Methodology for Phased Development of a Hypothetical Pipeline Network for CO₂ Transport during Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

Abstract

If implemented on a commercial scale, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) has the potential to significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. Moving the CO 2 from the point sources to the geologic storage locations will likely require a pipeline network. The Plains CO 2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership developed a four-step methodology that can be used to estimate the length, cost, and time frame of a hypothetical pipeline network that would be built in phases. The methodology was tested during a case study in which a hypothetical phased pipeline network was estimated for the PCOR Partnership region. The hypothetical pipeline network consisted of trunk lines roughly 10 780 km in total length that could provide an overall CO 2 reduction for the region of about 555.6 Mtonnes of CO 2 /year by 2050. The results also indicate that an extensive pipeline network may not be required to transport to storage locations the quantity of CO 2 required to meet the emission reduction targets for the PCOR Partnership region.