This website will offer limited functionality in this browser. We only support the recent versions of major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Technology Collaboration Programme by IEA

Enter your search

Ethane and CO₂ shipping

Technical Review

1 March 2017

Transport

Michael Moore

Citation: IEAGHG, "Ethane and CO₂ shipping", 2017-TR1, March 2017.

Download The Full Publication Now

Publication Overview

The study is a first stage assessment of a novel concept of transporting ethane from the USA in dedicated maritime carriers to Europe, which are modified from standard designs to be equipped to carry both ethane and CO2, so that CO2 can be transported back (back hauled) to the USA for use in CO₂-EOR operations.

Publication Summary

The report considers a conceptual idea for transporting CO2 to the USA in modified ethane carriers. The main conclusion that can be drawn are:

  1. Whilst ethane is being exported to Europe now the same ships are unlikely to be converted to carrier LCO2 as well. New ships would need to be built to meet any market demand to back haul CO2 to the USA.
  2. Whilst there is a potential near term demand for CO2 for EOR in the USA (if oil process recover to $100/barrel), there is unlikely to be large quantities of transportable CO2 from Europe in the foreseeable future.

In summary, this is an interesting concept and one that should not be dismissed out of hand. But all the pieces of the jigsaw do not slot into place at the current time and may not conceivably do so in the next 5-10 years.

It is also noted that LPG and ethane trades to the Far East from the US Gulf Coast are also now starting and there may be similar considerations on those routes for future investigations of this type.

Download Publication

Access the complete publication in PDF format.

Download Now

Related Publications

View similar publications.

View All Publications
Technical Report

Components of CCS Infrastructure – Interim CO₂ Holding Options

  • 27 November 2023
  • Storage
  • Transport

This work, undertaken on behalf of IEAGHG by TNO and SINTEF, provides an overview of temporary / interim CO₂ storage, or ‘holding’, options (also called buffers) and investigates the role of buffer storage and its potential to create flexible and robust carbon capture and storage (CCS) chains. The report looks at current and emerging buffer technologies, conducts simulations to demonstrate the temporary storage required for given flow-rate scenarios and discusses the impact of buffer capacity on transport costs. In the report, the storage requested in the chain for normal operation is presented as " temporary storage" and storage to give buffer capacity is presented as " buffer storage". This report has focussed on buffering at the emitter site. The results of this study will benefit CO₂ storage site project developers, operators, financiers and regulators.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

The Status and Challenges of CO₂ Shipping Infrastructures

  • 1 July 2020
  • Transport

Large-scale CO₂ storage will entail substantial transportation of CO₂ from either point-sources or hub collection points to geological formations capable of storing thousands of tonnes of CO₂ in supercritical form. In many parts of the world the most suitable storage options for large-scale capacity will be in offshore formations such as the North Sea. Consequently, it is important to build an understanding of the most suitable techno-economic solutions for the trans-shipment of CO₂ from shore facilities to offshore storage locations. This study has explored a series of options to gain a more detailed comparison of shipping CO₂ either directly by sea tanker to a storage site, or via an intermediate stage, to a shore facility in closer proximity to a storage site prior to transfer via pipeline. These options have also been compared to direct transfer via pipeline.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

Re-Use of Oil & Gas Facilities for CO₂ Transport and Storage

  • 22 June 2018
  • Storage
  • Transport

Our recent study ‘Case Studies of CO₂ Storage in Depleted Oil and Gas Fields’ (2017-01) concluded that CO₂ storage in depleted fields would not only be viable with potentially lower risk but could also be relatively cost effective, providing important intermediate-scale storage resources. The report highlighted that re-using an O&G fields would be beneficial as “there would likely be cost savings over saline aquifer sites, particularly in the characterisation stages (where there is the advantage of production history and proved hydrocarbon retention to reduce uncertainty in containment and capacity)”.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

Operational Flexibility of CO₂ Transport and Storage

  • 1 March 2016
  • Storage
  • Transport

This study has reviewed different transport and storage scenarios to reflect the range of full-scale commercial operations. In addition to a wide ranging literature review a survey of industrial, utility, pipeline and CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR operators was also conducted to obtain their insights of CO<sub>2</sub> transport and storage. Owing to the sensitivity of these commercial operations it has not been possible to attribute background information to either individuals or their companies. Anonymity has not prevented the inclusion of real world data on exhaust gas composition from different sources including power generation (coal and natural gas), oil refining, gas processing, cement, hydrogen production, and ethanol production. It also includes background information on actual CO<sub>2</sub> pipeline operation, including network hubs, and CO<sub>2</sub> CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR experience in the United States. Experience from different industrial scale injection projects such as Sleipner, Snøhvit and In Salah, has been included. The study has investigated how flexible operation affects CO<sub>2</sub> storage and the measures adopted to accommodate intermittent supply. There are a series of prioritized recommendations based on the gaps in knowledge.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

