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Carbon Capture: Crucial Keys to Determine Gas Compression Site Suitability
Gas compression operators supporting the energy expansion for a lower-carbon future must consider the following factors when selecting a carbon capture solution.
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As gas compression operators look to invest in new technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon capture is gaining interest as a viable solution. Many decades-old gas compression sites operate mature assets, presenting an opportunity to modernize equipment and align with today’s regulatory environment. Such sites face the challenge of maintaining operational efficiency while adapting to stringent GHG reduction mandates, increasing the attractiveness of carbon capture options.
The carbon capture process begins with separating CO2 from a gas stream, such as natural gas produced from a well or post-combustion engine exhaust. While this is a common practice in the gas processing industry, the CO2 has historically been vented into the atmosphere as the remaining gas stream moves into a pipeline. During carbon capture, however, the separated CO2 is contained and usually injected for permanent underground sequestration in a suitable and approved geologic formation. Although the exhaust stream of a combustion engine is mostly air, operators can capture and sequester CO2 to minimize carbon emissions while safely venting the depleted exhaust gas into the atmosphere.
Implementing a carbon capture system provides several benefits. It not only helps reduce carbon tax expenses such as those incurred as a result of the GHG Tax1 in Canada, but also allows operators to capitalize on Inflation Reduction Act (45Q)2 tax credits in the U.S. Additionally, a carbon capture system allows operators to maximize capital investments in existing engines, ensuring the assets remain viable for several years while meeting climate-related objectives.
To support a successful carbon capture initiative, operators must determine if such an approach is appropriate for a given site – and which system can deliver the greatest efficiencies and cost advantages.
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Site Feasibility and Financial Incentives
The first step of an operator’s carbon capture journey involves understanding the full value chain implications of such an undertaking - not only for the capture process but also the CO2 transportation and sequestration requirements.An operator must determine if the site offers access to a CO2 pipeline or an existing well for sequestration, or geology suitable for drilling a new well, to identify how captured carbon will be managed and monitored.
The quantity of carbon that can be captured should also be determined. Understanding the amount that delivers a return on an operator’s investment in carbon capture, or the quantity that can be resold or utilized, helps optimize the impact of a carbon capture solution. The larger the amount of captured CO2 (typically more than 50 metric tons per day), the lower the unit cost. Currently, operators strive for a total cost of capture, transportation and sequestration that’s less than $85/tonne based on-site considerations.
Accurately understanding the financial incentives and expenses at the outset, current regulatory drivers, and an operator’s unique climate-related targets are critical factors.
Additional On-Site Considerations
Once feasibility and financial considerations are understood, gas compression operators can assess how carbon capture may work in practice at a specific site — and which solution can be integrated most effectively with current assets. To achieve a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), it’s important that the carbon capture system that’s ultimately selected is compatible with existing equipment. This not only maximizes capital investment but also helps minimize further complexity.
Additional energy is required to power carbon capture equipment and compress the captured CO2. Careful site-specific system design, including waste heat integration, can help minimize energy requirements. The existing equipment layout as well as the footprint required to accommodate new equipment will also influence system design choices.
A major determining factor at this stage centers on identifying which methodology is easiest to integrate and whether the carbon capture equipment can fit into a site’s available space. This is especially important for brownfield sites.
Understanding the Options
Once the above framework is applied, gas compression operators can explore the four primary types of carbon capture systems that are available to assess which method would be most suitable for given site conditions:
- Absorbent systems use liquid solvents, typically amines, which dissolve CO2 and are subsequently heated to release the CO2.
- Membrane systems use selective filters to separate CO2 from other gas stream components. This typically requires high pressure and additional compression.
- Cryogenic systems rely on extreme cooling to separate CO2 via phase change. This process is energy-intensive unless the CO2 concentration is exceedingly high.
- Adsorbent systems use solid sorbents to capture CO2 that’s generated by a change in temperature or pressure. This approach eliminates the need for additional labor and materials costs.
As carbon capture technologies continue to be refined, it’s important to recognize there isn’t one unilateral approach to address GHG emissions across all gas compression sites.
Addressing CO2 Reduction
Carbon capture holds significant promise and potential for the oil and gas industry. It’s poised to help gas compression operators meet climate-related targets, which is especially important given the evolving regulatory landscape. Employing carbon capture technology on-site can support operators in realizing a lower TCO while simultaneously keeping pace with requirements as it can allow existing gas compression engines to be used for decades to come.
1Government of Canada. Greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions projections – 2023. Greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions projections – 2023 - Canada.ca
2Carbon Capture Coalition. Primer: 45Q Tax Credit for Carbon Capture Projects. 45Q-primer-Carbon-Capture-Coalition.pdf
