Challenges in Reallizing Large Scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Solution

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a key enabler for carbon emission reduction towards a sustainable future while fulfilling energy demand. However, CCS, especially when implemented would be a great cost to plant or development project. The success of CCS projects would lie upon the availability of suitable storage sites, prioritisation of emission sources to be captured, capture technology operating condition and the power availability for the CCS facilities in order to achieve net negative carbon emission. Collaboration of surface and subsurface engineers is required in identifying and screening of CO2 storage location depending on storage capacity, integrity, and containment of the injected CO2 over time. The storage capacity would also be determined by the sources to be captured by the facilities. In some cases especially with high CO2 natural gas sources from the reservoir, the sources would be less challenging to be captured compared to the post combustion with lower CO2 concentration. The capture process of these two sources differs significantly and this would effect not just the economics but also the power consumption of the facilities. Comprehensive technology screening is also required in order to optimised the energy while capturing the CO2 emission for storage. For some capture technology, the hydrocarbon and contaminants captured would require to be recovered and removed from the injection stream. Capturing CO2 from production or processing facilities is energy intensive and would contribute to the emission of the CCS facilities. Therefore, selection of the power sources would determine the net emission reduced for a facilities. All these factors would need to be considered while evaluating the CCS design and project decision as it will ultimately affects the cost. Stakeholder management plan inclusive of technology providers and CCS experts, commercial and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) was also need to be considered in reallizing a large scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) solution. Evaluation of all these factors would enabled critical decisions and proposals to be properly assessed to realize this solution.