Stored safely for years

Carbon dioxide has been stored safely in the Utsira Formation in the North Sea for years. The formation contains a number of vertical structures called chimneys that allow CO₂ to flow between the different sedimentary layers. Chimneys have also been observed in the sealing layer of the cap-rock above the Utsira aquifer. Utsira is a safe site for storage of CO₂, but in order to find new, safe storage locations, it is important to understand how these chimney structures are formed and behave.

Chimneys are explained in the figure below. The rock deep below the seabed is made up of many horizontal sedimentary layers. Chimneys are vertical channels that connect the various sedimentary layers. Liquids can, in principle, move through the chimneys and thus move from one layer to another.

All CO₂ remains in place

Although chimneys have been observed in the sealing cap-rock layer above the Utsira aquifer, there is nothing that indicates that CO₂ is moving out of the storage site. All the CO₂ that has been injected into the Utsira Formation stays where it should be.

The figure below shows that chimney structures are common in close to impermeable sedimentary layers.

Important to understand the structure of chimneys

The Utsira CO₂ reservoir is tight, but in connection with developing new sequestration sites, it is important to fully understand chimneys so that we can be sure that new storage sites also remain tight.

In the CO₂-PATHS project, researchers from the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) have studied these chimney structures in detail. The researchers have created physical models to determine how chimneys are formed and how they behave. Project manager Magnus Wangen says this has generated important new knowledge.

“We have concluded that chimneys have such low permeability that they will cause negligible CO₂ flow from a reservoir. However, to ensure safe storage, it is necessary to monitor chimneys located above or near CO₂ reservoirs,” Wangen points out.

New understanding

The chimneys that are visible today were formed way back in geological time by high fluid pressure. Reservoir fluids can move in the chimneys, and the lightest components will move upwards. In the project, the researchers studied how glacial processes created high pore pressure in sedimentary layers in the Utsira aquifer. This has provided new understanding of how fluids move in chimneys. The project has had a particular focus on whether chimneys can form in the cap-rock that prevents CO₂ from flowing out into the sea. The researchers have built models for pressure build-up caused by glacial loading and have studied how viscous deformations can form chimneys in sedimentary basins.

CO2-PATHS’ new physical models will be useful for researchers and operators of CO₂ storage sites.

“The knowledge generated in CO₂-PATHS will be very useful when assessing new storage sites. We now know more about chimneys, and this has increased our understanding of how CO₂ might move in new storage sites,” says Wangen.

The results of the project have been published in a series of scientific articles in internationally recognised journals.

 

Key data about the project

• Title: CO₂-PATHS – Prediction of CO₂ leakage from reservoirs during large scale storage
• Project number: 280567
• Partners: The Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) (project owner) and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)
• Project period: 2018–2021
• Budget: NOK 8.2 million. Funded in its entirety by the Research Council of Norway

Press release from Elkem

Elkem, a global leader in silicon-based advanced materials, today announces that it will test the world’s first carbon capture pilot for silicon smelters at its plant in Rana, Norway. The project has received financial support from Gassnova CLIMIT and is a follow-up to the company’s recently launched climate roadmap to reduce emissions towards net zero while growing supplies to the green transition.

The carbon capture pilot is a collaboration between Elkem and Mo Industripark, SINTEF, Alcoa, Celsa, Ferroglobe, SMA Mineral, Heidelberg Materials, Norfrakalk, Arctic Cluster Team and Aker Carbon Capture.

The test unit will be installed at Elkem’s plant in Rana, which produces high purity ferrosilicon and Microsilica. In addition, emissions from SMA Mineral will also gradually enter the treatment plant. Aker Carbon Capture delivers the test unit, which is the only one of its kind in Norway.

The project is supported through the CLIMIT-Demo program, by state enterprise Gassnova SF. CLIMIT is Norway’s national programme for research, development and demonstration of CO2 capture and storage technology. The main goal of the project is to verify the technology on real industrial exhaust gases from smelters, in order to prepare a full-scale plant for industrial carbon capture. The program runs over two years.

