The rapidly increasing pace of climate change regulatory action has rendered it necessary forthe energy industry to understand the potential impact of carbon constraints on hydrocarbonresource development. Unconventional resources such as gas-to-liquids (GTL) continue togrow in importance in the global energy equation; however, as the industry continues topursue these opportunities, it is essential to consider the possible effect of climate changelegislation on these mega-projects.A systematic approach to evaluating the potential impact of carbon constraints and applyingtechnology-based carbon mitigation strategies was developed to enable future hydrocarbonresource development in a carbon-constrained world. This approach was applied to quantifythe potential liability from GTL plant emissions and to evaluate the economic and technicalfeasibility of mitigating these emissions using carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)technology.A staged evaluation was employed to understand the spectrum of possible impacts of carbonconstraints on GTL projects:1. The uncontrolled GTL plant carbon dioxide emissions were estimated.2. It was assumed that climate change mitigation was required after the GTL plant wascommissioned. Carbon capture facilities were added as a retrofit to the existing plant.3. It was assumed that the GTL plant was designed with the knowledge that carbonconstraints would be imposed during the life of the plant. The plant was designed with aminimal pre-investment for carbon capture facilities.4. It was assumed that climate change mitigation was an integral part of the original GTL plantdesign.
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