reported for the entire CCS project as well as separately for the ECBM project.