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CALGARY - March 15, 2010
A slurry pipeline uses flowing liquid (typically water) to carry entrained solids in a pipeline. The CO2 Slurry Pipeline Project proposes using CO2 instead of water. CO2 at pressure in a pipeline flows as a liquid and is a more efficient carrier fluid than water because it:
- Is less abrasive than water (pipelines can last two to three times longer);
- Can carry a greater volume of material than water; and
- Is cheaper to de-slurry (solids are delivered dry rather than wet).
Phase 1 will consist of the CO2 Slurry Pipeline Research Initiative. This phase will cost between $1-2 million and take approximately two years. Phase 2 will involve building a CO2 flow loop of sufficient scale to prove slurry and de-slurry capability. The costs and specific timelines for this phase will be determined during Phase 1, and will take approximately three years. Phase 3 will involve commercial operation and market integration.
The pipeline would likely start at Fort McMurray and run to railheads, and to the various markets for sulphur, petroleum coke and limestone. Because the current transportation infrastructure capacity is limited, these products have been stockpiled at their source.
The project is guided by a consortium of organizations with key representatives from industry including: Enbridge (Project Leader), Air Liquide Canada Inc., BP Canada Energy Company, Cimarron Engineering Ltd., EPRI (Electrical Power Research Institute), GE Infrastructure, Hatch Ltd., HTC Purenergy Inc., Invensys Systems Canada Inc., Snamprogetti Canada Inc., SNC-Lavalin Inc., Stantec Consulting Ltd., Syncrude Canada Ltd., Techint Engineering and Construction, and WorleyParsons Canada Services Ltd. |
