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The Importance of CCUS Research

The Importance of CCUS Research

June 06, 2022 by Andrew Seto, VP Technology, Energi Simulation

 

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a clean technology that is not only capable of decarbonizing major industries, but also an enabler for new energy economy of hydrogen production, bioenergy with CCS, direct air capture, carbon to value, and other CO2 re-use applications. The Global CCS Institute suggested that CCS is the only technology that is capable of effectively eliminating all fossil fuel emissions.

 

In the petroleum industry, utilization (‘U’ in CCUS) of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has been providing significant economic benefits to the industry and society. At the end of EOR development, depleted reservoirs with proper seal for containment could be converted to become underground sites for permanent storage of CO2.

 

While there are many facets to CCUS as an industry, Energi Simulation research programs will focus on reservoir modelling and concentrate on the utilization and storage of CO2 in aquifers and depleted oil and gas fields.

 

To maximize the safe capturing and storage of CO2, it is imperative to have a good understanding of the geological formation, its integrity and long-term storage capacity, within the economic, environmental, and regulatory constraints. With a world-class group of scientists in our research chair programs, we expect to see an acceleration of research results that would benefit both industry and society.