Technical Aspects of Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Safety

Paul Clinton, Shell Global Solutions, Netherlands

Carbon dioxide pipelines have been in use for more than thirty years, and most of their special technical design issues have been identified. However most of the existing pipelines are in rural or remote areas whereas the growing interest in Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CSS) will result in carbon dioxide pipelines being closer to centres of population. This requires a re-evaluation of the design methods, especially as different techniques for CO2 capture and the re-use of existing oil and/or gas pipelines are being considered.

This paper describes the principal technical aspects to be considered in order to ensure the good safety record of carbon dioxide pipelines continues to be maintained as CCS becomes more widespread. Areas where carbon dioxide pipelines have important design differences to natural gas pipelines are highlighted, together with areas where further development work will help to improve the designs. Aspects described include pipeline design codes, avoidance of mechanical failure, carbon dioxide toxicology, temperatures developed by leaks, leak modelling and leak dispersion.