Buffer Storage Modelling for Offshore Carbon Capture Projects
Confidential (Global Carbon Capture Stakeholders)
UK and Global Offshore Sites
Buffer Storage Modelling for Offshore Carbon Capture Projects
As carbon capture projects expand globally, ensuring uninterrupted CO₂ injection into offshore aquifers has become a critical technical challenge. Tankers transporting CO₂ to remote injection sites face unpredictable metocean conditions, which can delay or interrupt offloading. This creates a need for buffer storage systems that can maintain continuous injection without excessive oversizing and cost escalation.
Challenge:
As carbon capture projects expand globally, ensuring uninterrupted CO₂ injection into offshore aquifers has become a critical technical challenge. Tankers transporting CO₂ to remote injection sites face unpredictable metocean conditions, which can delay or interrupt offloading. This creates a need for buffer storage systems that can maintain continuous injection without excessive oversizing and cost escalation.
Solution:
Crondall Energy developed a bespoke Buffer Storage Model to support the design and operations for offshore CO₂ injection. The model integrates:
Historical metocean data to simulate tanker connectivity and offloading windows
Vendor data on offloading system operability and tanker dynamics
Injection rates, turndown capacity, and CO₂ density parameters
Real-time simulation outputs showing tanker status and FSIU storage levels
This enabled rapid sensitivity analysis to determine optimal sizing for continuous injection, even during adverse weather conditions.
Key Results:
✅ Continuous Injection Enabled – Modelled buffer capacity to maintain flow during tanker delays
✅ Cost-Efficient Design Achieved – Avoided oversizing through targeted sensitivity analysis
✅ Operational Risk Reduced – Anticipated offloading disruptions using site-specific metocean data
Impact:
Crondall Energy’s modelling solution supports the efficient and resilient design of offshore CO₂ storage systems. By enabling continuous injection and reducing project risk, the Buffer Storage Model advances the viability of carbon capture technologies and contributes to global decarbonisation efforts.
Challenge:
As carbon capture projects expand globally, ensuring uninterrupted CO₂ injection into offshore aquifers has become a critical technical challenge. Tankers transporting CO₂ to remote injection sites face unpredictable metocean conditions, which can delay or interrupt offloading. This creates a need for buffer storage systems that can maintain continuous injection without excessive oversizing and cost escalation.
Solution:
Crondall Energy developed a bespoke Buffer Storage Model to support the design and operations for offshore CO₂ injection. The model integrates:
Historical metocean data to simulate tanker connectivity and offloading windows
Vendor data on offloading system operability and tanker dynamics
Injection rates, turndown capacity, and CO₂ density parameters
Real-time simulation outputs showing tanker status and FSIU storage levels
This enabled rapid sensitivity analysis to determine optimal sizing for continuous injection, even during adverse weather conditions.
Key Results:
✅ Continuous Injection Enabled – Modelled buffer capacity to maintain flow during tanker delays
✅ Cost-Efficient Design Achieved – Avoided oversizing through targeted sensitivity analysis
✅ Operational Risk Reduced – Anticipated offloading disruptions using site-specific metocean data
Impact:
Crondall Energy’s modelling solution supports the efficient and resilient design of offshore CO₂ storage systems. By enabling continuous injection and reducing project risk, the Buffer Storage Model advances the viability of carbon capture technologies and contributes to global decarbonisation efforts.