N'GENIUS for Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage

A crucial technology for achieving Net-Zero Emissions.

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a key technology for reducing CO₂ emissions and reaching net-zero.

The carbon capture process involves injecting emissions into an absorber containing a solvent. The most common solvent is aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) which collects the CO₂ and the remaining emissions are released into the atmosphere. Heat is then used to separate the solvent from the CO₂. The captured CO₂ can then be stored safely or is otherwise utilised.

Carbon capture will play a crucial role in decarbonising the following major industry sectors and processes:

• The energy sector including oil and gas production, oil refining industries, chemical process industries and petrochemical industries
• Industrial sectors including glassmaking, cement production, steelmaking, manufacturing plastics, fertiliser production, food production, waste production and power generation
• The production of low-carbon “blue hydrogen”
• Bio Energy
• Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems

Extraction, separation, utilisation and storage of CO₂ must be done in a safe and sustainable manner.

Carbon capture technology has been selected for reducing millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions from clusters of industries in the UK, Europe and throughout the rest of the world. Large numbers of carbon capture projects, worth billions of dollars, are currently being studied at the Conceptual Design, FEED / pre-FEED and Detailed Engineering Design stages in readiness to proceed in the future following their approval.

In CCUS systems, materials are selected to mitigate risks against both cracking failure mechanisms and corrosion mechanisms. Materials selection strategies therefore need to take this into account:

Cracking Failure mechanisms

• Brittle fracture can occur depending on the susceptibility of the materials selected, which can be associated with upset conditions including the start-up, shut-down or blow-down of systems where sudden pressure drops can cause Joule-Thomson cooling resulting in sub-zero temperatures to -80° C.
• The super-critical fluid state for CO₂ can cause running ductile fracture, depending on the susceptibility of the materials selected, particularly for carbon capture storage pipelines at typical operating pressures of less than 150 bar. The Battelle Two Curve Method (TCM) can be used for predicting crack arrest in susceptible materials for pipelines. The criteria for establishing the minimum wall thickness needs to take account of the updated Two Curve Methodology (TCM) and the ISO 27913 criterion as detailed in the latest revision of DNVGL RP-F104
• Hydrogen Embrittlement can occur from the diffusion of hydrogen into the lattice structure.

Corrosion mechanisms

In CCUS systems, corrosion can be caused by different constituents and impurities in the process environments. These can include Carbonic acid (formed from CO₂ dissolved in water), Sulphuric acid and Nitric acid (both formed from impurities including O₂, SO₂, NO₂, Chlorides, H₂S and elemental Sulphur), which can lead to low pH acid environments.

This, in turn, can lead to a number of corrosion mechanisms which need to be considered, including:

• Localised Corrosion (Pitting and Crevice Corrosion)
• General Corrosion
• Stress Corrosion Cracking (SSCC and Chloride SCC).

Corrosion resistant alloys need to be correctly selected and specified for CCUS systems to avoid the potential risks of the cracking failure mechanisms or corrosion mechanisms. This will prevent costly shutdown and maintenance issues which would adversely affect major projects.

More importantly, this will avoid catastrophic failures that could jeopardise project safety.

Selecting the right material for your CCUS projects can help avoid major technical issues.

Certain Alloy Types and Variants within the N'GENIUS INFINITY Series™ have been specifically formulated and designed to provide the optimum material solution for CCUS.

Performance benefits of the N'GENIUS INFINITY Series™ alloys for CCUS projects:

N'GENIUS INFINITY Series™ Alloys to be considered for CCUS applications

For pipelines, piping systems, tanks, vessels and engineering equipment including pumps, valves, filters:

• N'GENIUS 326L35M4N™ Alloy Types and Variants containing Tungsten and Copper with predetermined minimum PRE_NW levels of ≥47 or higher.
• N'GENIUS 351L35M4N™ Alloy Types and Variants containing Tungsten and Copper with predetermined minimum PRE_NW levels of ≥48 or higher.

For various products to satisfy well service conditions and process environment:

• N'GENIUS 326L57M4N™ Alloy Types and Variants containing Tungsten and Copper with predetermined minimum PRE_NW levels of ≥50.5 or higher.
• N'GENIUS 351L57M4N™ Alloy Types and Variants containing Tungsten and Copper with predetermined minimum PRE_NW levels of ≥51 or higher.