Be a Good Geoscientist First, and the Rest Will Follow

The near-linear relationship between anthropogenic CO2 emission and global warming is a major cause of concern among scientists. Achieving a low carbon future requires a new approach to providing energy solutions. This paper reviews the advancements in CCUS technology and actions of the oil and gas industry actively participating in Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). CCUS has been identified to play a key role in achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Oil and gas industry has been using CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) for many years which removes some CO2 permanently from the atmosphere. Currently there are more than 150 CO2 EOR projects in place worldwide. Additionally, the major oil and gas companies are stepping up to further remove CO2 from the environment through Direct Air Capture (DAC), Carbonate Fuel Cells etc. This paper discusses a few of the CCUS projects undertaken by some major oil and gas companies. Many companies are investing in startups, national research institutes and other ventures with proven viable technologies for carbon capture such as DAC and fuel cell technology. It is too early to say which of these technologies will emerge as the most superior one. Therefore, investing in different technologies and continuing with the established practices is the more fitting approach. The recent changes in 45Q tax credit in the USA is going to entice even more investors to approach CCUS as a commercially attractive venture. There is currently a lot of pressure from government and public to minimize CO2 emission in all industries and this will only increase with time. Oil and Gas industry is investing heavily on CCUS projects and are therefore best equipped to transition to carbon management companies. The end goal is to make the industry profitable while also safeguarding the environment.

As fossil fuels will continue to be a key source of energy for the world, the role of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) has become increasingly important in addressing climate change by limiting emissions and by establishing a pathway to reaching net-zero. In spite of its significance, the deployment of CCUS globally in the past decade has not met expectations. It is largely due to the challenges in commercializing the technology. On the contrary, ADNOC successfully deployed CCUS in 2016 and has been operating Al Reyadah - the world's first CCUS project in Iron & Steel Industry and Middle East's first commercial CCUS project for enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR). Similar to other industrialized economies, Abu Dhabi has various sources where carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted. It also has an advanced oil & gas industry which requires CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in order to improve production output. ADNOC synergized these two industries to create a business case. The concept of a CO2 network, linking CO2 producer (source) and CO2 user for EOR (sinks) was developed as far back as 2008. Various studies where undertaken and a steel facility was identified as an ideal choice for a 1st project, given availability of CO2 and proximity to the ADNOC oil fields. In 2012, Al Reyadah was formed to develop the facility and pipeline that is operating today. This is the first step in a vision that would see multiple sources within Abu Dhabi that will be connected via a pipeline network to supply the CO2 needs of ADNOC for EOR, sequestering CO2 and reducing the UAEs greenhouse footprint, whilst freeing up vital hydrocarbon gases (used currently in EOR) for use in commercial industry. From inception, Al Reyadah has been referenced for decarbonization by many global organizations including International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and has won prestigious recognitions from Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) and Emirates Energy Awards (EEA). This paper discusses the various strategies and commercialization tactics that ADNOC applied to deploy this unique project, which is only among 21 CCS/CCUS projects operating in the world in 2020 and a precursor to thousands of CCS/CCUS projects that are expected to be built globally in the coming years.

Synergistic sustainability: Future potential of integrating produced water and CO2 for enhanced carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)

In the quest for denser, nimbler, and lower-cost seismic surveys, the industry is seeing a revolution in the miniaturization of seismic equipment, with autonomous nodes approaching the size of a geophone and sources becoming portable by crews on foot. This has created a paradigm shift in the way seismic is acquired in difficult terrains, making zero-environmental-footprint surveys a reality while reducing cost and health, safety, and environmental risk. The simplification of survey operation and the new entry price of seismic surveys unlocked by these technologies are already benefiting industries beyond oil and gas exploration. High trace density seismic has become accessible to industries playing a key role in the net-zero era, such as geothermal and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), to which a good understanding of the subsurface geology is crucial to their success. We describe these benefits as observed during an ultra-high-density seismic survey acquired in June 2020 through a partnership between STRYDE, Explor, and Carbon Management Canada over the Containment and Monitoring Institute site. The smallest and lightest source and receiver equipment in the industry were used to achieve a trace density of 257 million traces/km2 over this test site dedicated to CCUS studies. We discuss the operational efficiency of the seismic acquisition, innovative techniques for data transfer and surveying, and preliminary results of the seismic data processing with a focus on the near-surface model and fast-track time migration.

