Carbon Capture And Storage Projects Research Articles

A social learning approach to carbon capture and storage demonstration project management: An empirical analysis

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an essential technology option for limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Demonstration is an important engineering measure towards large-scale CCS promotion. Implementing a demonstration project is a complicated process of system engineering management that involves a large number of strategic decisions. It is critical to investigate the potential knowledge-generating and decision-making processes embedded in the CCS demonstration, as well as to learn from past successes and failures. Learning-oriented approaches used to be primarily concerned with technical costs, which sparked a lengthy debate regarding the economic viability of CCS projects, but little attention was devoted to the social aspects of project implementation. Based on historical evidence on CCS demonstrations globally, this study developed a data-driven social learning model with high accuracy in estimating the chances of project success, combined with19 socio-technical characteristics. Our results imply that project performance (79.8%) is more relevant than policy incentives (12.8%) and media hype (7.4%) in explaining previous CCS triumphs. Among the seven policy-level characteristics, tax credits and regulatory legislation have grown in importance over the last 20 years, while the significance of grant subsidies has gradually waned. Furthermore, we found that modest hype assisted in the completion of planned projects, notably carbon dioxide storage projects. The sociocultural narrative of CCS does not yet have a set ending. This highlights the significance of telling compelling CCS stories in steering the future trajectory of technology and the low-carbon energy revolution.

Numerical Modelling on CO2 Storage Capacity in Depleted Gas Reservoirs

Making an accurate estimate of the CO2 storage capacity before the commencement of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project is crucial to the project design and feasibility investigation. We present herein a numerical modelling study on the CO2 storage capacity in depleted gas reservoirs. First, we show a simple volumetric equation that gives the CO2 storage capacity in a depleted gas reservoir, which considers the same volume of CH4 at reservoir pressure and temperature conditions produced from the reservoir. Next, the validity and the limitations of this equation are investigated using a numerical reservoir simulation with the various reservoir characteristics of reservoir heterogeneity, aquifer water encroachment, and rock compaction and its reversibility. Regardless of the reservoir heterogeneity, if a reservoir is subjected to a weak or moderate aquifer support, the volumetric equation provides an estimate of the CO2 storage capacity as structurally trapped gas within 1% of that estimated from numerical simulations. The most significant factor influencing the CO2 storage capacity is the reversibility of rock compaction, rather than the degree of rock compaction. If reservoir rocks have a strong hysteresis in their compaction and expansion behaviour, the material balance equation will overestimate the amount of structural CO2 trapping. All the simulation results show a fairly consistent amount of trapped CO2 as a dissolved component in water, which is 15∼17% of the structurally trapped CO2. Overall, our study presents the validity and the limitation of the simple material balance equation for estimating the CO2 storage capacity, which helps with designing a CCS project at the early stage.

Machine Learning Provides Effective Leak Detection in Carbon Sequestration Projects

