Multiscale whole systems modelling and analysis for CO2 capture, transport and storage
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Earth Science and Engineering
Abstract
The UK has challenging GHG reduction targets. It is believed that carbon capture and storage (CCS) will play a critical role in the energy systems of the future, in part to support the decarbonisation objective and in part to provide grid flexibility in a future system including a large fraction of less responsive low carbon energy systems (e.g. nuclear baseload and intermittent wind). The whole systems modelling and analysis programme proposed here is designed to support wider UK initiatives by reducing technological risk and identifying performance bottlenecks. CCS will require substantial capital investment in capture and transport systems and storage complex management. Although elements of the whole chain have been studied through modelling and experimentation, there is little work on whole system assessment. For complex systems such as CCS, whole system assessment is vital ahead of large scale deployment as it identifies critical integration and interaction issues between the components and evaluates whole system performance as a function of component design parameters. Thus the whole system may be optimised; simply optimising the design of individual components is likely to result in a sub-optimal system design. The proposed research methodology is based on multiscale modelling. This involves the development of fit-for-purpose models of the individual components which describe phenomena that operate over different length and time scales and which support integration and data exchange across scales. The reason for this is that relatively localised phenomena (e.g. mass transfer in an amine scrubber) might affect the overall system transient response by limiting the rate at which the power plant flue gas flowrate can be turned up or down. Similarly, the important performance trade-offs in individual component designs must be characterised and used for overall system design. There are a number of important issues to be resolved regarding future CCS systems; the applicants believe that multiscale systems modelling approach is ideal to develop relevant insights and guidance. Examples of the issues to be addressed through whole systems modelling, analysis and optimisation include: - The development and application of a methodology to optimise the time-phased evolution of the whole CCS system design (incorporating its important individual components), including sources to recruit and location of storage sites, balancing long-term and short-term investment imperatives. - Performing integrated assessments of alternative CCS systems, through the application of fit-for-purpose models (e.g. those able to quantify trace emissions of harmful substances) and rigorous life-cycle based analyses. - Characterising the transient performance of the integrated system (how will it perform in actual operation?), understanding whether or not it affects the flexibility of the wider energy system with which it is interfaced, what the safety critical components are and the network's dynamic stability and operability bottlenecks - Understand issues of systems integration - how do the different phenomena associated with the different components in the system cause effects to propagate through the network (e.g. the effect of impurities in captured CO2, the transport network and the storage complex). What are the important considerations that must be taken into consideration when designing and operating the whole system? The outcome of the programme will be relevant to a very wide range of stakeholders interested in CCS, including industry, regulatory and policy agencies and academia. The most important contributions of the project will be: - making available methodologies to design and analyse future CCS systems - generating insights into the most important interactions involved in system design and operation - quantifying (economics, environmental impact, safety & operability) the performance of UK CCS systems
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Vattenfall AB (Project Partner)
- National Grid (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- IEA Greenhouse Gases R&D Prog (IEAGHG) (Project Partner)
- Shell (Netherlands) (Project Partner)
- Scottish Power (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Process Systems Enterprise (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Dowell N
(2011)
21st European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering
MacDowell N
(2010)
An overview of CO2 capture technologies
in Energy & Environmental Science
Llovell F
(2012)
Application of the SAFT-VR density functional theory to the prediction of the interfacial properties of mixtures of relevance to reservoir engineering
in Fluid Phase Equilibria
Shi J
(2012)
Assessment of carbon dioxide plume behaviour within the storage reservoir and the lower caprock around the KB-502 injection well at In Salah
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Babaei M
(2016)
Calculation of pressure- and migration-constrained dynamic CO 2 storage capacity of the North Sea Forties and Nelson dome structures
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Babaei M
(2016)
CO2 storage well rate optimisation in the Forties sandstone of the Forties and Nelson reservoirs using evolutionary algorithms and upscaled geological models