Recently, the oil and gas industry started to experience a major evolution that could impact the geophysical community for decades. The effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will lead to more renewable energy and less fossil fuel consumption. In parallel, the carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) business is expected to develop rapidly. However, reliably injecting massive amounts of CO2 underground is more challenging than producing hydrocarbons from a known reservoir. Site integrity monitoring and CO2 leak detection are among the biggest challenges. Capabilities to address these challenges will be requested by regulators and the public for acceptance. This surveillance requires technologies such as microseismic monitoring either from the surface or borehole. Each CCUS project will need a preinjection feasibility study in order to design the best sensor network architecture and to set performance expectancies. Acquisition will be performed over long periods of time. Data harvesting and processing will be performed permanently in automated workflows. For these objectives, site operators must demonstrate their expertise through permanent benchmarks based on a common modeling and simulating platform. Microseismic monitoring is not fully mature and presents additional unsolved challenges for large-scale projects such as CCUS. Using a common and public geologic model to generate synthetic data is a solution to gain more credibility. Limitations can be mitigated after analyzing and quantifying gaps such as localization uncertainties. The model is complex due to the nature of CO2 injection and will evolve over time. A public consortium, such as the SEG Advanced Modeling (SEAM) Corporation, that gathers expertise to generate a common model and synthetic data sets will give the credibility and openness necessary to progress in scientific knowledge. It will also provide the necessary transparency for regulatory approval and public acceptance. A new common CCUS modeling platform offers opportunities to work more efficiently within different disciplines.

In an era of sustainability push, the oil and gas industry need to have a revisit of its overall strategy. In addition to profitability, sustainability is another main development driver to consider. Out of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Guidelines (SDG), five are applicable to the industry (Capello et. al. 2020). They are: SDG #6: Clean Water and Sanitation SDG #7: Affordable and Clean Energy SDG #13: Climate Action on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions SDG #14: Life Below Water SDG #15: Life On Land Microbes are not a new focus area in the oil and gas industry, whether they contributed to favourable (microbial stimulation, EOR) and/or non-favourable (reservoir souring etc.) conditions. Microbial based technology is worth a re-evaluation since it can be considered one of the most environmental-friendly technologies available. This paper will focus on PETRONAS experience with microbial based technology studies. As we moved towards energy transition, PETRONAS is also looking into technologies which can support carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) implementation and hydrogen generation. From this perspective, methane generation (methanogenesis), and subsurface hydrogen generation (dark fermentation) is worthy of consideration. The paper highlights some of PETRONAS experience with focus on microbial EOR (at laboratory and pilot scale). Methanogenesis (at laboratory scale) and conceptual biohydrogen will also be briefly touched.

Addressing climate change urgently requires substantial reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with industrial processes, particularly those dependent on fossil fuels, being major contributors. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) presents a promising technological solution. Among CCUS methods, chemical adsorption stands out for effectively capturing CO2 from industrial flue gas streams by leveraging strong chemical bonds between CO2 and adsorbent materials. This approach offers several benefits, including selective CO2 capture from gas mixtures and a higher capture capacity compared to traditional methods. By efficiently capturing CO2, chemical adsorption significantly aids decarbonization efforts. The captured CO2 can be utilized in various industrial processes, creating a closed-loop system that reduces fossil fuel reliance, or it can be stored underground for long-term management. Nonetheless, challenges such as developing efficient regeneration methods for desorbing captured CO2 and reducing the costs of adsorbent materials and processes must be addressed for widespread adoption. Despite these challenges, ongoing research shows great promise for a sustainable future. Chemical adsorption in CCUS has the potential to revolutionize CO2 capture and facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy, offering a critical solution for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Vello Kuuskraa is President of Advanced Resources International, an oil and gas technology consultancy. He has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry and is a recognized expert on the technologies of unconventional oil and gas resources, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 sequestration. Sarah Watson caught up with Vello Kuuskraa at the 11th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies in Kyoto Japan and spoke to him about EOR and the role he feels EOR has to play in carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS).

