Evaluation of offshore CO2 transport alternatives in Brazil

As a more mature option, or with less apparent technological challenges, CO2 transport has deserved less scientific attention than its capture. However, there are relevant challenges to transportation, especially when it involves an irregular supply of CO2, for example, associated with the burning of seasonally available bioenergy, and the need to move offshore gas over long distances. This work evaluates the costs of implementing a CO2 transport infrastructure on the Brazilian coast, through a comparative analysis between offshore pipelines and ships. Seven routes were selected connecting ports to mature oil fields, for which abatement costs were estimated. Findings show that, for greater distances and smaller volumes (usually above 400 km and below 10 Mtpa), ships are more cost-effective, while in the case of larger volumes and small distances, offshore pipelines are the most suitable alternative. Moreover, ships adapt easily to variations in CO2 injection rates and market changes and can benefit from a multipurpose fleet associated with Liquefied Petroleum Gas transport.