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Political Analysis

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is considered key to mitigating climate change by international institutions and governments around the world. The technology is considered advantageous because it may enable the continuing use of fossil fuels while limiting carbon emissions. Many analysts, governments and international organizations see addressing climate change as a major challenge for science and technology policy making. While a number of countries have invested significant resources into developing renewable energy technologies, there is a recognition that fossil fuels will play a major role in global energy systems for years to come[11]. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has therefore been welcomed as a key technology for climate change mitigation by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and some governments including those of the US, Canada, Norway, Australia and the UK [20].

[18]

The aim of CCS is to prevent the release of carbon dioxide from many sources into the atmosphere by capturing and transporting it to another location where it can be stored safely and used in other applications.

Gas injection or miscible flooding is presently the most-commonly used approach in enhanced oil recovery. Miscible flooding is a general term for injection processes that introduce miscible gases into the reservoir. A miscible displacement process maintains reservoir pressure and improves oil displacement. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is playing a role in U.S. research efforts to test the large-scale, commercial potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

Some Countries role in Carbon Capture and Storage development:

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  1. CO2 Use for EOR Could Significantly Boost U.S. Oil Production

    • Since the 1970s, oil and gas companies have been injecting CO2 into fields to enhance oil recovery. Pairing EOR projects with CCS research efforts creates a win-win situation for U.S. CCS research. This act will promote development of technologies to maintain a secure source of energy for the U.S. while limiting the dangerous CO2 emission levels [4].DOE reported that second phase tests by the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) show that oil and gas fields have high potential for enhancing oil and gas production rates associated with CO2 storage. In addition, the amount of oil recovered can assist to offset the investment in CCS which will make these researches justifiable [7].

  2. Carbon Capture and Storage research and technology development in Norway

    • In Norway, funding for Carbon capture and storage research and development is provided through the CLIMIT program, which is a national program for research, development and demonstration of technologies for capture, transport and storage of CO2 from fossil-based power Station and industry. The program supports projects in all stages of the development chain, from long-term basic research, providing expertise all the way to the demonstration phase. Projects under the CLIMIT program helped advancing the development of CCS not just in Norway, but also internationally [7].In addition, a Norwegian CCS Research Centre (NCCS), is established under the Centers for Environmental-friendly Energy Research program (FME). The center is managed by SINTEF Energy [7].

  3. Canada efforts to reduce its greenhouse emissions through CCS

    • Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Canada agreed to reduce emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.In order to meet these levels, Canada established 4 major projects (two operational and two in development) that will help to meet 3% of the reduction level needed to achieve by 2030. The two major operating CCS projects are SaskPower’s Boundary dam in Estevan, Saskatchewan, where carbon is being captured then sold for use in enhancement oil recovery, and Shell’s Quest project near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta [25].

CO2 storage by potential or planned CCS Plant in 2012 [34]

The figure above shows the size of investment the countries provided toward the Capron Capture and Storage projects development. Its clear that USA is in the lead with the most operational projects and also the most projects that are still in the planning phase. Canada comes next in term of the operational projects. However, Europe come next after the United States regarding the Planned projects followed by Australia & NZ and then Canada comes third.

It can be also observed that Asia countries didn’t have any operational programs but a good percentage of planned projects. On the other hand, Africa Appears to have operational projects with no planned projects for the future

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