Summary This work gives a summary of our recent research efforts and results of the application of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI&ML) techniques within the area of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) for sustainable utilization of the subsurface. In addition to the economic value of CCUS related to producing the remaining resources, improved modeling and optimization techniques will have a great value when the subsurface is to be abandoned or repurposed for storage. Application of AI&ML techniques has been useful in many engineering disciplines including reservoir engineering. Our research results contribute to replacing the traditional modeling practices in the oil and gas industry by using data science and advanced analysis techniques. Multiple proxies for modeling water alternating gas (WAG) using CO2 injection have been developed to reduce the simulation time, optimization of WAG in real fields was studied using ML and metaheuristic algorithms. Development of a reduced-physics model (modified capacitance-resistance model) for immiscible gas-oil systems is also discussed. In addition to the studies on proxy model development, applying data-driven techniques to study CO2 properties are discussed in order to accurately estimate the thermal conductivity of CO2 and CO2 diffusivity coefficient in brine, which are important parameters in subsurface CO2 storage.

Addressing the grand challenge of climate change, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies have gained significant attention. However, the high energy consumption of conventional CCUS limits its economic feasibility for widespread application. Drawing inspiration from nature, using sustainable solar irradiation to drive CCUS offers a promising solution, with the core challenge being the development of efficient solar-driven catalysts for CO2 upcycling, akin to natural photosynthesis. This review comprehensively explores the structure–activity relationship of nanocatalysts in three solar-driven catalytic CO2 reduction systems: photocatalytic CO2 reduction, plasmonic catalytic CO2 reduction, and photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction. The paper begins with an introduction to the fundamental theories, thermodynamics, kinetics, reaction mechanisms, and key factors involved in these solar-driven CO2 reduction processes. It then focuses on applying photocatalysts (PC) with various structures, including multidimensional structures, junctions, and metallic or alloy compositions, which enhance light absorption, facilitate charge transfer, electron–hole pair separation, and increase active sites. In photoelectrocatalytic (PEC), metal–semiconductor junctions enhance product selectivity, while semiconductor–semiconductor junctions improve overall efficiency. In plasmonic photocatalysis (PPC), introducing localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) metals and bimetallic nanocatalysts significantly boosts the efficiency and selectivity of CO2 conversion through hot-electron participation. By thoroughly analyzing the performance of various catalysts in different solar reaction systems, this review aims to provide a scientific foundation and innovative ideas for future research, advancing sustainable CO2 reduction technology development.Graphical

