Source: Global CCS Institute

Carbon Capture and Storage or CCS refers to technologies that capture greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) and store it safely underground. CCS includes capturing CO2 from large emission sources through point-source capture and directly from the atmosphere through a process called direct air capture (DAC).

CCS can be used across sectors vital in our economy, including cement, steel, fertilizers, power generation and natural gas processing, and can also be used to clean hydrogen production.

How Does it Work?

Carbon capture and storage involves three steps – capture, transport, and storage.

Capture

During capture, CO2 is separated from other gases produced at large industrial facilities, such as steel mills, cement plants, oil and
gas facilities, gas power plants, or from the atmosphere.

Transport

Once separated, the CO2 is compressed for transportation. The compressed CO2 is then dehydrated before entering a transport system. Pipelines are the most common mode of transport for large quantities of CO2.

Storage

Following transport, the CO2 is injected into deep underground rock formations, at depths
of half a mile to a mile or more, where the CO2 is permanently stored deep underground in depleted oil and gas reservoirs where it will
be monitored according to detailed regulatory requirements.

Why is CCS necessary?

Source: Aera Energy
To reach the state’s climate goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, California will need to implement an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that looks to every potential source to decarbonize. California’s 2022 Scoping Plan Update shows there is no path to carbon neutrality without carbon capture and storage being a part of the strategy. In fact, the plan calls for one hundred million metric tons of CO2 per year to be captured by 2045.

So, it is imperative that we work together to develop a responsible path forward for local oil and gas production that supports the energy needs of all Californians today, while looking at critical technologies such as CCS.

Why is Aera implementing CCS

With CarbonFrontier, Aera’s carbon capture and storage project, we can reduce our own carbon footprint and by the late 2020s store up to 1.6 million metric (MM Mt) tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of offsetting the carbon footprint of 30,000 households.

Long-term, Aera’s vision is that carbon storage will offset emissions not only from our operations but will be further developed as a carbon park or “hub,” potentially attracting businesses that need storage to decarbonize their operations. In other words, Aera is looking to turn our operations into an innovation center, where businesses can join together to share mutual benefits using Aera’s hub as an integrated energy source, and transportation mechanism paired with CarbonFrontier’s storage infrastructure.