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 201552, “Leak Detection in Carbon Sequestration Projects Using Machine Learning Methods: Cranfield Site, Mississippi, USA,” by Saurabh Sinha, SPE, University of Oklahoma and Los Alamos National Laboratory; Rafael Pires De Lima, Geological Survey of Brazil; and Youzuo Lin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, et al., prepared for the 2020 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, originally scheduled to be held in Denver, 5–7 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs with good seals located in tectonically stable zones make an excellent storage formation option for geological carbon sequestration.Ensuring that carbon dioxide (CO2) does not leak from these reservoirs is the key to any successful carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. In the complete paper, the authors demonstrate automated leakage detection in CCS projects using pressure data obtained from the Cranfield reservoir in Mississippi in the US. Results indicate that even simple deep-learning architectures such as multilayer feed-forward neural networks (MFNNs) can identify a leak using pressure data. Introduction Several methods that use different types of data currently are available to detect leaks. Although some of the methods are a direct indicator of CO2 presence, they cannot provide an early warning for the leaks, thus delaying remedial measures. An ideal process for the identification of leakages requires constant and repetitive comparisons of different data. Machine-learning (ML) techniques are ideally suited for this task. In this work, the authors demonstrate the use of ML techniques such as linear model, random forest, and MFNN on time-series signals obtained from a pressure-pulse test. The methodology uses the time-series data instead of 2D images or 3D voxels, thus providing a computational advantage. The authors write that an ML algorithm can distinguish between a pressure signal corresponding to a leak vs. the pressure signal corresponding to a baseline nonleak case. The trained models can then be used as an early-warning system to flag anomalous data to then be analyzed by a human interpreter. Background A pressure-pulse test uses at least two wells: an injection well and a monitoring well. The reservoir is then shocked by a series of predetermined cycles of injection and shut-ins (i.e., a pulse). The response then is recorded at the monitoring well with a pressure gauge that measures the target formation pressure. The test may be repeated with different pulses to understand the reservoir properties better. A harmonic pulse is preferred over a square wave because it allows for spectral decomposition of the pulse to analyze the reservoir response at different frequencies. Three wells are used in the study: F1, F2, and F3. Well F1 is the injector well, where alternative cycles of injection of CO2 and shut-in are carried out. Well F2 is the monitor well, which remains shut in for the duration of the test and where the pressure is monitored with the use of a pressure gauge. An artificial leak is simulated in the test by opening a surface valve at Well F3.

Assessment of carbon geological storage at Tula de Allende as a potential solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in central Mexico

We describe a geological assessment for the development of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in the atmospherically polluted area of Tula de Allende, State of Hidalgo in Central México. This study targets a deep saline reservoir system (Soyatal and El Abra formations of Cretaceous age) by performing the first detailed analysis of the geological structure and petrophysical properties of the subsurface rocks in the study area. A comprehensive study of the stratigraphy and mineralogy was conducted with rocks from México's geologic repository (Litoteca Nacional). which included petrography, permeability, and CT scanning. The results were correlated with wireline logs and drilling reports of a dry well (Jasso-1) previously drilled for petroleum prospecting in the area. The integrated data identified a potential set of carbonaceous reservoir and caprock formations, with a preliminary storage capacity of 1.1 GTCO2.The industrial corridor in Tula de Allende includes a 300 KBPD refinery, an 1800 MW high-sulfur fuel oil- power plant, and cement factories, which contribute to air pollution that exceeds international limits of air quality of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulates. A CCS project would not only improve the environmental quality for local inhabitants, reducing the atmospheric pollution in the immediate area but additionally have the same effects in Mexico City. The latter is noted to have a population of over 20 million where the winds are key in transporting these pollutants from the source area of Tula de Allende.

Risk Assessment of a Post-Combustion and Amine-Based CO2 Capture Ready Process

CO2 Capture Ready Process, as a part of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, is a response to international political pressure and the priority of the European Commission to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions since it is connected with concerns regarding global warming. This is currently considered as an option for lessing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Many laboratory experiments, as well as pilot projects, have been carried out using different capture systems, but until now no experience from the one-to-one size operational installation has been gained. The energy industry must meet several challenges associated with the start-up of the new full-scale project. This paper investigates the problems that can occur while linking a new technology like the CO2 Capture Ready Process to a working fossil fuel power plant. A Hazard and Operability study (HAZOP) has been used, as it is a structured and systematic examination of a planned or existing process or operation, in order to identify and evaluate problems that may represent risks to personnel or equipment. A case study of a post-combustion CO2 capture system with an aqueous monoethanolamine as a solvent is presented, as it is the most likely system to be used in Polish power plants. Basic problems in the analysis as well as the parameters that should be considered to determine vulnerabilities of the process were successfully identified. Gaining experience about the installation’s behaviour while connected to the existing equipment of any power plant is critical for future CCS projects.