This paper discusses the development and qualification of a 5 ½ in. tubing mounted surface controlled subsurface safety valve for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)/Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) well environments where the design and qualification program specifically addresses the challenging operating and survival well temperature conditions reaching extremes of −35°C and −78.5°C respectively. The 5 ½ in. CCS/CCUS safety valve was based on an existing field-proven and reliable platform that has, and continues to serve, the oil and gas industry. A FMECA performed on the existing platform highlighted the prudent focus areas, enabling early derisking and contingency planning to take place. Post-FMECA derisking activity included an extensive metallic and non-metallic material evaluation, identifying suitable materials for extreme low temperature applications and exposure to high concentration CO2. Additionally small-scale testing was performed on the non-elastomeric high performance rod piston seal assembly which demonstrated dynamic operation at −35°C and static survivability at temperatures down to −78.5°C, even under low- and high- differential pressure conditions. The small-scale testing also examined functionality of the flapper and seat assembly, as well as the body connections, at the mentioned CCS/CCUS operating and survival well conditions providing a high degree of confidence ahead of full-scale testing. Full scale testing followed an adapted version of API 14A annex G.3 where over 550 operating cycles were performed on a full-scale valve at various temperatures, down to −35°C, both before and after exposure to a survival condition at −78.5°C. Pressure sealing integrity of all critical components was proven at low and high pressures of up to 10,000 psi even at the survival condition of −78.5°C. A differential opening test, following an adapted version of API 14A annex G.4, was conducted at −35°C to prove continued functionality after a slam-open event at extreme temperatures. All testing used a gas medium where zero leakage across the sealing components was identified through the entire test sequence. Small- and full-scale testing was performed with different control line fluids, including oil and water based, without incident. Additional API prescribed testing was conducted to enable API 14A 13th edition monogramming per a V1-R validation grade. The development and qualification protocol were propagated across a range of common safety valve sizes for the wider CCS/CCUS market: 3 ½-in., 4 ½-in, 5 ½-in. and 7-in resulting in the release of a new portfolio of Tubing Retrievable Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve Technologies.

The aim of the present study is to explore the risks and benefits of mergers compared to those of strategic alliances and test the classic agency theory in relation to firm’s and shareholders interest. Using the case study methodology, the study examines the recent announced merger of Halliburton and Baker Hughes exploring the possible risks the merger itself may open up for the two firms, reviewing a possible alternative strategic alliance and the effects it may have. The paper applies a qualitative analysis based on empirical data of similar case studies projecting past experiences on future events. The study concludes that the merger was in the best interest of both companies, a merger though filled with the risk of specialisation within a shrinking market still poses the best rate of survival for firms in the gas and oil industry. The paper includes implications for strategic decision making and risk management policy in the oil & gas industry.

In the last few years the oil and gas industry has been turned around with respect to gas production and availability. Clean burning and abundant natural gas resources have caused high demand, and because of the tax incentives, coalbed methane is a popular gas source. Coalbed reservoirs are much different from conventional natural gas reservoirs because drilling and completion considerations are not the same due to the rock properties. Horizontal wellbores are considered to be very effective in reservoirs that are relatively thin, naturally fractured, and anisotropic with regard to permeability. Coalbed reservoirs have all of these features. The concern today is how to get the gas out of the coalbeds in an economic manner. Coalbed cleat systems are made up of natural fractures, hence vertical wells drilled in the reservoir must be fractured. Horizontal well drilling and completion is an alternative technique to overcome low production as well as reservoir heterogeneities in coalbed reservoirs. Some authors have shown that a properly drilled and completed horizontal well can increase production by about seventy-five percent over that of a fractured vertical well. This paper discusses coalbed properties essential to the application of horizontal drilling and completion. Several techniques used to drill and complete horizontal wells in coalbed reservoirs are discussed and compared with each other to distinguish their application. Introduction The US Bureau of Mines has demonstrated that methane drainage by horizontal and directional boreholes is a safe and effective method of removing methane in advance of mining and of controlling methane emissions during mining. Horizontal holes were found to have the advantages of relatively low drilling costs and the ability to intersect the coalbed cleat or fracture system, thus increasing permeability to gas flow. Hydraulically stimulated vertical holes on the other hand had the disadvantages of requiring large numbers of surface sites, higher costs, and production and maintenance problems. The concept of directionally drilled degasification holes was originally considered by the Bureau of Mines as a means of combining the best elements of the surface vertical borehole and underground horizontal drilling techniques. In the past few years the oil and gas industry has been turned around to be called the gas and oil industry. The clean burning, easily accessible, and overly abundant natural gas resource has created a high demand. For many years, coal mines were degasified and most operators thought little of the value of the gas. But recent demand and tax incentives have made coalbed methane gas a popular item. It is believed there is a large amount of gas stored in coalbeds throughout the United States with current estimates of 400 trillion cubic feet of gas being stored in coalbeds (Fig. 1, Table 1). Today's concern is how to get the gas out of the coalbeds in an economical manner. Recovery of gas from coalbeds occurs in the presence of the low porosity and very low permeability inherent to these beds. The permeability is made up of natural fractures which are arranged in a cleat system. There are two cleat systems: the face cleat and the butt cleat. The face cleat is continuous throughout the reservoir and provides the largest permeability. Vertical wells drilled in the reservoir must be fractured to be in contact with the cleat system and maximize recovery. Coalbeds are much different than conventional natural gas reservoirs in that drilling and completion considerations are not the same due to the unique coalbed properties.

