ADNOC begins work on fully sequestered CO2 injection project in carbonate rock

ADNOC has started work on the world’s first fully sequestered carbon dioxide (CO₂) injection well in a carbonate saline aquifer.

The project is expected to begin injecting CO₂ in this year’s second quarter, the company said in a release Jan. 18. Once operational, the project will initially fully sequester a minimum of 18,000 tons/year (tpy) of CO₂ captured from Fertiglobe’s UAE operations for injection in Abu Dhabi’s onshore carbonate aquifers, the company said.

The CO₂ injection well project builds on ADNOC’s carbon reduction efforts, including its carbon capture plant at Al Reyadah, which has the capacity to capture up to 800,000 tpy of CO₂. The well location for CO₂ injection as well as targeted geological formations were identified using results of ADNOC’s 3D seismic survey and the company’s subsurface modelling capacity, it said.

The project will contribute to the production of lower-carbon ammonia, an effective and cost competitive hydrogen carrier that can be scaled up quickly and has lower-carbon intensity than other fuels, ADNOC said.

The project is the latest in a series of decarbonization initiatives, including an agreement for ADNOC to acquire 100% of its grid power from the Emirates Water and Electricity Co.’s (EWEC) nuclear and solar sources. ADNOC also recently reached financial close on a $3.8-billion deal to build a MENA subsea transmission network, connecting ADNOC’s offshore operations to TAQA’s onshore power network which once complete, could reduce offshore carbon intensity by up to 50%.