Towards a CO2 pipeline specification: defining tolerance limits for impurities

As more carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects are proposed, it is becoming clear that the specification of the CO2 in the pipeline is an under-researched area. Research has been conducted into the effect of the impurities on the different aspects of pipeline hydraulic design, pipeline integrity, and public safety; however, the inter-relationship of these differing, and sometimes competing, requirements has not been investigated in detail. This paper reviews the current pipeline specifications for CO2 pipelines and then discusses the effects that different impurities have on key aspects of pipeline design, operation, integrity, and health and safety and the requirements that need to be considered when specifying the maximum levels of these impurities for entry into the pipeline system.