“Elkem aims to be part of the solution to combat climate change – and to be one of the winners in the green transition. Our mission is to provide advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. We have recently launched a climate roadmap detailing our ambitions to reduce emissions while growing our supplies to the green transition. Carbon capture is a key technology to reach net zero by 2050,” says Elkem’s CEO, Helge Aasen.

Elkem recently launched a global climate roadmap detailing how the company plans to reduce its total CO2 emissions by 28% from 2020-31 while growing its supplies to the green transition, thereby delivering 39% improvement of its product carbon footprint in the same period.

As a part of this work towards carbon-neutral materials production, Elkem has conducted a feasibility study for the establishment of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The purpose of the study has been to assess the technical and economic feasibility of installing carbon capture at its Norwegian plants in Bjølvefossen, Bremanger, Rana, Salten and Thamshavn.

Great relevance to other plants

“The test unit installation at Elkem Rana means that we are now moving one step forward. The work to be done in Rana will also be of great relevance to other plants both in Elkem and for other players in the industry,” says Trond Sæterstad, climate director in Elkem.

Mo Industrial Park will be the project owner and SINTEF will have a leading role in the project management of the program.

“In total the partners have identified 1.5 million tonnes of potential CO2 capture in the region. This corresponds to three percent of Norway’s total emissions, and almost one third of the emissions from the metal industry,” says Jack Ødegård, Vice President Research in SINTEF.

“It is very relevant for CLIMIT to support the world’s first CO2-capture from ferrosilicon and silicon industry. In this project, there are nine international industries collaborating in development of cost-effective CCS solutions. Important research work will be carried out by SINTEF as well. Knowledge from development of the full scale CCS project Longship is also applicable for this Elkem pilot,” says Ingrid Sørum Melaaen, Gassnovas´ Head of Secretariat CLIMIT.

“The mobile test unit is for all practical purposes a large facility in miniature. It is very exciting that we can now follow up the feasibility study and test that the technology is also suitable for large-scale smelters,” says Jon Christopher Knudsen, Chief Commercial Officer in Aker Carbon Capture

“It is necessary to cut carbon emissions. In addition, this project will create new jobs and ensure the competitiveness of the industry. This is also aligned with Mo Industrial Park’s sustainability strategy and the initiative will add important cutting-edge expertise to the region,” says Jan Gabor, Executive Vice President Property Development in Mo Industrial Park.

The project has a total budget of NOK 23.6 million, of which Gassnova CLIMIT will contribute 13.8 million and the industry will contribute with the remaining amount.

For more information

Odd-Geir Lyngstad
VP Finance & Investor Relations
Tel: +47 976 72 806
Email: odd-geir.lyngstad@elkem.com

Hans Iver Odenrud
Corporate Communication Manager
Tel: +47 958 16 230
Email: hans.iver.odenrud@elkem.com

About Elkem

Elkem is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw materials, renewable energy and human ingenuity. Elkem helps its customers create and improve essential innovations like electric mobility, digital communications, health and personal care as well as smarter and more sustainable cities. With a strong track record since 1904, its global team of more than 6,800 people has a joint commitment to stakeholders: Delivering your potential. In 2020, Elkem was rated among the world’s top 5% on climate and achieved an operating income of NOK 24.7 billion. Elkem is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: ELK).

Project goal

The project goal was to verify the effect of Surfactant Alternating Gas (SAG) injection in oil fields in Texas. This is the use of short, alternating injection cycles of surfactant (soap) and gas in order to generate CO₂ foam deep inside the reservoir.

Onshore fields in Texas have both CO₂ and connected infrastructure available, while operating costs are low. CO₂ expertise in industry is high and the pilot results can be gathered quickly due to the short distances between the wells. This is advantageous in terms of scaling it up for use on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

An energy transition technology developed at the University of Bergen used CO₂ foam mobility control in combined CO₂ EOR and carbon storage as part of CCUS.