Decarbonizing cement production

Paul Fennell is a professor of clean energy at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. His work encompasses the decarbonization and re-thinking of industrial processes, including the production of iron and steel and cement manufacture. He also works in the broader field of industrial decarbonization, including synergies between industry and power generation. Steve Davis is a professor of Earth system science and civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Irvine, where he researches trends and drivers of GHG emissions, net-zero emissions energy systems, and the environmental impacts of energy production, climate change, and international trade. Aseel Mohamed received an MSc in advanced chemical engineering from Imperial College London. Her research focused on investigating the various decarbonization technologies used to capture CO2 emissions in order to mitigate climate change effects.

Modeling of Pressure and Temperature Profiles for the Flow of CO2 through a Restriction

CO2 emissions due to massive industrialization have led to several environmental issues. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is one of the most important technologies that can be used to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions worldwide. CCS projects mainly involve three processes: carbon capture, transportation, and storage. In the transportation process, the modeling of the flow in pipelines and the relationships between pressure, flow velocity, temperature, density, and phase stability are of significance. Orifice plates are a common tool used for flowrate measurements. Several standards provide the specifications and implementation approach for this type of equipment item in pipelines. In this study, flow through an orifice plate is simulated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling software, namely ANSYS®, to obtain fluid pressure, velocity, and temperature profiles. Model geometry and fluid properties are defined that are suitable for making a comparison with ISO-5167 empirical correlations and a similar reference study, which are used to validate the simulation results. A mesh sensitivity analysis is conducted to ensure the correctness of the results. A reasonable agreement is found between the simulation results, empirical correlations, and previous studies. The Joule Thompson cooling effect is also considered in this work for high-pressure CO2 cases, and the plots showed good agreement with reference studies.

Detection and quantification of CO2 seepage in seawater using the stoichiometric Cseep method: Results from a recent subsea CO2 release experiment in the North Sea

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a potential significant mitigation strategy to combat climate change and ocean acidification. The technology is well understood but its current implementation must be scaled up nearly by a hundredfold to become an effective tool that helps meet mitigation targets. Regulations require monitoring and verification at storage sites, and reliable monitoring strategies for detection and quantification of seepage of the stored carbon need to be developed. The Cseep method was developed for reliable determination of CO2 seepage signal in seawater by estimating and filtering out natural variations in dissolved inorganic carbon (C). In this work, we analysed data from the first-ever subsea CO2 release experiment performed in the north-western North Sea by the EU STEMM−CCS project. We successfully demonstrated the ability of the Cseep method to (i) predict natural C variations around the Goldeneye site over seasonal to interannual time scales; (ii) establish a process-based baseline C concentration with minimal variability; (iii) determine CO2 seepage detection threshold (DT) to reliably differentiate released−CO2 signal from natural variability and quantify released−CO2 dissolved in the sampled seawater. DT values were around 20 % of the natural C variations indicating high sensitivity of the method. Moreover, with the availability of DT value, the identification of released−CO2 required no pre-knowledge of seepage occurrence, but we used additional available information to assess the confidence of the results. Overall, the Cseep method features high sensitivity, automation suitability, and represents a powerful future monitoring tool both for large and confined marine areas.

Development of a Science Gateway Software Platform for CCS Decision Support and Stakeholder Engagement

Despite significant progress over the past two decades, numerous economic, technical and non-technical challenges have hampered the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Recent advances in integrated assessment software have provided powerful new decision support tools to help overcome such challenges and to better evaluate investment and other risks in the integrated capture, transport and storage system. Specifically, the SimCCS software framework provides novel decision support capabilities for CCS project development. In this paper, we illustrate how the development of a new online science gateway platform of the SimCCS software termed SimCCS Gateway is now rapidly expanding the accessibility of this powerful tool. Applications in the SimCCS Gateway platform have been designed to facilitate engagement across the entire CCUS community, including commercial project developers, researchers in the technical and policy spheres, educational users (higher education and K-12) and the general public. The Gateway is providing an innovative new approach to technology transfer as well as outreach to communities in which CCS projects are being proposed and planned. Current applications include projects throughout the US and China, but nations such as Canada and Australia are poised for future implementation owing to availability of key datasets. In this way, the SimCCS Gateway software platform aims to provide a valuable new tool to facilitate the rapid deployment of CCS technologies around the globe.