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Mosleh M
(2017)
Development and Characterisation of a Smart Cement for CO2 Leakage Remediation at Wellbores
in Energy Procedia
Mac Dowell N
(2014)
Dynamic modelling and analysis of a coal-fired power plant integrated with a novel split-flow configuration post-combustion CO2 capture process
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Mac Dowell N
(2013)
Dynamic modelling and analysis of an amine-based post-combustion CO2 capture absorption column
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Biliyok C
(2012)
Dynamic modelling, validation and analysis of post-combustion chemical absorption CO2 capture plant
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Cao W
(2021)
Evaluation of shear slip stress transfer mechanism for induced microseismicity at In Salah CO2 storage site
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Arce A
(2012)
Flexible operation of solvent regeneration systems for CO2 capture processes using advanced control techniques: Towards operational cost minimisation
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Nie Z
(2013)
Full Chain Analysis and Comparison of Gas-Fired Power Plants with Co2 Capture and Storage with Clean Coal Alternatives
in Energy Procedia
Shi J
(2019)
History matching and pressure analysis with stress-dependent permeability using the In Salah CO2 storage case study
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Mac Dowell N
(2013)
Identification of the cost-optimal degree of CO2 capture: An optimisation study using dynamic process models
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Chen L
(2014)
Inexpensive ionic liquids: [HSO 4 ] - -based solvent production at bulk scale
in Green Chem.
Korre A
(2012)
Life Cycle Assessment of the natural gas supply chain and power generation options with CO2 capture and storage: Assessment of Qatar natural gas production, LNG transport and power generation in the UK
in Sustainable Technologies, Systems & Policies
Korre A
(2010)
Life cycle modelling of fossil fuel power generation with post-combustion CO2 capture
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Santibanez-Borda E
(2019)
Maximising the Dynamic CO2 storage Capacity through the Optimisation of CO2 Injection and Brine Production Rates
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Llovell F
(2012)
Modeling the absorption of weak electrolytes and acid gases with ionic liquids using the soft-SAFT approach.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Elahi N
(2017)
Multi-stage Stochastic Optimisation of a CO2 Transport and Geological Storage in the UK
in Energy Procedia
Mac Dowell N
(2014)
New experimental density data and soft-SAFT models of alkylimidazolium ([C(n)C1im]?) chloride (Cl?), methylsulfate ([MeSO4]?), and dimethylphosphate ([Me2PO4]?) based ionic liquids.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Von Stechow C
(2011)
Policy incentives for carbon capture and storage technologies in Europe: A qualitative multi-criteria analysis
in Global Environmental Change
Pawar R
(2015)
Recent advances in risk assessment and risk management of geologic CO2 storage
in International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Korre A
(2014)
The Effect of Market and Leasing Conditions on the Techno-economic Performance of Complex CO2 transport and storage value chains
in Energy Procedia
Mosleh M
(2017)
The Use of Polymer-gel Remediation for CO2 Leakage through Faults and Fractures in the Caprock
in Energy Procedia
Mac Dowell N
(2011)
Transferable SAFT-VR models for the calculation of the fluid phase equilibria in reactive mixtures of carbon dioxide, water, and n-alkylamines in the context of carbon capture.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Farooqui N
(2017)
Understanding CO2-brine-wellbore Cement-rock Interactions for CO2 Storage
in Energy Procedia
Description | The grant helped develop: - Static and dynamic models for post combustion and oxyfuel CO2 capture plants - A multi-period least cost optimisation model for a carbon dioxide capture transportation and storage infrastructure for the UK - Key performance indicators to assess the CO2 storage capacity and performance for the North Sea geological formations - Life Cycle Impact Assessment model for Pre-combustion CO2 capture, transport and storage systems for coal and natural gas |
Exploitation Route | The research findings have been partly used/utilised by the Energy Technologies Institute through their role on the Steering Committee of the project. Research Consortium members have successfully secured new EPSRC funding to utilise their findings in follow-up projects to develop new knowledge. These findings and further research led to results used by the BG Group and The Crown Estate in their work. The UK and international industry can also use the research findings in their CO2 storage activities as the findings are widely published and the partners are open to further discussions. |
Sectors | Energy,Environment |
