CO₂ Transport

Pipeline infrastructure, Alaska, USA.
Image courtesy of BP

Captured CO₂ has to be compressed and transported, most likely by pipeline, to a site suitable for storage. Ships may be viable for CO₂ transportation over long distances. Even if a suitable storage site lies directly beneath the source of capture, the captured CO₂ will have to be compressed and pumped underground. Pipelining of gases and liquids is widespread throughout the world, and includes millions of tonnes of CO₂ that are transported each year for use in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) operations and in emerging CCS projects. Pipeline infrastructure can be costly, but heavy industries are often ‘clustered’ together which allow CO₂ pipeline networks to be shared. Visit the CCS Browser for more information on how CO₂ is transported.