Promoting Public Awareness of Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies in the Russian Federation: A System of Educational Activities

The latest technologies for climate change mitigation are carbon capture and storage (CCS). Some countries are developing CCS projects, and they are currently at different stages of deployment. Despite the signing of international agreements on climate change mitigation, Russia’s efforts to develop and implement CCS technologies are quite limited. Therefore, it is vital that people are aware of the importance of carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage. The purpose of this article is to produce guidelines and toolkits to form a system of measures aimed at raising awareness of the Russian society on carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies. The paper discusses the key findings of several recent studies on the topic, e.g., a study focusing on the level of environmental consciousness among St. Petersburg students; a content analysis of the Russian school textbooks; a study of environmental groups in Russian social media; and an experimental study on creating eco-comics and posters as educational tools for promoting environmental awareness. A multi-level system of educational activities is proposed, including events for preschoolers, schoolchildren, students, and adults.

Geological storage potential of CO2 emissions for China’s coal-fired power plants: A city-level analysis

To mitigate global warming to temperatures no higher than 2 °C or even less than 1.5 °C, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is indispensable. This is especially true for China, which relies heavily on coal-fired power plants. In China, CCS could play an important role in removing CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants and establishing low-carbon cities. Clarifying the emissions reduction potential of cities using CO2 geological storage will help to identify site suitable for carrying out CCS projects in a technically and economically feasible way. In this paper, we assessed CO2 storage capacity in three geological structures between 800 to 3000 m underground: (1) the nationwide on-shore CO2 storage capacity of 705 oil fields in terms of both depleted oil reservoirs (DOR) and enhanced oil recovery (EOR); (2) 754 gas fields in terms of both depleted gas reservoirs (DGR) and enhanced gas recovery (EGR); (3) China’s deep saline aquifers (DSA), including 17 large basins ; and (4) the CO2 emissions of coal-fired plants of 300 MW and over. After completing all of these assessments, this paper presents an emissions reduction potential estimate. The results show that: 1) the total CO2 storage capacity of DOR, EOR, DGR, EGR and DSA is 21,287 Mt, 5191 Mt, 15,321 Mt, 9018 Mt and 1,004,319 Mt, respectively; 2) 76 cities can sequester their existing CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants in situ within their administrative boundaries for over 10 years, and their contribution is 634.43 Mt per year. 3) Ordos City has priority to carry out CO2 geological storage for coal-fired power plants due to the volume of its annual captured CO2 (52.13 Mt), and it can operate for about 123 years if its CO2 emissions remain unchanged.

Carbon Storage Resource Assessment of the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Offshore Region

