Introduction to CCUS

Disciplines: Data Science and Engineering Analytics | Projects, Facilities, and Construction

Course Description

This course is for geologists, environmental scientists, and regulators who deal with geological and engineering information related to carbon capture and storage. The course will cover the role of CCS within decarbonisation as an aspect of earth system science; why CCS is necessary; how CO2 is captured in industrial processes and how it can be used industrially; the factors affecting geological storage; how CO2 stores are monitored for leakage; how CCS will be regulated; how CCS will pay for itself; and the social licence for CCS. The course will be delivered in simple non-technical language suitable for non-specialists. The course has a strong international and global south emphasis with case studies of non-European, non-North American CCS and will touch on the role of CCS in development country energy transition. The course I propose satisfies a part of the market that is not currently catered for – the wider science, risks, financing, planning and social licence aspects of CCS. These are issues that are as important as the technical issues in the sense that any of them can be a show-stopper for CCS. Many geologists in companies first starting out in CCS will need to have a broad background of the science, technology, risks and policy planning aspects of CCS. Many technical civil servants and planners want to know about the new technology of CCS including its risks, environmental aspects and social licence. Similarly geologists and planners in investment organisations and NGOs will want to know the broad principles of CCS.

Learning Level

Introductory to Intermediate

Course Length

1 Day

Why Attend

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

Place CCS within the context of the global geological carbon cycle and the contribution to could make to carbon abatement
Understand the basic engineering and other challenges and solutions of CO2 transport and capture
Understand the geological challenges and solutions of CO2 storage
Understand the methods of geological and environmental monitoring of CCS sites and why monitoring is important
Understand the policy and finance challenges and solutions of CCS projects
Understand the importance of social licence to operate and how to gain a social licence to operate

Who Attends

Geologists, Environmental Scientists, and Regulators who deal with geological and engineering information related to carbon capture and storage.

CEUs

.8 CEU

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be received no later than 14 days prior to the course start date. Cancellations made after the 14-day window will not be refunded. Refunds will not be given due to no show situations.

Training sessions attached to SPE conferences and workshops follow the cancellation policies stated on the event information page. Please check that page for specific cancellation information.

SPE reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule courses at will. Notification of changes will be made as quickly as possible; please keep this in mind when arranging travel, as SPE is not responsible for any fees charged for cancelling or changing travel arrangements.

We reserve the right to substitute course instructors as necessary.

Instructor

Prof Mike Stephenson has 25 years experience in energy and geological science and research, including 8 years national level science leadership as the UK’s chief geologist (Executive Chief Scientist and Director of Science and Technology of the British Geological Survey)

Mike has been providing geoscience advice to Government for almost 15 years and has an excellent overview of Government policy, industrial activity and funding landscape in applied and energy geoscience, including CCUS, shale gas, geological radioactive waste disposal and geoscience data. Mike also has expertise in positioning organisations in controversial energy topics e.g. CCUS, shale gas and nuclear. Mike was adviser to Sir Mark Walport (when UK Government Chief Scientist) on shale gas and CCUS in 2016; Chair of BIS e-infrastructure Energy Data Expert Group, 2013-2014; a member UKRI’s Energy Strategic Advisory Committee 2020 to 2021; a member of the Royal Society-Royal Academy of Engineering Shale Gas Steering Group (2018-2021); and a Member of the UK Government’s Hydrogen Advisory Council 2021.

Widely recognised as an excellent scientist, he has over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers including many on CCUS, and ~200 conference abstracts; in addition he was the Chief Editor of an Elsevier science journal for 12 years. His science excellence is recognised in his status as professor at four universities. He is Visiting Professor at the University of Nanjing, China, and the University of Milan, Italy, and Honorary Professor at Nottingham and Leicester universities, UK

Mike is a well-known communicator of science and has published three single-author popular science books. His book on CCUS ‘Returning Carbon to Nature’ is widely seen as the go-to introductory text on CCUS, and reviews of the book include: ‘a tour de force’; ‘excellent review of an important topic’; and ‘conversational prose that opens the book to nontechnical readers’. Mike has also delivered high profile lectures, for example in UK Parliament, and has been a science advisor for the BBC’s ‘Horizon’ and ‘Bang Goes the Theory’ programmes. Mike is an experienced trainer with postgraduate teaching qualifications.