Wireline Issue 25 Autumn 2013

CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE

GAS

“With its ready access to existing gas pipelines and well-characterised, depleted, offshore gas reservoirs for storage, the project could facilitate the UK’s first CO 2 capture and storage cluster, centred upon the power station and the St Fergus gas terminal.” substantial benefits, given the scale at which CCS could be rolled out globally. Paul believes that “the UK’s long history of expertise in the individual technologies used for CCS (see box left) leaves it well placed to lead the way.” He explains that the key is proving the individual elements can work end-to-end on an industrial scale. “Demonstrating CCS will put us on the learning curve, which will help bring down the cost of the technology. It will also give the public and investors confidence.” The International Energy Agency estimates that globally CCS could reduce carbon emissions by one fifth by 2050. With this in mind, the Peterhead project sends the clearest possible signal that gas is far from being a stop-gap solution in the transition to renewable energy options. future opportunities across the UK’s existing gas-fired plants. A study is planned to measure the project benefits in greater detail. And, in time, Peterhead could potentially receive CO 2 for storage from elsewhere in the UK and Europe. “With its access to existing gas pipelines and well- characterised, depleted offshore gas reservoirs for storage, the project could facilitate the UK’s first CO 2 capture and storage cluster, centred upon the power station and the St Fergus gas terminal,” says Paul. UK advantage More broadly, by taking a leading position, the UK stands to accrue

PETERHEAD CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE BY NUMBERS…

10 YEARS

THE ANTICIPATED LIFESPAN OF THE PROJECT

90 PER CENT THE PROPORTION OF CARBON EMISSIONS THAT COULD BE CAPTURED BY THE PROCESS 10 MILLION TONNES THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF CO 2 TO BE CAPTURED 100 KILOMETRES THE LENGTH OF THE PIPELINE USED TO TRANSPORT THE CO 2 OFFSHORE TO GOLDENEYE 2 KILOMETRES THE MINIMUM RESERVOIR DEPTH AT WHICH THE CO 2 WILL BE STORED OFFSHORE

The Peterhead Carbon Capture and Storage project could facilitate the UK’s first CO 2 capture and storage cluster, centred upon the power station and the St Fergus gas terminal

For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/1bRejhG and read more on the UK energy policy and the role of gas in Oil & Gas UK’s Economic Report 2013 at www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/2013-economic-report.cfm.

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