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a critical technology for ensuring a range of clean energy options are available to meet future energy demands. Offshore storage can be linked to large point-sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) while avoiding many of the logistical difficulties and potential risks encountered when siting onshore projects, especially in densely populated areas of the East Coast of the United States. Offshore storage along mid-Atlantic region was studied under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded Mid-Atlantic U.S. Offshore Carbon Storage Resource Assessment Project (MAOCSRAP) and as a subtask under the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP). The assessment was conducted as a technical collaboration between Battelle, Rutgers University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, state geological surveys of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, United States Geological Survey-Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, and Harvard University. Major objectives were to complete a systematic carbon storage resource assessment of the of the mid-Atlantic offshore coastal region from the Georges Bank Basin (GBB) through the Long Island Platform (LIP) to the southern Baltimore Canyon Trough (BCT), examine offshore storage risk factors, and engage industry and regulatory stakeholders through development of a Road Map to assist future project planning and implementation. Various publicly available data sets, such as seismic data, well-logs, and core data, were integrated to define geologic characteristics of candidate storage sites and calculate prospective CO2 storage resources for Cretaceous- and Jurassic-age sandstone sequences of the mid-Atlantic offshore sub-regions. The combined dataset helped to identify and map potential storage zones within sequences of the Logan Canyon, Missisauga, and Mohawk formations, as well as the regionally extensive caprock comprised of the Dawson Canyon shale. Prospective storage resource estimates and formation-specific storage efficiency values were calculated with static volumetric and dynamic methods. Regional-scale estimates range from 150 to 1136 gigatonnes (Gt) for the combined storage zones, with high estimated storage resource (≥ 2.4 megatonnes [Mt] CO2/km2) occurring in the northern BCT near the Great Stone Dome (GSD) structure. Results of local scale simplified dynamic reservoir simulation in the GSD indicate that injection rates of 1 Mt CO2/year may be sustained within the time and pressure constraints assumed for a commercial storage project. An initial, qualitative assessment of technical risk factors present in mid-Atlantic offshore areas was conducted. Overall, the mid-Atlantic offshore area benefits from the large spatial extent, thick sequences of sands, lack of previous oil and gas wellbores, and distance from populated development. Geomechanical stability, reservoir variability, and soft sediment deformation were identified as moderate risk factors in some areas. No highly critical risk factors were identified that would impede CO2 storage along the study areas. Input and participation from government, industry, and environmental groups helped to address next steps needed for future CCS project planning and implementation in the study region. Recommended near-term actions are to develop site screening through advanced geologic modeling, implement stakeholder outreach and risk mitigation strategies, identify industry and research goals, and develop regulatory pathways. Recommended mid-term actions are to validate subsurface properties with new data, conduct a cost-benefit analysis, and develop a monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) plan. Long term-recommended actions are to implement a plan for large-scale CCS operations using the previous findings, conduct site design, permitting, and construction, and upscale infrastructure. This project represents an important first step by completing a high-level CO2 storage resource assessment and building the knowledge infrastructure necessary to support the development of full-scale offshore carbon storage.

Carbon Capture and Storage in the United States: Perceptions, preferences, and lessons for policy

Although Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies can potentially play an important role in climate change mitigation efforts, commercial CCS projects are still rare. Knowledge about the technical challenges of these technologies is rapidly advancing, but the challenges related to their public acceptance are still underinvestigated. Here we try to close this research gap by investigating public perceptions of CCS and public attitudes towards policies to scale up these technologies in the United States, where most existing industrial-scale CCS projects are operating. Based on a demographically representative sample of US residents, we find that awareness of CCS is very low. Using a conjoint experiment, we show that policies that outlaw the construction of new coal- and gas-fired power plants without CCS find higher public support than CCS subsidies and increases in taxes on unabated fossil fuel power generation. Public support decreases with rising costs of CCS deployment and decreasing minimal distance requirements of CCS plants from residential areas. Our results provide insights into the political feasibility of a large-scale deployment of CCS and show that specific policy design choices play an important role in influencing public support for policies to scale up these technologies.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Network Planning Based on Cost Analysis Using Superstructure Method in Indonesian Central Region

Today global warming is a serious threat to living things and the earth, according to WMO, 2019 is the second hottest year after 2016. The average temperature for the last 10 years has reached its highest point. CCS technology is a series of activities that start from capturing CO2 from sources of CO2 emissions, namely the industrial sector and electricity generation. After being captured, CO2 is transported through pipelines or ships to the CO2 storage location in the appropriate storage, it can be geolocical or ocean storage. Each CCS project will use the most suitable method to transport CO2 and pay attention to planning, health and safety regulations. These problems can be overcome by a method, a Superstructure method. A problem with CCS may occur when the source and sink locations are not necessarily in a single region, so it is possible that the CCS process can occur in a multi-region where the source and sink locations are far apart and with many regions. The development of multi-region studies was carried out in this research, namely with the boundaries of the regions of Kalimantan, Sulawesi and East Java with a total of 4 sources and 2 sinks. Development is carried out by making mass transfer scenarios using superstructure method and cost calculations based on Total Annual Cost (TAC) then optimized with optimization software to get the minimum cost. In this study, the optimum CCS network has been determined in Kalimantan, Sulawesi and East Java regions with specific TAC US$ 11,126,782.2/Mt.

