April 7, 2010

Proposed liquid carbon dioxide pipeline could address environmental concerns, Enbridge says

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

Enbridge Inc. is leading a research project to build a liquid CO2 slurry pipeline to transport solid commodities to local and international markets.

“The broad concept is a liquid CO2 pipeline may have to be built from Fort McMurray to address environmental concerns,” said Chuck Szmurlo, chair of Enbridge’s CO2 slurry pipeline consortium.

“The capture of CO2 is a costly undertaking. We in the industry don’t want to see the cost of doing this shut down projects.”

The initiative is the first phase of a three-phase project called the CO2 Slurry Pipeline Project.

Phase I will involve demonstrating proof of the concept, as well as demonstrating the technical viability of a long-distance CO2 slurry pipeline for transporting petroleum coke, sulphur and other solids, such as limestone.

Sulphur is used as a fertilizer, and to produce sulphuric acid. It is a by-product of bitumen refining and is in huge supply in the Fort McMurray area.

“At this first stage, research will be done through simulations and a paper study,” said Szmurlo.

“The feasibility study will look at potential design, routing and markets.”

Phase I of the research project is underway and will be completed in 2010.

If the study produces favourable results, a small scale pilot project will be built.

“Then assuming the pilot has favourable results and funding can be secured, we would go to the commercial stage and build a full scale commercial pipeline,” said Szmurlo.

Phase I will cost $2 million, with $1 million being invested by the Government of Alberta and $1 million by the CO2 Slurry Pipeline project team.

Some of the organizations on the project team include: Enbridge-Project Leader, GE Infrastructure, SNC-Lavalin Inc., Stantec Consulting Ltd., Techint Engineering and Construction and WorleyParsons Canada Services Ltd.

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