Importance of CO2 on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The transportation and storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) are rapidly emerging as essential components in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Given the increasing complexity of managing CO₂—driven by expanding pipeline networks, evolving regulations, and technical risks—industry is seeking practical solutions that enable safe transportation and effective long-term sequestration.
Why CO2Transportation and Storage Matter
Transportation and storage of CO2 are fundamental aspects of global decarbonization. While some captured CO₂ can be reused in industrial processes, the vast majority must be sequestered permanently to meet climate targets and prevent atmospheric release.
To achieve this, industry must consider how to move CO₂ from where it is captured to sequestration sites where it can be safely injected into subterranean geological features.
This is critical because:
- Marine, rail, and road transport capacity for transporting large-scale quantities of CO₂ is limited.
- Existing pipelines were not designed to consider the risk and integrity impacts of CO2 on pipeline materials
- New CO₂ pipelines may be required to reach current Net Zero goals.
Supporting carbon capture and sequestration
Unique Challenges in CO2 Management
CO₂ itself is a stable and inert gas, but when impurities such as hydrogen sulfide or moisture are present, it can become highly corrosive to pipeline materials.
If these interactions occur, there is increased potential for corrosion and eventual deterioration of infrastructure, potentially leading to failures.
To avoid these outcomes, increased awareness of the risks to pipelines and downhole equipment is needed.
Understanding how CO₂ impacts these critical infrastructures differs from typical fluids like oil and gas that we transport today is also required.
Some of the considerations include:
- Impurities (such as hydrogen, oxygen and hydrogen sulfide) increase compressibility and initiate corrosion in pipelines.
- Fracture toughness requirements for CO₂ pipelines are higher than for natural gas pipelines; legacy infrastructure often lacks data required to make risk management decisions.
- Dispersion modeling for CO₂ releases must consider terrain, wind, and population density.
- Asphyxiation hazard zones from CO₂ releases require dense gas dispersion modeling.
C-FER’s testing programs are designed to evaluate the impact of impurities on pipeline integrity and inform mitigation strategies.
Challenges with CO2 Transportation and Sequestration
Safeguarding Well Integrity in CO2 Storage Operations
When CO₂ is injected into a formation, it is not entering an empty space—there’s existing fluid, such as salty water and other compounds. Under the right conditions, this can create acidic environments.
If downhole equipment isn’t designed to withstand these environments, operators can face significant well integrity issues, including leaks and environmental contamination.
To avoid these problems, operators need to consider how CO₂ affects both the wellbore and the integrity of systems downhole.
Operators also need to factor how CO2 impacts the wellhead because very cold temperatures can occur leading to icing and material performance challenges.
Additional risks and considerations include:
- Well integrity risks such as casing material compatibility, corrosion in wet environments, cement degradation, thermal cycling, heave/subsidence, and induced seismicity.
- Cap rock integrity and pressure interference effects on aquifers/reservoirs beyond the CO₂ plume.
- Development of abandonment strategies such as permanent isolation, temporary storage, and caverns for surge/interruption management.
C-FER works with operators to assess equipment performance and develop solutions that maintain well integrity under these challenging conditions.
Assessing CO2 well integrity
Protecting Pipeline and Underground Assets Against CO2 Hazards
Pipeline operators are looking to understand the risks associated with adding CO₂ to their infrastructure and the risk of pipeline failure.
CO₂ behaves differently than other fluids when transported. Impurities in CO₂ streams can further impact the pipeline’s integrity.
As a result, there is increased potential for corrosion and eventual deterioration of infrastructure, potentially leading to failures.
By studying fracture toughness and developing corrosion mitigation strategies, we help operators reduce risk and extend the lifespan of their pipeline systems.
Understanding risks associated with CO2 pipelines
Partnering for Advanced CO2 Shock Tube Testing
We are working closely with an oil and gas operator by combining the use of their shock tube testing facility with our test program design, modelling, and risk analysis capabilities. Shock tube testing allows C-FER to evaluate the decompression wave of a high-pressure CO₂ fluid stream and its effect on the client’s assets.
In this facility, various impurity elements and compounds are introduced. A burst disk is used to create a pressure pulse. Measuring this pulse and its propagation through the fluid stream allows us to improve the predictive accuracy of our computational models for CO₂ applications.
Our industry partners can use this data to understand what a pressure pulse looks like in a sudden release scenario—without having to experience a failure in the field—and use the information to inform their risk management and operational planning.
Answering questions with shock tube testing
Applying Our Expertise to CO2 Infrastructure Challenges
C-FER has over 40 years of experience in the energy industry, working with pipeline and energy operators to understand a wide range of technical challenges—from heavy oil to high temperature/high pressure conditions, offshore applications, and geothermal.
We leverage our collective experience to address CO₂-specific challenges. We examine what is common between CO₂ and traditional oil and gas products in terms of loads and pressures and what is different. C-FER approaches these differences by studying temperatures, environmental conditions, and material behavior on both small and full scales.
In parallel, we use numerical analysis, adapting and calibrating our models to account for the unique properties of CO₂ streams.
Our experience includes:
- Full-scale fracture propagation tests, dispersion modeling, and risk assessment for pipelines and wells.
- Expertise in advanced modeling (CFD, FEA), material testing, and qualification of well casing connections for hydrogen and CO₂ sealability.
- Involvement in international research projects with organizations such as PRCI, API and ISO, and the development of industry standards and best practices.
Applying 40 Years of Engineering and Specialized Testing Experience
Simulating Real-World CO2 Pipeline and Storage Conditions
C-FER’s Special Environments Lab can recreate any environmental condition seen in the energy industry on a full-scale basis.
In this facility, we can introduce gases to full-scale specimens like CO₂ in large volumes, along with impurities such as hydrogen, moisture, and oxides— simulating a variety of conditions in an industrial post-combustion process.
By testing specimens to failure in a controlled environment, we help clients understand material limits and inform safer, more resilient infrastructure design.
Full-scale testing enables C-FER to replicate operational scenarios and validate the performance of materials and systems under realistic conditions. We can also push system performance and provide our clients with the most data possible to make informed decisions.
We also have a wide range of load frames to recreate high axial loads seen in pipeline operations. By simulating ground movement and pipeline behaviour, C-FER can apply high axial and internal pressure loads on a full-scale basis and observe changes when CO₂ is introduced.Our experience includes:
- Full-scale fracture propagation tests, dispersion modeling, and risk assessment for pipelines and wells.
- Expertise in advanced modeling (CFD, FEA), material testing, and qualification of well casing connections for hydrogen and CO₂ sealability.
- Involvement in international research projects with organizations such as PRCI, API and ISO, and the development of industry standards and best practices.
Testing challenging environments safely
Explore Our Laboratory
Laboratory
Overview
Explore our laboratory
equipment overview
Load Frames Overview
A variety of large-scale servo-hydraulic load frames to simulate complex loading scenarios representative of field conditions.
Special Environments Laboratory
Test the performance of CO2 pipelines and downhole equipment in our SEL.
Contributor
Kirk Hamilton, BSc, PEng.
Director, Engineering Services & Sales
Kirk Hamilton works on strategic and business planning for C-FER and focuses on identifying, developing and implementing C-FER’s strategic diversification objectives. Kirk is a globally recognized expert in premium connection qualification execution and evaluation of methodology/techniques for high-pressure high-temperature, thermal, and unconventional applications.
