Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore global market leader for gas carriers Carlos Guerrero delivered a compelling presentation at Riviera’s CO2 Shipping & Terminals Conference 2024, which was held at the Waldorf Hilton on 18 June 2024.
His discourse centred on optimising carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects, specifically focusing on transporting liquefied CO2 (LCO2) by ship and its subsequent offshore injection.
Mr Guerrero began with a comprehensive overview of the CCS market in Europe and its crucial role in the continent’s strategy to mitigate climate change.
He highlighted several key projects that are setting the standard for CCS implementation. These projects are not only pivotal in reducing carbon emissions but also showcase the potential for scaling CCS technologies to meet future environmental targets.
Mr Guerrero underscored the significant investments and collaborations driving these initiatives, illustrating the robust framework supporting CCS advancements across Europe.
One of the critical aspects of Guerrero’s presentation was the size of the LCO2 fleet required for efficient transport. He provided an indepth analysis of the current and projected fleet sizes necessary to meet the demands of CCS projects.
Factors such as the capacity of LCO2 carriers, the frequency of voyages, and the distances to injection sites play a vital role in determining the optimal fleet size.
Mr Guerrero addressed the challenges associated with managing a fleet of this scale, proposing potential solutions to enhance fleet utilisation and efficiency.
By optimising the fleet size, the industry can ensure transporting LCO2 is both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.
Technical challenges in transporting LCO2 were another focal point of Mr Guerrero’s presentation. He discussed the complexities of designing LCO2 carriers that can maintain the required pressure and temperature conditions for safe and efficient transport.
The advancements in technology that address these challenges are critical for the success of CCS projects, and he noted several innovations that have improved the reliability and performance of LCO2 carriers, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the CCS value chain.
Direct offshore injection of LCO2 was a significant theme in Mr Guerrero’s discussion and he detailed the process and advantages of this method, which involves injecting captured CO2 directly into offshore geological formations.
This technique offers several benefits, including reducing onshore storage requirements and the potential for large-scale CO2 sequestration.
Mr Guerrero also presented case studies of successful offshore injection projects, demonstrating their feasibility and effectiveness and the technical and operational considerations necessary for these projects, including the design of injection platforms and the selection of suitable geological sites.
He noted material selection and corrosion management are critical issues in the construction and operation of LCO2 carriers and he stressed the importance of choosing appropriate materials for the internal tanks to prevent corrosion and ensure the integrity of the transport system.
He also elaborated on optimisation strategies for CCS projects. He presented various approaches to maximise the efficiency of CO2 capture, transport and injection processes.
Key parameters and calculations were discussed, illustrating how different scenarios can affect ship utilisation and operational downtime. By optimising these factors, CCS projects can achieve higher levels of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Looking ahead, Mr Guerrero provided future projections for the CCS market and the importance of innovation and industry collaboration.
He highlighted the need for continued research and development to overcome technical challenges and enhance the performance of CCS technologies with a greater emphasis on collaboration among stakeholders, driving forward the shared goal of reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change.
source: Riviera News