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Created page with "'''Carbon dioxide pipelines''' are pipelines used to transport carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) typically in a dense (highly compressed) or supercritical state—from capture or production sites to end uses such as CO2-EOR, geological storage, or utilisation. CO<sub>2</sub> pipeline transport is generally most economic for large, consistent CO<sub>2</sub> flows over low-to-medium distances where econom..."
 
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== Overview ==
== Overview ==
CO<sub>2</sub> pipelines are a technologically transport mode for high-volume CO<sub>2</sub> movement. As of 2025, an estimated ~11,500 km of CO2 pipelines are operational worldwide, with ~8,500 km located in the United States and Canada.<ref> UPDATE</ref> Historically, most long-distance CO<sub>2</sub> pipelines have supported CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR in North America; dedicated CCS networks (including offshore trunklines) are expanding in Europe and other regions as capture clusters and storage hubs mature.<ref>UPDATE</ref>
CO<sub>2</sub> pipelines are a technologically transport mode for high-volume CO<sub>2</sub> movement. As of 2025, an estimated ~11,500 km of CO2 pipelines are operational worldwide, with ~9,000 km located in the United States and Canada.<ref> UPDATE</ref> Historically, most long-distance CO<sub>2</sub> pipelines have supported CO<sub>2</sub>-EOR in North America; dedicated CCS networks (including offshore trunklines) are expanding in Europe and other regions as capture clusters and storage hubs mature.<ref>UPDATE</ref>


== History ==
== History ==

Revision as of 03:50, 18 December 2025

Carbon dioxide pipelines are pipelines used to transport carbon dioxide (CO2) typically in a dense (highly compressed) or supercritical state—from capture or production sites to end uses such as CO2-EOR, geological storage, or utilisation. CO2 pipeline transport is generally most economic for large, consistent CO2 flows over low-to-medium distances where economies of scale apply.[1]

Overview

CO2 pipelines are a technologically transport mode for high-volume CO2 movement. As of 2025, an estimated ~11,500 km of CO2 pipelines are operational worldwide, with ~9,000 km located in the United States and Canada.[2] Historically, most long-distance CO2 pipelines have supported CO2-EOR in North America; dedicated CCS networks (including offshore trunklines) are expanding in Europe and other regions as capture clusters and storage hubs mature.[3]

History

The first large-scale CO2 pipeline was the Canyon Reef Carriers pipeline (constructed in 1972; ~225 km), developed to supply CO2 for EOR operations and still operating.[4] Since then, pipeline networks have expanded, primarily in the U.S., to connect natural CO2 sources from subsurface reservoirs and anthropogenic CO2 supplies from industrial facilities to oilfields, and more recently to connect captured CO2 sources to dedicated storage sites.[5]

Physical Properties and Phases

Main article Properties of Carbon Dioxide

CO2 is generally transported in dense phase (compressed fluid) or supercritical conditions to increase density and reduce volumetric flow, improving transport economics. CO2 becomes supercritical above its critical point (critical pressure ~7.38 MPa and critical temperature ~31.1 °C).[6]

>>INSERT P-T Phase Diagram

Commercial CO2 pipelines operate across a broad pressure range; one 2025 technical summary reports typical operating pressures of ~83–152 bar, with peak pressures up to ~172–193 bar in some systems (site- and design-dependent).[7] Maintaining pressure above minimum operating limits helps avoid two-phase flow and associated operability and integrity issues.

Gas phase CO2 is also completed in certain circumstances, however due to the higher pressure loss as a result of the different density and viscosity, these pipelines are limited to large diameter and short distances to be cost effective [8]

System Design and Operation

Typical CO2 pipeline systems comprise:

  • Compression and/or pumping (compressors for gas compression; pumps often used once in dense/supercritical phase, subject to design choices).
  • Dehydration and Conditioning to control corrosion/flow assurance risks (see CO2 stream quality and impurities).
  • Block valves and pressure/flow control stations for sectional isolation and operational control.
  • Booster stations where required by hydraulics to account for pressure loss

Key design considerations include:

  • Route selection and siting (population density, high consequence areas, topography, third-party interference, environmental constraints).
  • Material selection and fracture control (running ductile fracture control can be critical in dense-phase CO2 service; decompression behavior differs from typical natural gas).
  • Corrosion management (strongly influenced by free water and acid-forming impurities such as SO2/NO2).
  • Flow assurance (phase management; impurity impacts; hydrates/solids such as dry ice during rapid depressurization events).

CO2 Stream quality and Impurities

There is no single, universally applied CO2 composition specification for pipeline transport. Multiple guidance efforts (e.g., ENCAP, DYNAMIS, CO2PIPETRANS) have produced recommended limits, but practice remains largely project-specific and depends on source streams, downstream requirements, and integrity risk tolerance.

Typical impurity themes

Impurities of interest commonly include: H2O, H2S, SOx, NOx, O2, N2, CH4 and other hydrocarbons, CO, H2, Ar, and trace species (e.g., NH3, particulates). Impurities can affect:

  • Internal corrosion (notably with water + acid-formers like SO2/NO2).
  • Phase behavior and minimum pressure needed to stay in dense phase.
  • Health and safety impacts in leak scenarios (e.g., toxic impurities such as H2S).

Indicative Specification Ranges (illustrative)

The table below summarises example values discussed in major specification work; these are not universal requirements and should be treated as indicative only.