Development of Educational Tools in Russia to Accumulate Knowledge about Sequestration Technologies

The latest technologies for climate change mitigation are carbon capture and storage (CCS). Some countries are developing CCS projects, and they are currently at different stages of deployment. Despite the signing of international agreements on climate change mitigation, Russia does not ensure the development of CCS technologies and their implementation. Given the long-term development of such technologies, its main goal is to raise public awareness of carbon capture, storage and use.Currently, the problem of creating public awareness about CCS technologies has gained a huge momentum in the Russian Federation. A high level of awareness and approval of such projects will encourage the deployment of CCS projects in the Russian Federation.The purpose of this article is to study the level of awareness of the Russian society regarding CCS technologies, as well as to develop a multi-level complex system of measures to ensure that such awareness is raised in the near future.To achieve this goal, we used such methods as research of secondary and primary sources of information on this topic. In addition to analyzing the information of scientific publications on the subject under study, both secondary (content analysis of printed media materials, video hosting, social networks) and primary research (personal survey, experiment) were conducted.As the most important results, we can highlight the obtained structure of popularity of environmental information sources among students of two universities in Saint Petersburg. In addition, it has been proved that currently in the Russian Federation, insufficient attention is paid to the popularization of carbon sequestration technologies. the analysis of the dissemination of information about CCS technologies in social networks, school textbooks, Newspapers, and video hosting services was carried out. Content analysis of existing social groups and videos in social networks is presented.

Global warming solutions: Carbon capture and storage

Global warming (GW) is a severe problem that needs to be resolved, but how can scientists contribute to this issue? Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is a way of reducing the enhanced greenhouse effect. Here, we introduce two methods of CCS technology, including corresponding scientific proofs for each one being viable, the merits and demerits of each measure. Moreover, there are oppositions against the implementation of CCS projects. We also summarize some perspectives and possible solutions for societal opposition against CCS projects. This review will enhance the understanding of the strategies of CCS and the solutions of GW.

Moomba carbon capture and storage case study: material emissions reduction at Moomba plant

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential for meeting the Paris agreement global emissions targets – all identified pathways to net zero 2050 emissions require large scale deployment of CCS. The Moomba CCS project is an example of the type of projects that the oil and gas industry can undertake in Australia and globally to reduce emissions and create new business opportunities. The project is a CO2 capture, transport and storage project in the Cooper Basin with the aim of delivering material emissions reduction of 1.7 mtpa CO2-e. The project utilises existing and new infrastructure as well as depleted hydrocarbon fields to capture, compress, dehydrate and store CO2 that is currently vented. This study will provide an overview of this project including the technical challenges that were overcome to enable project success.

GHGT-15 Quest CCS facility - Halite Injectivity Damage Remediation in CO <sub>2</sub> Injection Wells

