Technology System of Offshore Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

Abstract

Offshore carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is an engineering solution and technical system developed by coastal countries or regions to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Compared with onshore CCUS, offshore CCUS has multiple significant advantages, such as higher storage potential and safer storage environment. Offshore CCUS comprises capturing CO2 from large coastal or offshore carbon emission sources, compressing and transporting it to offshore storage platforms, and injecting it into sub-seabed geological reservoirs, to achieve permanent isolation from the atmosphere or use it to produce valuable products. This study reviews the development demand and industry status quo of offshore CCUS in China and worldwide and analyzes the technical and social values of offshore CCUS development. The development routes and trends of representative offshore CCUS technologies are summarized, including CO2 plant capture, CO2 pipeline transportation, CO2 storage in the deep saline aquifer and for petroleum displacement, CO2 chemical utilization, and several other technical frameworks. Focusing on the common problems faced by different technology systems, we propose the following suggestions for the future development of China’s offshore CCUS: strengthening the land-sea overall planning and layout, cultivating high-level research teams, and enhancing fundamental research, key technology research and development, cost control, scale expansion, and policy incentives at all stages of development.

Keywords

• offshore carbon capture, utilization and storage
• CO2 capture
• CO2 transport
• CO2 storage
• CO2 utilization
• coastal areas
• offshore sedimentary basin