The relevance of this article is due, on the one hand, to the importance of the oil and gas industry in the development of Iraq and, on the other hand, the inability to enhance the existing capacities of the gas industry due to both serious systemic internal causes and external problems. The objective of this article is to study the prospects of the gas industry in conjunction with the oil industry, and develop a strategy for their development based on the forecasting of future scenarios. In the article, the research methods used included a systematic analysis of economic, social and cultural conditions, considering the history of Iraq, including a review of statistical data and a variety of sources. The article proposes a method for choosing the industry development strategy on the basis of an analytical hierarchy process, based on an algorithm of iterative processes using an analysis of hierarchies. To clarify the actors’ policies and strategic goals and to find the optimal solution, repeated iterations of the choice of strategy have been proposed. The strategies were divided into alternative strategies for future scenarios, which were evaluated in actions as able to achieve the goals by determining the consistency ratio and the consistency index. As a result of the study, we can highlight the analysis of the centralized system of oil and gas resources’ management that has developed in Iraq, which has a complicated “top-down” delegation of decisions and responsibility, with decisions made at the political level and resources distributed from above, which precludes individual industries from performing their functions, and also limits the effective implementation of strategic development priorities. The development factors for the gas industry in Iraq were identified and systematized with a rationale for the direction of the industry’s strategic development. Groups of factors were identified: market-affecting determinants of the development of the gas industry, as well as other considerations that may, to a lesser extent, affect the development of Iraq’s gas industry and the oil and gas complex as a whole. The results, assessing the significance of the actors’ goals, can be taken as a basis for development strategies for the oil and gas industry, to improve the contract system of the gas industry in conjunction with the oil industry.

Blockchain technology has been developed for more than ten years and has become a trend in various industries. As the oil and gas industry is gradually shifting toward intelligence and digitalization, many large oil and gas companies were working on blockchain technology in the past two years because of it can significantly improve the management level, efficiency, and data security of the oil and gas industry. This paper aims to let more people in the oil and gas industry understand the blockchain and lead more thinking about how to apply the blockchain technology. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the earliest papers on the review of the blockchain system in the oil and gas industry. This paper first presents the relevant theories and core technologies of the blockchain, and then describes how the blockchain is applied to the oil and gas industry from four aspects: trading, management and decision making, supervision, and cyber security. Finally, the application status, the understanding level of the blockchain in the oil and gas industry, opportunities, challenges, and risks and development trends are analyzed. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) at present, Europe and Asia have the fastest pace of developing the application of blockchain in the oil and gas industry, but there are still few oil and gas blockchain projects in operation or testing worldwide; 2) nowadays, the understanding of blockchain in the oil and gas industry is not sufficiently enough, the application is still in the experimental stage, and the investment is not enough; and (3) blockchain can bring many opportunities to the oil and gas industry, such as reducing transaction costs and improving transparency and efficiency. However, since it is still in the early stage of the application, there are still many challenges, primarily technological, and regulatory and system transformation. The development of blockchains in the oil and gas industry will move toward hybrid blockchain architecture, multi-technology combination, cross-chain, hybrid consensus mechanisms, and more interdisciplinary professionals.