Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has initiated a number of decarbonisation projects, including the world’s first project that will permanently store CO2 in a carbonate saline aquifer.
The projects are part of the company’s landmark $15 billion investment to embrace the energy transition and builds on its leading role as a reliable and responsible provider of lower carbon intensity energy
Adnoc is using the latest in technology to capture CO2 for injection. A team of experts at its Thamama subsurface centre will utilise data from the world’s largest 3D seismic survey to pre select the site for injection.
On site, a well will be safely drilled to receive CO2, and then injected from the surface deep into the carbonate aquifer.
Through the combination of ideal geology and innovative technology, the CO2 is expected to remain stored underground permanently.
Adnoc is also exploring innovative ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. One potential solution involves rocks called peridotites found across the UAE.
When exposed to water, elements inside these rocks react with CO2 to mineralise it. This occurs naturally over decades, but Adnoc is turning decades into months in Fujairah by using technology from 44.01.
After capturing CO2 from the air, it will be combined with seawater and injected deep underground. Here the rocks are expected to solidify the CO2 forever.
Using Masdar’s clean energy, this pilot will be the region’s first carbon negative project, and could one day eliminate billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and help the UAE achieve its net-zero by 2050 strategic initiative.
Meanwhile, Adnoc and Taqa have completed the financial close of a world-class decarbonisation project.
The $3.8 billion subsea transmission network, developed with respected strategic international partners will further reduce carbon emissions from Adnoc’s offshore operations.
This state-of-the-art project will electrify and connect Adnoc’s offshore production facilities to power from Taqa’s cleaner, more efficient onshore power grid.
This first of its kind development will reduce the carbon footprint of Adnoc’s offshore facilities by more than 30 per cent supporting the UAE’s net-zero by 2050 strategic initiative.
Additionally, the project will enable Adnoc to use its gas for higher value purposes and in addition see more than 50 per cent of in-country value flow back into the UAE economy.