Parameter / component Example indicative guidance (illustrative) Notes
CO2 content >95–96% vol% Often driven by dense-phase/operability and commercial product requirements.[9]
Water (H2O) Typically tens to hundreds of ppmv Projects and operators vary; water limits depend on other impurities and corrosion risk (SO2/NO2 sensitivity).[10]
H2S Typically ppmv range Driven by health/safety and materials compatibility; some EOR systems tolerate higher H2S depending on reservoir context.[11]
Non-condensables ( N2, O2, Ar, H2) capped as a group, generally less than 5 vol% Impacts phase envelope and compression/pumping needs.[12]
SOx / NOx typically capped (ppmv range) Acid-formers can materially increase corrosion risk when water is present.[13]

Safety and Risk Management

CO2 is non-flammable, but can pose acute hazards in releases due to:

  • Asphyxiation risk (CO2 is heavier than air and can accumulate in low-lying areas).
  • Visibility and dispersion (cold dense clouds; potential for dry ice formation during rapid decompression).
  • Impurity hazards where present (e.g., H2S in certain CO2-EOR supply systems).[14]

>> INSERT SIGTTO Chart + Insert discussion on TWA/STEL

Risk management typically includes routing and class location considerations, isolation/valving strategies, leak detection and SCADA monitoring, emergency response planning and coordination with local authorities, and public communication for communities along the right-of-way.

Notable Incidents

Main Article CO2 Pipeline Safety

In February 2020, a CO2 pipeline rupture near Satartia, Mississippi (U.S) prompted evacuations and hospitalisations reported in contemporaneous coverage, and was subsequently subject to a PHMSA failure investigation process.[15][16] Discuss how any why

CITE GPI meta analysis of failure rates

Notable CO2 pipeline systems

The table below lists selected CO2 pipelines and CO2 transport trunklines. Many North American systems were developed for CO2-EOR; newer European systems are focused on CO2 storage hubs.

CONFIRM OPERATORS and CAPACITY ARE STILL ACCURATE PER PHMSA, and add network

Pipeline / System Country/Region Operator / Developer Length Diameter Capacity (indicative) Primary Service Notes
Canyon Reef Carriers (CRC) USA (TX) Kinder Morgan 139 mi / 225 km [17] 16 in [18] 220 MMcfd (est.)[19] EOR Often cited as first large-scale CO2 pipeline (1972).[20]
Cortez USA (TX, CO source region) Kinder Morgan 502 mi / 808 km [21] 30 in [22] 1,300 MMcfd (est.) [23] EOR Major trunkline supplying Permian EOR.
Bravo USA (NM/TX region) Occidental Petroleum, through the Bravo Pipeline Company 218 mi / 351 km [24] 20 in [25] 380 MMcfd (est.) [26] EOR ~
Delta USA (MS, LA) ExxonMobil 108 mi / 174 km [27] 24 in [28] 590 MMcfd (est.)[29] EOR Gulf Coast CO2 network segment.
Green Line USA (LA, TX) ExxonMobil 314 mi / 505 km [30] 24 in[31] 930 MMcfd (est.)[32] EOR Large-scale CO2 trunkline.
Greencore USA (WY, MT) ExxonMobil 230 mi / 370 km [33] 22 in[34] 720 MMcfd (est.)[35] EOR Rocky Mountain region system.
Northeast Jackson Dome (NEJD) USA (MS, LA) ExxonMobil 183 mi / 295 km[36] 20 in[37] 360 MMcfd (est.)[38] EOR ~
Sheep Mountain USA (TX) Oxy Permian 408 mi / 657 km [39] 24 in[40] 590 MMcfd (est.)[41] EOR Permian Basin CO2 transport.
Dakota Gasification (Souris Valley) / Weyburn USA/Canada (ND–SK) Dakota Gasification 204 mi / 328 km [42] 14 in[43] 130 MMcfd (est.)[44] EOR / storage Supply noted for relatively high H2S in some references.
Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) Canada (AB) Wolf Carbon Solutions / partners ~240 km [45] (varies by segment) up to ~14.6 MtCO2/yr (reported) [46] EOR Major CO2 trunkline in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland to central Alberta.
Snøhvit Norway (Barents Sea) (associated with Snøhvit CCS) ~153 km seabed pipeline[47] (offshore) (project-specific) CCS (storage) Offshore CO2 transport to injection wells (operating since 2008)
Northern Lights CO2 pipeline (Phase 1) Norway (North Sea) Northern Lights JV ~100 km subsea pipeline (reported)[48] (offshore) ~5 MtCO2/yr (Phase 1 as 1.5 MtCO2/yr, reported[49]) CCS (storage hub) CO2 shipped to onshore terminal then sent offshore by pipeline to storage reservoir.[50]


See also

References

  1. ↑ UPDATE
  2. ↑ UPDATE
  3. ↑ UPDATE
  4. ↑ UPDATE
  5. ↑ UPDATE
  6. ↑ CITE NIST + a PT diagram
  7. ↑ Find the VITO reference
  8. ↑ CITE
  9. ↑ Need a summary piece
  10. ↑ Need a summary piece
  11. ↑ Need a summary piece
  12. ↑ Need a summary piece
  13. ↑ Need a summary piece
  14. ↑ CITE
  15. ↑ CITE startia report
  16. ↑ Cite GCCSI report
  17. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  18. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  19. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  20. ↑ name="VITO2025"
  21. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  22. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  23. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  24. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  25. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  26. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  27. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  28. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  29. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  30. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  31. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  32. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  33. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  34. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  35. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  36. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  37. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  38. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  39. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  40. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  41. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  42. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  43. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  44. ↑ CITE 2015 DOE
  45. ↑ Cite knowledge sharing
  46. ↑ Cite knowledge sharing
  47. ↑ Cite
  48. ↑ Cite
  49. ↑ Cite
  50. ↑ Cite
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