Federal Government Funds New CO2 Field Research Station To Promote Advancement Of Carbon Capture And Storage Technology
- Published: Thursday, 12 February 2015
- Author: Maurice Smith
CALGARY, Alta. -- Western Economic Diversification Canada has announced an investment in support of CMC Research Institutes for the establishment of a Field Research Station (FRS) to accelerate technology development and performance validation, as well as the commercialization of key instruments associated with the underground storage of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Federal funding of $4.9 million, through the Western Diversification Program (WDP), will enable CMC Research Institutes to purchase advanced equipment, construct a new well and additional infrastructure, and acquire a specialized mobile geochemistry laboratory for water and gas sampling at field sites.
The project, which is also receiving support from the University of Calgary, Schlumberger and Cenovus Energy, will help reduce Western Canadian industrial greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the energy sector, as well as accelerate small- and medium-enterprise (SME) engagement and commercialization opportunities in international markets.
CMC Research Institutes is an independent not-for-profit organization that helps technology developers identify opportunities and create solutions for decarbonizing the fossil energy industry.
The FRS will be the first of its kind with the capacity for injection at an intermediate depth, simulating release into a subcritical geological horizon.
"Through this funding, WD has significantly enhanced the ability of Canada to contribute to the international transformation to a low carbon economy. Our unique field research station is attracting technology developers, researchers, SMEs and regulators from Canada and around the world. We are excited to work with these groups to advance the solutions for the measurement and monitoring of stored carbon dioxide and other fluids underground," said Richard Adamson, managing director, CMC Research Institutes.
"The University of Calgary is pleased to support CMC Research Institutes in the creation of the Field Research Station. Carbon capture and storage is identified as a key area of investigation in our energy research strategy, and the field station will facilitate significant research and training opportunities for our scholars and students. This collaborative venture represents the potential for transformative changes in the energy industry," said Ed McCauley, vice-president (Research), University of Calgary.
"Schlumberger Carbon Services is pleased to collaborate with Carbon Management Canada on this project which will help to further demonstrate safe CO2 geological storage in Canada," said Dwight Peters, president, Schlumberger Carbon Services.
"We’re pleased to be able to contribute the land and associated mineral rights to make this new field research station a reality. At our Weyburn enhanced oil recovery project in Saskatchewan, we’ve already safely stored about 24 million tonnes of CO2 underground. Additional research into CO2 containment is an important step towards making this technology more commercially viable and helping our industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Dave Mudie, vice-president of Conventional Oil & Natural Gas, Cenovus Energy.
Since 2008, the Government of Canada has committed over $580 million to CCS technology research, development and demonstration initiatives.
