Learnings from the Shell Peterhead CCS Project Front End Engineering Design

Abstract

Commercial-scale demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is required to advance wide-spread implementation of CCS technology across a range of carbon-intensive industries, in order to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to atmosphere. Capturing the learnings from leading demonstration projects is key for design optimisation, technology development and in turn, cost reduction. The importance of knowledge sharing and dissemination of learnings is of particular importance for CCS in order to maximise the cost-competitiveness of the technology across industry and energy markets and help reduce the overall costs to society for decarbonisation.Shell led the development of the Peterhead CCS (PCCS) project in the UK, from which the learnings from the completed front end engineering design (FEED) phase of the project have been identified and captured. In line with the agreement with the UK government, who sponsored part of the FEED phase, the learnings have been shared publically for the benefit of future follow on projects. The project completed FEED in 2015, the same year in which the project was cancelled due to UK Government withdrawal of funding for the UK CCS Commercialisation Competition.The Peterhead CCS project FEED phase comprised design work for CO2 capture from the Peterhead gas fired power station using Shell Cansolv technology. The project design also encompassed pipeline transport of the CO2 through an existing pipeline to the CO2 subsurface storage site in the North Sea Goldeneye reservoir, utilising the existing offshore platform.This paper provides an overview of learnings from across both the technical and non-technical spectrums, including key technical CCS specific topics, as well as learnings from engagement with stakeholders, and development of regulatory frameworks. The learnings shared can be applied to the design of future CCS projects to reduce costs, optimise the technology, and realise public and regulatory support.The development of the FEED provided confidence that the construction and operation of the PCCS project was feasible and that the project was in a position to advance to the next stage of the development.