Description | The project outcomes have been used in advising the BG Group on Life Cycle Impacts of their conventional and unconventional natural gas production, pipeline and/or LNG transport around the world, power generation, CO2 capture and storage as well as use in EoR. BG Group uses the tools developed during and since the project for their policy development and comparison with clean coal alternatives. The project outcomes and the follow-up research carried out since is also used in advising the Crown Estate on their policy and plans towards valuation and the leasing of the CO2 storage sites in the North Sea. Through the Crown Estate, and their role in different task forces on CO2 capture and storage, the project outcomes are informing the government decisions on climate change mitigation policy. The LCA model developed in the project has been further developed since and is currently being use in assessing methane emissions from conventional and unconventional natural gas production facilities in collaboration with and funding by the Oil and Gas Industry. The findings are being used by the industry to take mitigating actions to minimise or eliminate emissions |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Sector | Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | Oil and Gas Climate Initiative |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | informed strategic decisions taken by multinational companies in the energy sector |
Description | United Nations Economic Comission for Europe |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | informed policy decisions at international level |
Description | CO2 injection and storage ? short and long-term behaviour at different spatial scales |
Amount | £1,212,205 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K035967/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2013 |
End | 02/2017 |
Description | European Union ERA-NET Cofund Actions: Accelerating CCS Technologies |
Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 271501 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 08/2017 |
End | 08/2020 |
Description | Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) |
Amount | £19,903,412 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V027050/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2021 |
End | 03/2024 |
Description | Oil and Gas Industry Climate Initiative |
Amount | £500,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Oil and Gas Climate Initiative |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Process Intensification for Post-combustion Carbon Capture using Rotating Packed Bed through Systems Engineering Techniques |
Amount | £1,274,400 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/M001458/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2014 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | SYNERGETIC UTILISATION OF CO2 STORAGE COUPLED WITH GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEPLOYMENT (SUCCEED) |
Amount | € 2,533,939 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 294766 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 08/2022 |
Description | Sustainable Gas Institute via the BG Group |
Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | BG Group |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | The Crown Estate research funds |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Crown Estate |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 04/2016 |
Title | CO2 transport and storage network optimisation |
Description | Uses the CO2stored database and/or user defined input data to examine optimal future CO2 transport and storage network configurations that meet required decorbonisaton targets (user defined inputs) while considering market constraints (CO2 price, natural gas/oil price etc) |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Informing DECC decisions, consultations with the EU and Zero Emissions Platform |
Title | Imperial College LCA model (ICLCA) |
Description | Full value chain LCA model of fossil fuel production processing, transport, power generation, CO2 capture, transport and storage for coal and natural gas value chains |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | BG Group |
Title | Life cycle cost model for CO2 transport and storage |
Description | database and modelling tool for costing individual CO2 storage sites (saline aquifers and depleted reservoirs) |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The Crown Estate |
Title | Real Options analysis for individual CO2 storage sites |
Description | Evaluates development options for a given CO2 storage site given the uncertainties in CO2 storage site capacity, subsidies and policy support |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The Crown Estate is using the tool developed to assess leasing options and timing for individual storage sites |
Description | Attendance and presentations at the UKCCSRC Bi-Annual Meetings |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presented the findings of the RCUK funded projects to the audience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015 |
Description | Engagement with industry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussions with industry representatives, UK decarbonisation Clusters, European and international industry representatives involved in CCUS to discuss research outcomes and engage them in new targetted research. THese discussions led to a successful proposal to the EPSRC to set up the 'Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC)' and a new successful international research proposal partenring with BP UK, TOTAL SE France, Petroleum Technology Research Centre Canada, Cvictus Inc. Canada, Wintershall Dea GmbH Germany, Neptune Energy Netherlands B.V. and Wolf Carbon Solutions Inc. Canada |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020,2021 |