Measurement technologies for pipeline transport of carbon dioxide-rich mixtures for CCS

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is necessary to achieve the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. The mass of CO₂ that will be transported for permanent storage by 2050, to meet the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s Sustainable Development Scenario, is of a similar scale to the current global market of natural gas. Such trading levels require significant and expedited technological efforts. The urgency of the climate goals requires technological innovations to build from existing technologies operating in similar environments. The present work aims to be a stepping stone towards the realisation of the CCS business, which relies on accurate metrology and tight control systems. Here, various established technologies are screened, and for each principle, their possible niches of operation within CCS are identified. Eight technologies were shortlisted and assessed against selected benchmarking criteria. The most promising solutions for the various operative scenarios encompassing bulk flow measurement, structural flow identification, composition, and leak detection are described. All surveyed technologies require further experimental verification for one or more of the operating schemes throughout the CCS value chain. A roadmap to further explore the applicability of various measurement principles in CCS is also provided.