Future Work Plan Activities for Storage in the Identify stage

Objective

Description of developed scope statement and objectives for feasibility study; state organisation and resources required; outline cost estimates and time to conduct. Include a description of key learning outcomes at the concept stage around storage plan options and impacts: 

• Achieved progress and extent of evaluation achieved
• Significant issues / areas of progress not achieved
• Any activities planned for Identify phase until next decision point

Major Deliverables

Report generated from the CO₂ storage site conceptual study, outlining the extent of information the feasibility study should contain and how will it be organised in terms of work packages. Typically, this may include: 

• Executive summary/mission statement outlining the feasibility study aims and objectives (e.g. identify options for onshore/offshore CO₂ storage with or without EOR/EGR/ECBM and match with a suitable CO₂ point source)
• Outline management/organisational structure
• Resource requirements (i.e. data, studies, personnel, equipment, etc.)
• Proposed work schedule divided into manageable work packages
• Estimated costs and budget requirements for the study
• Details of existing/expected partners and financial support
• Areas where knowledge gaps exist and therefore further work may be required
• Reporting and meeting requirements for feedback and discussion

Tasks

During the conceptual study phase, the following tasks are required: 

• Scope out the requirements for the feasibility study and identify the aims and objectives for the proposed Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project, which may include the following:
  • Clearly identify why this work is required (e.g. social, environmental, economic and technical drivers). Justify why CCS is the favoured option for dealing with CO₂ emissions
  • Identify a range of storage site options that can be considered at the feasibility stage. Where are the most suitable sites located, are they at sufficient enough depth and what is their estimated storage capacity?
  • What is the proximity of these sites in relation to proposed CO₂ source?
  • Can these sites also be used for EOR/EGR/ECBM or just for storage?
  • Will the sites be prototypes/pilots (i.e. several kt/yr) as a pre-cursor to a larger development or will they be large-scale industrial operations from the onset (i.e. several Mt/yr)?
• Identify who will perform the study and how it will be managed and funded. Define key roles and responsibility and communication pathways. Highlight the level of expertise for each participant in relation to CCS or hydrocarbon industry projects. Potential candidates and options may include:
  • Specialised consultancies
  • Academic institutions
  • Industrial consortiums (e.g. hydrocarbon operating companies)
  • Joint Industry Project (JIP) involving one or more of the above
• Identify how the feasibility study will be performed and what resources may be required for the study:
  • Based on existing case studies/data? Is this information available in the public domain or if not, any additional purchase costs need to be factored into the feasibility study
  • New studies/data acquisition required? If so, these additional costs need to be factored into the feasibility study
  • If commercial interests/data are involved are there liable to be restrictions on data access and Intellectual Property (IP) or can this be resolved via confidentiality agreements?
  • Collate a list of personnel required to perform the study and establish if there are any availability issues. Review outsourcing and contract requirements
• Identify hardware/software requirements for data processing, analysis and reporting
• Identify an outline work package structure for the feasibility study and establish approximate durations for each activity. Such work areas may include:
  • Identification and review of existing studies - QC/QA
  • Screening methodology to be adopted (storage capacity assessment and calculation methodology)
  • Research and development (R&D) requirements
  • Potential for international collaboration
  • Technical feasibility
  • Economic feasibility
  • Environmental impact
  • Social and outreach communication issues
  • Regulatory requirements and issues
  • Integration, analysis and feedback of study outcomes
• From the list of potential contractors, obtain approximate cost and budget estimates for performing the feasibility study
• Identify stakeholders and available sources of funding (e.g. EOR/EGR/ECBM, subsidies, price guarantees, tax credits, government loans, competitions, CDM, etc.). Consider management and outreach strategies to attract additional support
• Review best practice guidelines for existing storage sites to identify the most current and successful techniques and equipment required to perform:
  • Site screening, characterisation and monitoring
  • Risk/uncertainty evaluation and ranking
  • Performance target assessment.
• Identify any knowledge gaps that become apparent during the conceptual phase or those that may need to be addressed by site-specific studies (e.g. hazard identification, environmental impact assessment) and feedback as part of the progress reporting and review meeting process. 

Examples

• Institute for Energy / European Science Technology Observatory / Institute Prospective Technology Studies, Hypogen Pre-Feasibility Study
• The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, Strategic Analysis of the Global Status of CCS 
• European Energy Research Alliance, CO₂ Capture and Storage
• The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, Global Status of CCS 2010
• ARUP, Feasibility Study for Europe-Wide CO₂ Infrastructures
• Nexant, Carbon Management: CO₂ Capture, Transport and Sequestration (2007) - technology, cost and policy evaluation
• European Commission, European CO₂ Capture and Storage projects
• US Carbon Sequestration Council, CO2 Sequestration Capability: Where Are We? (An Overview of the Advances Being Made in CO2 Geologic Storage by DOE/NETL’s Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships) 
• Department of Energy United States of America / National Energy Technology Laboratory, Carbon Sequestration - Overview and Summary of Program Plans

Key Personnel

• Government Environmental Advisors
• Environmental Consultants
• Economic Advisors
• NGOs
• Directors, Managers and Technical Staff/Academics associated with CCS Research and Development Institutes/Private Companies
• Public Relations Personnel for various Stakeholders
• Research Associates
• Documentation Controllers