The Quest CCS facility (located in Alberta, Canada) is a fully integrated carbon capture, transport and storage facility operated by Shell Canada. It continuously captures and stores about 1.1Mt of CO2 per year, with injection expected to continue until 2040. Following a month of performance testing, commercial operations began in October 2015, and through November 2020, more than 5.6 Mt of CO2 have been sequestered. The commercial scale deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a viable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction technology requires that the CO2 be continuously injected at material and predictable rates into geological formations (e.g. saline aquifers). While the initial injectivity for the Quest CO2 injection wells was very high, significant injectivity reductions have been observed following short well shut-in periods associated with well intervention work. Although these injectivity reductions currently do not form an operational constraint, if the trend of injectivity reductions continue, it may become an issue for future operations. Developing the capability to reduce or even reverse these injectivity reductions may be key to maintaining reliable CO2 injection. The Quest CCS project sequesters CO2 into the Basal Cambrian Sands (BCS) formation, which was initially filled with sodium chloride saturated brine. As dry CO2 is injected, water can evaporate from the brine into the CO2 driving precipitation of halite. This precipitation can occur in various locations including inside the wellbore, perforation tunnel, near wellbore area and further afield in the BCS formation. Plugging of the perforation tunnel and pore throats in the near wellbore area can cause injectivity damage. A downhole video log performed in April 2018 on the Quest IW 7-11 CO2 injection well showed solids plugging in numerous perforations. The most probable substance to precipitate in the downhole environment of a Quest CO2 injector well is halite. While the solids were not sampled for compositional analysis during the April 2018 downhole video log, downhole samples were obtained during the pre-work leading up to the halite remediation treatment. A viable mechanism for inducing halite damage during well intervention shut-in events is that deposited halite is dislodged and subsequently plugs the critical perforation tunnel and near wellbore areas. One method to remediate halite damage is to inject a water-based fluid to dissolve the halite precipitate, thereby removing it from the perforation tunnel and near wellbore area, where it can damage the well injectivity performance. Quest performed the first halite remediation treatment on one of the CO2 injector wells in 2020. The objective of this paper is to present the design, execution and results of this initial halite remediation treatment. An outline of the design of the halite remediation treatment will be provided. Aspects of the treatment design including treatment volume, rate, pressure, treatment fluid composition, fluid diversion, tubing stress analysis and hydrate mitigation will be discussed. Subsequently the halite remediation treatment as executed in the field will be reviewed including the timing of operations and the pumping pressure and rate data. Finally, to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, skin analysis and injectivity trends pre and post remediation treatment shall be presented. Halite remediation treatments have the potential to become key methods for maintaining injectivity performance of CO2 injection wells in saline aquifers.

Explaining successful and failed investments in U.S. carbon capture and storage using empirical and expert assessments

Most studies of deep decarbonization find that a diverse portfolio of low-carbon energy technologies will be required, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) that mitigates emissions from fossil fuel power plants and industrial sources. While many projects essential to commercializing the technology have been proposed, most (>80%) end in failure. Here we analyze the full universe of CCS projects attempted in the U.S. that have sufficient documentation (N=39)—the largest sample ever studied systematically. We quantify 12 project attributes that the literature has identified as possible determinants of project outcome. In addition to costs and technological readiness, which prior research has emphasized, we develop metrics for attributes that are widely thought to be important yet have eluded systematic measurement, such as the credibility of project revenues and policy incentives, and the role of regulatory complexity and public opposition. We build three models—two statistical and one derived through the elicitation of expert judgment—to evaluate the relative influence of these 12 attributes in explaining project outcome. Across models, we find the credibility of revenues and incentives to be among the most important attributes, along with capital cost and technological readiness. We therefore develop and elicit experts’ judgment of 14 types of policy incentives that could alter these attributes and improve the prospects for investment in CCS. Knowing which attributes have been most responsible for past successes and failures allows developers to avoid past mistakes and identify clusters of near-term CCS projects that are more likely to succeed.

Groundwater Anomaly Related to CCS-CO2 Injection and the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake in Japan

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered a key technology for reducing CO2emissions into the atmosphere. Nonetheless, there are concerns that if injected CO2migrates in the crust, it may trigger slip of pre-existing faults. In order to test if this is the case, covariations of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen isotopes of groundwater measured from Uenae well, southern Hokkaido, Japan are reported. This well is located 13 km away from the injection point of the Tomakomai CCS project and 21 km from the epicenter of September 6th, 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake (M 6.7). Carbon isotope composition was constant from June 2015 to February 2018, and decreased significantly from April 2018 to November 2019, while total dissolved inorganic carbon (TDIC) content showed a corresponding increase. A decrease in radiocarbon andδ13C values suggests aquifer contamination by anthropogenic carbon, which could possibly be attributable to CCS-injected CO2. If such is the case, the CO2enriched fluid may have initially migrated through permeable channels, blocking the fluid flow from the source region, increasing pore pressure in the focal region and triggering the natural earthquake where the brittle crust is already critically stressed.