Evaluation and analysis of the performance of dehydration units for CO₂ capture

  • 1 April 2014
  • Capture
  • Transport

The purpose of the study is to examine the characteristics of the various dehydration processes and the way they can be best integrated into the CCS system. Moisture in CO<sub>2</sub> can lead to corrosion and hydrate formation. It is necessary to dehydrate CO<sub>2</sub> streams prior to transporting the product in carbon steel pipelines. Several different types of CO<sub>2</sub> capture processes exist. The type selected for use is dependent upon the basic type of combustion process in operation, e.g. coal or natural gas. The CO<sub>2</sub> produced by the various combustion and associated capture processes is of different quality, containing different inerts and impurities, with varying compositions and conditions. The dehydration process can be significantly affected by these differences; it was therefore necessary to consider the different types of capture process separately within this study.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

CO₂ Pipeline Infrastructure

  • 1 December 2013
  • Transport

The deliverables for this study consist of a reference manual, database, interactive web tool and webinar. The reference manual highlights key design, construction, operational and regulatory learnings. A database, containing more than 100 data elements, complements the reference manual

Read more

Members Only

Technical Review

Development of a Global CO₂ Pipeline Infrastructure

  • 1 August 2010
  • Transport

Projections of the scale on which CCS needs to be deployed to meet targets for CO₂ emissions reductions indicate that a massive CO₂ pipeline infrastructure will be required. To date CCS systems have tended to be based on dedicated pipelines connecting source to sink although some studies of regional CO₂ pipeline infrastructure requirements have been carried out. The purpose of this study is to examine the wider issues including design, financing, economics and regional differences.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

Upgraded calculator for CO₂ pipeline systems

  • 1 March 2009
  • Costs of CCUS
  • Transport

A contract to develop and upgrade the original Woodhill program and the network program was awarded to Gastec UK/AMEC who had already produced the new network design program. After obtaining the original code from Woodhill-Frontier options were examined and it was felt that as both programs were Excel-based it would be simplest to amalgamate them into one program using the original Woodhill interface where possible.The possibility of adding a graphical map-based interface for the distributed collection network was investigated as an additional option but although possible the necessary licence for commercial use was found to be too costly. It was on this basis that GastecUK/AMEC proceeded with the development of the upgraded calculator.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

Distributed Collection of CO₂

  • 1 September 2007
  • Capture
  • Transport

This study examines the design issues and costs of collecting CO₂ captured from multiple distributed sources down to quantities of 5000 tpa. It includes a spreadsheet model for sizing pipelines in a branched collection network with multiple pressure levels. This model also estimates overall collection costs including those for compression using unit costs for construction in the UK.

Read more

Members Only

Our most recent publications

Our authoritative, peer-reviewed publications cover topics that include carbon capture, transport, storage, monitoring, regulation, and more.

View All Publications
Technical Review

Insurance Coverage for CO₂ Storage Projects

  • 16 August 2024
  • Industry Insights
  • Storage

This report is a focused review of recent developments regarding insurance coverage for carbon dioxide (CO₂) geological storage projects. It seeks to address the following: what companies are offering or planning to offer insurance to CO₂ storage projects, what is the scope and duration of the coverage offered, and does coverage extend to the transportation of CO₂ to the project site? This work and report was prepared by Franz Hiebert.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Review

CO₂ Storage Site Catalogue

  • 8 August 2024
  • Storage

This Technical Review provides an overview of 22 CO₂ storage sites from around the world. These include CO₂-EOR, commercial scale storage sites and a number of pilot and demonstration storage sites in both depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and saline reservoirs. Its primary aim is to provide a convenient source of collated information with a specific focus on technical information that are in the public domain.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Report

Power CCS: Potential for cost reductions and improvements

  • 5 August 2024
  • Capture
  • Costs of CCUS

CCS, in the context of power CCS technologies, will be an essential component of the portfolio of technologies required to reach net-zero emissions in the power sector. This study explores the potential to reduce the cost and accelerate the uptake of power CCS technologies.

Read more

Members Only

Technical Review

7th Post-Combustion Capture Conference Summary

  • 1 April 2024
  • Capture
  • Event Proceedings

The 7th edition of the Post Combustion Capture Conference (PCCC-7) was held on the 25?28 September 2023 and was jointly hosted by the IEAGHG, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and sponsored by Worley, Shell, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. (MHI).

Read more

Members Only

Get the latest CCS news and insights

Get essential news and updates from the CCS sector and the IEAGHG by email.

Can’t find what you are looking for?

Whatever you would like to know, our dedicated team of experts is here to help you. Just drop us an email and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Contact Us Now