Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Master's Theses Graduate School 11-10-2017 Issues Related to Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Transportation Infrastructure in Louisiana Michael Allen Layne III Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, mlayne@csumb.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.edu/gradschool_theses Part of the Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, and the Sustainability Commons Recommended Citation Layne, Michael Allen III, "Issues Related to Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Transportation Infrastructure in Louisiana" (2017). LSU Master's Theses.edu/gradschool_theses/4340 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Master's Theses by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact gradetd@lsu.
ISSUES RELATED TO CARBON DIOXIDE PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN LOUISIANA A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College College of the Coast and Environment in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in The Department of Environmental Sciences by Michael Allen Layne III B., California State University, Monterey Bay, 2014 December 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank my committee. Each of you provided something very different at various times when I needed it. Dismukes recruited me and provided funding during a time when I was spinning my wheels. Hooper-Bùi has been there since day one at Write Stuff and was gracious enough to fund my adventures in the marsh.
Snyder provided daily guidance on this thesis and was always there to talk about current affairs. You all instilled a sense of confidence in me I did not have before. I would not have been successful without your support. I would also like to thank the Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory for providing funding to support this research.
I need to thank my roommates: Bill, Ryan and Kandis. The three of you took me under your wings and helped me to truly experience Louisiana and the South. Rachel, Brooke, Xuan and Stacy provided many laughs in the field and during afternoon lunch breaks. I cannot forget my wonderful girlfriend, Mary Kathryn, who continually makes me strive to be a better person without ever asking.
You guys have become some of my closest friends and have made my time here at LSU something I will not forget. There are many other people at LSU who have helped along the way. My classmates and the various staff of the Environmental Science Department, Center for Energy Studies and Louisiana Geological Survey have been instrumental during my time at LSU. Most important may be our academic adviser, Ms.
Charlotte, but everyone played a role in my success. Lastly, I need to thank my family who provided support well before this program. You all helped to make me the person I am today; the person who successfully completed this program. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .ii LIST OF TABLES .v LIST OF FIGURES.
viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .1 Climate Change, Causes, and Solutions .2 Carbon Capture and Storage and Enhanced Oil Recovery. 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .1 Technical Aspects of Natural Gas Pipelines .2 Differences in CO2 and Natural Gas Pipelines .3 CO2 Material Considerations .6 Environmental Safety Issues .7 United States CO2 Pipeline Infrastructure.8 Louisiana CO2 Pipeline Infrastructure. 21 CHAPTER 3: CO2 PIPELINE DEVELOPMENT COSTS .3 South Louisiana Pipeline Cost Estimates.4 Cost Estimation Results and CO2 Pipeline Development. 28 CHAPTER 4: THE FEASIBILITY OF REPURPOSING NATURAL GAS PIPELINES .3 Data and Methods.
52 iii CHAPTER 5: LOCALIZED BOTTOMS-UP PIPELINE CONVERSIONS.2 Bottoms-Up Methods. 75 APPENDIX: SUPPLEMENTAL DATA. 86 iv LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Comparison of pipeline accidents and fatalities by commodity type from 1997- 2016.
Data was obtained from PHMSA (2017). Basic description of CO2 pipelines throughout Louisiana, U. All are owned by Denbury Resources. *The West Gwinville pipeline was purchased in 2007 as a natural gas line and then converted to CO2.5 MMt, 80 mile project when minimizing costs for either CAPEX or OPEX.
Data sources for proximity screen. Descriptive Statistics: Average MAOP (psi) from pipelines completed during 2009- 2017. Data obtained through the FERC Completed Pipelines Database. Acceptable pipeline CO2 capacity at 750 psi.
2016 PHMSA Annual Report data presented by operator as percent of total infrastructure. Capital costs to build new the 16 segments of pipeline identified as ideal candidates for repurposing. Costs developed using the NETL model. Percent of CO2 capacity by segment from industrial sources within 10 miles of each segment.
Available pipeline characteristics by Buffer Zone. General characteristics of acceptable pipeline by operator. Percent of mileage pre-1950s pipe and corrosive protection of acceptable pipelines by operator. Data obtained from 2016 Annual PHMSA Report.
Inputs used for the NETL model and associated units.83 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Increases in generation of wind (orange) and solar (green) energy. Image obtained from US EIA (2017). Carbon storage in geologic reservoirs.
Taken from Dooley et al. CO2 emissions by sector for: 1) average state and 2) Louisiana. Data obtained from US EIA (2017) and reported for 2014. Location of major industrial facilities emitting CO2 in southern Louisiana.
Data obtained from US EPA (2017). Parts of the pipeline industry from upstream to downstream. Image taken from PHMSA (2017). Phase diagram of CO2 with respect to temperature and pressure.
Image taken from: Averill and Eldredge (2012). Modes of pipeline fracture by specific mechanisms. Image obtained from Bilio et al. Map depicting the current CO2 infrastructure in the U.
Taken from Wallace et al. Current extent of CO2 pipelines in Louisiana. Data was obtained from MAPSearch (2017) and map was created using ESRI (2017) ArcMap. A) CAPEX as a cost per unit CO2 transported B) OPEX per year on a cost per unit transported.
Total cost of various sized projects over various distances. Louisiana natural gas infrastructure. Data obtained from MAPSearch (2017). Louisiana natural gas production from 1977-2015.