The research findings show the following

The research findings from the laboratory and the field pilot demonstration showed that CO₂ foam:

• retained more CO₂ than normal CO₂ injection
• reduced CO₂ mobility and improved CO₂ ‘cleansing efficiency’ (displacement efficiency)
• produced more oil than regular CO₂ EOR
• improved CO₂ utilisation
• reduced operating costs and increased revenues

Dialogue with stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the innovation

‘These findings use fresh data, but we are already engaged in dialogue with multiple commercial stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the innovation,’ says project leader Arne Graue of the University of Bergen.

He adds that the technology has the potential to enable a sustainable financial framework for industrial participation in carbon storage on the global stage. According to Graue, the technology may help countries with levels of carbon emissions to realise CCUS, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.

 

The delivery and mixing of surfactant solution directly to the wellhead at an onshore oil field in Texas.

Will offer turnkey carbon capture plants for incinerators

Carbon Centric, which is a spin-off of Østfold Energi, will offer turnkey carbon capture plants for incineration plants that are both faster and cheaper than what has been possible so far. The company specializes in carbon capture plants for small and medium-sized combustion lines with emissions of between 10,000 and 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Now they will raise money to build a carbon capture plant at Østfold Energi’s waste incineration plant in Rakkestad.

Sharing knowledge and experiences

Østfold Energi has been involved in the CLIMIT demo-supported projects around the Øra cluster and BorgCO₂ from the start. Here is also Fortum Olso Varme (FOV), which is part of the Langskip project to share its expertise and experience. The goal of the Langskip project is to pave the way for new CCS projects, so that the probability of achieving the goals in the Paris Agreement increases. Everyone involved in Langskip is obliged to share knowledge and experience beyond what is usual for an industrial project.

– We have learned a lot from this cluster collaboration, where we have looked at everything from various carbon capture technologies – to how to build a complete value chain within CCS, says Häger.

Collaborating with the supplier of the pilot to Fortum Oslo Varme

It is the Norwegian company KANFA that has developed the design Carbon Centric will now use. By using smaller and standardized dimensions, they believe that modular carbon capture plants can be produced almost as off-the-shelf. According to the press release, this means that incineration plants can cut their greenhouse gas emissions in a faster, cheaper and safer way.

It was KANFA who delivered the pilot to FOV, which was mainly financed by the full-scale project. They have also been central in the cost-reducing measures FOV has taken after the preliminary project «DG3».
The company was also involved in a CLIMIT demo project called Offshore CCS, which looked at the design of offshore CO₂ capture facilities. The project was led by the oil company OKEA.

 

The road map

The roadmap provides recommendations to ministers of the CSLF member countries, and their climate and energy policymakers, on technology developments that are required for CCUS to fulfill the CSLF mission to facilitate the development and deployment of CCS technologies via collaborative efforts that address key technical, economic, and environmental obstacles. 

Borg CO₂ is supported by CLIMIT.

Text: Borg CO₂ and Northern Lights

A joint project between 18 industry partners

Borg CO₂ is a joint project between 18 industry partners and the port of Borg, which will serve as host for a future CO₂ loading terminal. The plan is to transport captured CO₂ to this terminal, where it will be loaded onboard a Northern Lights operated ship for transport to the intermediate storage terminal at Øygarden on the Norwegian west coast. From Øygarden the CO₂ will be injected into a 100 km long pipeline and injected into permanent storage in a reservoir 2.6 km below the seabed.

Borg CO₂ is developing a carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution for emissions from industrial facilities in Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and Halden. The industrial cluster employs 1,400 people and is responsible for emissions of almost 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The aim is to capture and store up to 90% of the total emissions, or around 630,000 tonnes a year.

Northern Lights delivers CO₂ transport and storage as a service and aims to enable the decarbonisation of industrial emissions and to facilitate the removal of CO₂ from the air. The company is a joint venture between partners Equinor, Shell and Total.

“This collaboration with Northern Lights is important for the development of carbon capture and storage solutions in the region. Without the pioneering work done by Northern Lights to create an open source third party storage facility, carbon capture would not be possible in our region”, said Tore Lundestad, managing director of Borg CO₂ and Harbour Master for the port of Borg. 

For more information