• Energy Research

China encourages the demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. In an effort to identify gaps and provide suggestions for environmental risk management of carbon dioxide (CO2) geological storage in China, this article presents a concise overview of potential health, safety and environmental (HSE) risks and environmental management regulations for CO2 geological storage in Australia, Japan, the United States (USA), the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom (UK). The environmental impact assessment (EIA) experience of Shenhua Ordos Coal-to-Liquid (CTL) Project and PetroChina Jilin Oil Field enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is subsequently analyzed in light of our field investigation, and gaps in current EIA guidelines that are applicable to CO2 geological storage projects are identified. It is found that there are no specific environmental risk regulations suitable for CO2 storage in China, and environmental risk management lags behind the development of CCS technology, which presents a challenge to demonstration enterprises in terms of assessing environmental risk. One major challenge is the overestimation or underestimation of this risk on the part of the enterprise, and another is a lack of applicable regulations for government sectors to supervise the risk throughout CCS projects. Therefore, there is a pressing need for China to formulate environmental management regulations that include environmental risk assessment, mandatory monitoring schemes, environmental emergency plans, and related issues.

Carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is regarded as an important carbon emissions reduction technology response to climate change. Though some full-chain CCUS pilot projects have operated in China, many barriers exist when stepping up to commercial applications, including significant negative perceptions of the environmental risk of CCUS. Therefore, to tailor constructive training or outreach programs for public acceptance of CCUS in China, a large national survey of public perceptions of CCUS technology was conducted in 2013. The questionnaire contained four themes focusing on people with a tertiary education. Six hundred paper–pencil questionnaires were dispatched to 22 universities/enterprises across 19 provinces and 2 municipalities, with a response rate of 95%. The results show that 91.4% of the participants agreed that the earth was experiencing climate change, and 74.3% were interested in low-carbon technologies, but while 22% had heard of CCUS, although with limited knowledge, only 3.6% had a good understanding of the technology. The results from the second part of the questionnaire show that 80.4% of participants believed that CCUS may help to mitigate the impacts of global warming, but the “Not in My Back Yard” (NIMBY) phenomenon was obvious from the location-based objections to transportation and storage processes. In addition, ten listed CCUS environmental management policies received extensive recognition from the participants, and about half of the participants considered that the related government departments should be responsible for environmental management as a first priority. The survey also indicates that the most trusted sources through which the survey participants obtain CCUS information are academic journals and textbooks, television, radio and newspapers, expert lectures and brochures on CCUS demonstration projects. According to the survey of public awareness of the environmental impact and management of CCUS technology in China, CCUS technology rates well for environmental benefits, but high environmental risk perceptions of CCUS lead to a lower acceptance of this carbon emissions reduction technology.

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is considered as a very important technology for mitigating global climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) injected into an underground reservoir will induce changes in its physical properties and the migration of CO2 will be affected by many factors. Accurately understanding these changes and migration characteristics of CO2 is crucial for selecting a CCUS project site, estimating storage capacity and ensuring storage security. In this paper, the basic principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies are briefly introduced in the context of laboratory experiments related to CCUS. The types of NMR apparatus, experimental samples and testing approaches applied worldwide are discussed and analyzed. Then two typical NMR core analysis systems used in CCUS field and a self-developed high-pressure, low-field NMR rock core flooding experimental system are compared. Finally, a summary of the current deficiencies related to NMR applied to CCUS field is given and future research plans are proposed. Keywords: Geologic carbon storage, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Core flooding, Experimental apparatus, Low-field NMR, High-field NMR

Abstract The success of a new technology (like carbon capture and storage (CCS)) not only depends on sound technical and engineering practice but also involves societal, political and economic factors. High public acceptance is viewed as one of the critical factors. To date, there has been little systematic research into public communication and engagement in regard to CCS in China. A national survey on public perception (but biased towards the views of the educated elite of the Chinese population) of CCS technology was conducted from July 2013 to December 2013. The objectives of the survey were to assess the following issues: public understanding of the climate sciences, society’s knowledge and acceptance of low emission technologies (especially of CCS technology), public interests and concerns about the positive and negative impacts of CCS technology, and public attitudes towards CCS policies supported by the government. Finally, high-level suggestions for mechanisms to raise public understanding and frame the social acceptance on CCS technology in China are proposed based on a SWOT analysis.

Abstract Deep ocean storage of CO 2 could help reduce the atmospheric level of greenhouse gas as part of a climate change mitigation strategy. In this paper, a multiphase flow model of CO 2 sequestration into deep ocean sediments was designed associated with the formation of CO 2 hydrates. A simplified assumption was proposed to predict the critical time of CO 2 leakage from marine sedimentary strata into seawater. Moreover, some principal parameters, which include the permeability, anisotropy, total injection amount, and length of the injection part of wellbores, were investigated by numerical simulations. The numerical estimates are used to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of CO 2 storage in deep ocean sediments. Accurately predicting the actual fate of liquid CO 2 sequestered into the marine sedimentary strata at depths greater than 500 m is complicated by uncertainties associated with not only the chemical–physical behavior of CO 2 under such conditions but also the geo-environment of disposal sites. Modeling results have shown some implications that the effectiveness of CO 2 ocean sequestration depends mainly on the injection conditions (such as injection rate, total injection amount, and the depth of injection), the site geology (such as permeability and anisotropy of disposal formations), and the chemical-physical behavior of CO 2 in marine environment.

Abstract We apply the screening and ranking framework (SRF) based on health, safety, and environmental (HSE) risk developed by Oldenburg (2008) to elucidate and to evaluate leakage risk at a potential CO2 geological storage site in the Ordos basin, China. We slightly revised the SRF, and then applied the revised methodology to assess the CO2 geological storage site of Shenhua's CCS project in the Ordos basin in two scenarios. The site is divided into six reservoir-seal combinations with sound primary and secondary containment and fair attenuation potential. We discuss an updated approach with respect to the definitions of primary and secondary containment, and the definition of the good and poor curves on the attribute assessment figure. The methodology can be applied to suggest that the Shenhua CCS site is in low risk and can meet the project needs.