Data retrieved from SONRIS (2017). Step by step screening methods flow diagram. Graphical view of all natural gas pipelines, industrial sources and potential EOR fields in southern Louisiana. 509 potential natural gas pipelines within 5 miles of both a source and sink.
Natural gas pipelines identified as ideal candidates for repurposing to transport CO2 and their location with respect to sources and sinks. Industrial sources of CO2, potential EOR fields and natural gas infrastructure. Available natural gas pipelines at various geographical scales (10, 5, and 1 mile zones). Acceptable pipelines within 10 miles of a source or sink.
The selected pipelines do not run directly between sources and sink but rather are connected by a system of pipelines outside the 10 mile buffer highlighted by green lines. Segments which are integral to an operator's overall system (yellow) were excluded from the analysis. This study included laterals of the ends of pipelines (blue). Segments were excluded from the analysis if they did not provide a direct route from source to sink.
Example of acceptable pipelines within the 10 mile buffer. Not all acceptable pipelines run directly to both a source or sink but are still deemed acceptable if connected by a system of pipes outside of the 10 mile buffer. 85 vii ABSTRACT There is no single solution to mitigate anthropogenic climate change; a multifaceted approach with economic incentives is needed. Carbon dioxide (CO2) enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is one such solution which provides an economic incentive, in the capture and sale of oil, for sequestering CO2 underground.
While carbon capture and subsequent geological injection are both mature technologies, there has been little discussion or appreciation for the role of pipelines. The current CO2 pipeline infrastructure will need to significantly expand in order to accommodate increasing EOR production. However, pipeline construction costs, and institutional factors impacting development, may be key obstacles slowing the large scale implementation of CO2-EOR. Numerous authors suggest reusing underutilized or abandoned natural gas pipelines as a way to save on CO2 transportation costs.
While there have been a few successful case studies in this regard, no work has attempted to determine the feasibility of implementing large scale pipeline conversion projects. In order to repurpose pipelines, operators will need to consider source and sink locations, pipeline capacity necessary to support an EOR project, existing pipe material and composition and pipeline utilization. This study is the first of its kind to answer these questions by using a Geographic Information System (GIS), developing proxies for pipeline design specifications, utilizing federal pipeline design reports and parish natural gas production data. The conclusions suggest that current Louisiana natural gas infrastructure is rated below the commonly suggested pressures needed to transport CO2 in its supercritical (liquid) phase and if conversion projects are pursued, they will need to transport CO2 in gaseous form.
The methods used here have a considerable local context and may be acceptable only in states where an extensive natural gas infrastructure is in place. This research suggests there are some unique viii pipeline repurposing opportunities, but those opportunities are likely lower than the optimistic suggestions of the noted literature. ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Climate Change, Causes, and Solutions Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates almost doubled between 1970 and 2010 (IPCC, 2014). Emissions have caused the atmospheric CO2 concentration above Mauna Loa, HI to rise above 400 ppm for the first time in nearly 3 million years (NOAA, 2016a).
The role of CO2 in creating a hospitable climate has been known since John Tyndall’s discovery of the “Greenhouse Effect” in the 1800s, but a tipping point has been reached directly relating increased emissions with negative impacts (IPCC, 2014). Increased emissions have been linked to rising global temperatures, rising sea level, melting glaciers and the contrast between naturally dry and wet environments becoming more apparent (IPCC, 2014). Climatic changes may lead to increased natural disasters, disease outbreaks, food and water shortages and ultimately losses of human life (IPCC, 2014). The monetary costs associated with climate change can be seen in the increase in the number of billion dollar natural disasters (NOAA, 2016b).
In order to avoid or mitigate climate change, a reduction of CO2 emissions is crucial. Carbon emissions, which were mostly flat during the course of human history, began to rise precipitously during the Industrial Revolution when humans learned to harness the energy stored in fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels has been directly related to the increase of atmospheric CO2 concentrations (IPCC, 2014); so a logical solution would be to find energy sources that do not result in CO2 emissions. Energy sources touted as replacements for fossil fuels, such as renewable energy sources, include solar photovoltaics, wind turbines and biofuels (Chu and Majumdar, 2012).
Renewable energy sources have seen significant increases in capacity and generation during the last decade Figure 1 (US EIA, 2017). However, when viewed in relation 1 to the total U. energy budget, renewable energy sources represent less than 10 percent of energy capacity while fossil fuels still supply 73 percent of our overall energy demand (US EIA, 2017). Renewable energy sources also have various drawbacks that are difficult to overcome particularly in their geographic capabilities.
The extensive use of energy crops (biofuels) spurs debates about using food as fuel when there are still large concentrations of malnourished populations around the world (Pimentel and Burgess, 2014). Likewise, the technical ability to generate energy from solar energy is good in an arid environment like Arizona, however, does poorly in places like Seattle (US EIA, 2011). Wind turbines have excellent technical capabilities in the windswept Midwest, but perform poorly in the Southeast (US EIA, 2011). While many of these geographic challenges can be solved, in part, with large transmission systems, they cannot overcome weather.
The sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow causing considerable generation availability challenges (Ellabban et al. There is also a scale issue since many renewable resources are provided at a kW-level of scale rather than MW-level needed to displace large coal baseload facilities.