CCS Projects
Geological Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a process that involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industrial sources, transporting them to a storage site, and injecting them into deep geological formations for long-term storage. In the oil and gas industry, CCS is often integrated with Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) to improve oil production while reducing CO₂ emissions. Below are the key processes involved in a geological CCS project:
Elnabbe can conduct the following projects by the cooperation with our partners
1- Site Selection and Characterization
- Identify Suitable Storage Sites: Evaluate geological formations (e.g., depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers) for their capacity, infectivity, and containment properties.
- Geological and Geophysical Surveys: Conduct seismic surveys, well logging, and core sampling to assess the structure, porosity, and permeability of the storage site.
Risk Assessment: Evaluate potential risks such as leakage, induced seismicity, and environmental impacts
2-CO₂ Capture
- Capture Technologies: Use technologies like amine scrubbing, membrane separation, or cryogenic distillation to capture CO₂ from industrial sources (e.g., power plants, refineries,
3-CO₂ Transportation
- Pipeline Networks: Transport CO₂ via pipelines to the storage site. Existing oil and gas infrastructure can often be repurposed for this purpose.
- Shipping: In some cases, CO₂ is transported via ships to offshore storage sites.
- Monitoring During Transport: Ensure safe and leak-free transportation through real-time monitoring.
4-CO₂ Injection
- Injection Wells: Drill and complete wells specifically designed for CO₂ injection into the target geological formation.
- Injection Process: Inject CO₂ at high pressure into the formation, where it is trapped by caprock (impermeable rock layers) and other mechanisms.
- Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR): In oil fields, inject CO₂ to enhance oil recovery while simultaneously storing CO₂.
5- Storage and Injection Mechanisms
- Structural Trapping: CO₂ is trapped beneath impermeable caprock.
- Residual Trapping: CO₂ is trapped in the pore spaces of the rock.
- Dissolution Trapping: CO₂ dissolves into the formation water.
- Mineral Trapping: CO₂ reacts with minerals to form stable carbonate compounds over time.
6- Monitoring, Verification, and Reporting (MVR)
- Seismic Monitoring: Use 4D seismic surveys to track the movement of CO₂ within the reservoir.
- Well Monitoring: Monitor injection wells and nearby observation wells for pressure, temperature, and CO₂ concentration.
- Surface Monitoring: Detect potential leaks using soil gas surveys, atmospheric monitoring, and satellite imagery.
- Data Reporting: Regularly report monitoring data to regulators and stakeholders to ensure compliance and transparency.
7- Risk Management and Mitigation
- Leak Prevention: Design wells and storage sites to prevent CO₂ leakage.
- Contingency Plans: Develop plans to address potential leaks or other emergencies.
- Long-Term Liability Management: Establish protocols for long-term monitoring and liability transfer after site closure.
8- Regulatory and Permitting Processes
- Obtain necessary permits from regulatory authorities for site selection, drilling, injection, and monitoring.
- Comply with national and international standards (e.g., ISO 27914 for geological storage).
9- Project Closure and Post-Closure Monitoring
- Site Closure: Properly seal and abandon injection wells after the project ends.
- Long-Term Monitoring: Continue monitoring the site for decades to ensure the CO₂ remains securely stored.
10- Integration with Oil and Gas Operations
- Synergy with EOR: Use CO₂ for enhanced oil recovery to offset project costs and improve oil production.
- Utilization of Existing Infrastructure: Leverage existing wells, pipelines, and facilities to reduce costs.