The need for efficient, long-term Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) is well understood, with several countries and operators leading its deployment as a medium-term instrument to decarbonise our energy supplies. Hard-to-abate industries see CCUS as a key tool for decarbonisation, offering fast Net Zero gains and potential new revenue streams in the 21st century.

This paper examines recent UK and global CCUS projects, focusing on costs, economics and the technical challenges associated with each step in the CCUS value chain: Capture, Transportation & Handling, Facilities & Processing, Subsurface Injection & Storage.

Capture – CCUS typically captures CO? at lower concentrations and pressures than conventional Acid Gas Removal Units (AGRU), requiring new technical solutions to maintain economic viability.

Transportation & Handling - CO? behaves differently from natural gas or hydrogen, requiring distinct pipeline transport options such as refrigerated liquid, ambient gas, or supercritical fluid. Each option has technical challenges and commercial benefits, depending on location, route, and infrastructure. Densely populated areas require careful navigation. Onshore, offshore, and near-shore pipelines have unique considerations and costs. Road, rail, or shipping can be used for constrained operations, but these options have limitations.

Subsurface Injection & Storage – Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and long-term disposal options present risks in projects covering the value chain, as design and expectations can be lost at interfaces. The impact of impurities and contaminants can be overlooked, and abnormal operations discounted. This is particularly true for CCUS, where many owners expect permanent CO? storage.

Scalability – Recent CCUS projects range from experimental scientific programs demonstrating proof of concept to world-scale NOC projects supported by licensor technology. The technical and economic similarities and differences across these projects can be surprising and insightful. This paper presents CAPEX and OPEX comparisons at different plant capacities, reflecting technology selection choices at varying scales.