Programme Schedule

Understanding and managing risks in CCUS are crucial to unlocking financial returns on investment. The risks involved extend beyond the technical aspects of storage and containment to include environmental, scheduling, financial, and liability concerns, amongst others. Undefined liabilities or poorly assessed exposures can deter potential investment in CCUS.

Without clear regulations and policies, investors are unlikely to commit significant capital to CCUS projects or may delay those already in development. Establishing robust international and local regulations, alongside addressing operational and financial challenges, is essential to ensuring that investors can effectively manage long-term storage liability risks.

This session will explore global approaches to managing CCUS risks and liabilities. The panel will share insights and strategies for mitigating long-term storage liabilities and fostering investor confidence, ultimately paving the way for the successful development and execution of CCUS projects.

The Asia Pacific region is emerging as a pivotal player in CCUS. However, the world will not achieve its decarbonisation targets unless this region makes a meaningful contribution to the global need for CO2 sequestration to reach net zero by 2050. Unlike more established regions such as Europe and the US, Asia Pacific faces distinct technical and non-technical challenges. Policy frameworks and regulations are either immature and untested or struggling to address the unforeseen complexities of CCUS. Additionally, the incentives that have successfully driven first-of-a-kind project development in Western countries may be difficult to replicate on a regional scale in the East. This session will compare Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia, each endowed with world-class geological storage capacity, and contrast them to identify the constraints that might impede project development and the rate of growth in the sector that is needed to achieve net zero. 

The panel will also consider how countries in the region can collaborate to maximise the potential of CCUS. What lessons can be drawn from Europe and the US to stimulate sustainable economic growth in Asia Pacific? Are there innovative approaches to risk-sharing at both government-to-government and business-to-business levels? What competitive advantages does the region hold, and how can these be leveraged to enhance the viability of CCUS?

Technologies and digitalisation are integral to the successful implementation and long-term viability of CCUS projects. This panel session will delve into applied digital technologies, focusing on utilisation and injection, project end of life, and monitoring.

The utilisation and injection phases involve transporting captured CO2 to a storage site and either using the captured CO2 as an input to create products/services or injecting it into deep geological formations. Technologies used in this phase include pipelines, which are the most common method for transporting CO2, designed to handle high pressures and prevent leaks. Compression systems are also essential, as CO2 is compressed to a supercritical state, making it easier to inject into storage sites. CO2 is today primarily used in the fertiliser industry and for enhanced oil recovery. New uses such as producing CO2-based synthetic fuels, chemicals and building aggregates are gaining momentum. For CO2 storage, specialised injection wells are drilled into suitable geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers.

Digitalisation plays a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency and safety of CCUS projects. Real-time monitoring systems, equipped with sensors and IoT (Internet of Things) devices, provide continuous data on pressure, temperature, and CO2 flow rates, ensuring safe and efficient injections. Simulation and modelling tools are used to simulate CO2 behaviour in geological formations, helping to optimise injection strategies and predict long-term storage performance. Additionally, data analytics and AI are employed to analyse vast amounts of data, identifying patterns, predicting potential issues, and improving decision-making processes.

At the end of a CCUS project's operational phase, ensuring the long-term integrity of the storage site is critical. This involves site closure and sealing, where injection wells are sealed with materials like cement to prevent CO2 leakage, and the site is decommissioned according to regulatory standards. Post-closure monitoring is essential to verify that CO2 remains securely stored. Techniques used in this phase include seismic surveys to detect changes in the geological structure, groundwater sampling to ensure no CO2 contamination in nearby water sources, and surface monitoring to track any potential CO2 leaks at the surface.

From efficient CO2 utilisation and injection to rigorous end-of-life monitoring, these digital advancements ensure that CCUS remains a key tool in the fight against climate change.