Conversion of offshore hydrocarbon facilities for use in carbon capture and storage – challenges and solutions
Nick Brown A * and Ross Weiter AA Advisian Pty Ltd, Level 14, 240 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 63 S357-S360 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22054
Accepted: 8 March 2023 Published: 11 May 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
The ability to store large volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) is becoming critical to the success of resource projects and sustainable industrial development, particularly in the context of net zero emissions (NZE) goals. Converting ageing hydrocarbon facilities for use as part of an overall carbon capture and storage (CCS) system can be a very cost-effective strategy. However, there are many significant challenges which need to be addressed to assure CCS system safety, functionality, operability and integrity. This paper summarises the key elements of the repurposing process for conversion of ageing offshore hydrocarbon production facilities and associated pipeline infrastructure for use in CCS systems, highlighting key challenges and solutions. The repurposing elements addressed are facility development for CO2 service, facility life extension, operational conversion and Safety Case development. Key challenges identified include development of design and operating philosophies, safety management including loss of containment characterisation and pipeline requalification. The paper is based on experience in assessing the suitability of offshore gas production facilities for high-volume CO2 injection.
Keywords: carbon capture and sequestration, carbon dioxide, CCS, CO2, facilities repurposing, pipeline integrity, pipeline repurposing, topsides integrity.
Nick Brown is the Director of Major Studies at Advisian ANZ with current focus on energy transition projects including green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage projects. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer with more than 25 years’ experience in the design, construction and operation of hydrocarbon pipeline systems in APAC and Europe, supplemented more recently by experience in the design and operation of CO2 pipelines including the repurposing of hydrocarbon pipelines for use in CO2 service. Nick is part of Worley’s global CCS network contributing to development of best practice in CCS engineering and project delivery. |
Ross Weiter is a Principal Consultant at Advisian, where he is also the Carbon Capture Utilisation and Sequestration (CCUS) Lead for the Asia-Pacific Region. He has over 29 years of experience in all areas of the upstream oil and gas industry. This includes time spent in concept engineering, front-end design, detail design, operation support and site work. His experience includes many CCUS studies for BP, Santos, Wesfarmers, Arctic LNG2, Woodside, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Korea National Oil Company, BG and others. These studies covered design, workshop facilitation, technology assessment, risk assessment and costing. Ross spent most of his career working in Perth, with 3 years in Muscat working for Petroleum Development Oman. Ross holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering, Hons II) from Curtin University of Technology, Perth and is a Member of IChemE and Society of Petroleum Engineers. He recently completed a short course in Sustainability Management Leadership (University of Cambridge). |
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