CCUS (Carbon dioxide Capture, Utilization and Storage) is an indispensable technology for the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050 not only in Japan but also in other countries. In general, CCUS can be divided into CCU (Utilization) and CCS (Storage), and CCU can be further divided into direct utilization and carbon recycling.
CO2 Direct Utilization: CO2-EOR
EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery), which was established in the United States in the 1970s, is oil production recovery techniques in oil fields where oil cannot be recovered using the primary and secondary recovery methods or water content of the oil reservoir has increased. In recent years, CO2 EOR is also highlighted as one of measures of CCU. TOYO has been involved in oil field development applying EOR since the early 1980s, especially the study and implementation of CO2 EOR projects. It is important to grasp high pressure CO2 conditions through the subsurface analysis and engineering, plan appropriate surface facilities, and establish optimized production plan. TOYO is a unique engineering company, who has specialists in both subsurface engineering and surface facility engineering respectively and can provide consolidated services for whole oil and gas field development.
The other CO2 direct utilization includes shield gas for welding, carbonated water, dry ice and so on.
Carbon Recycling
Carbon recycling is another measure of CCU, where CO2 is used as a feed material for chemicals and fuels instead of CO2 release into the atmosphere.
e-fuel/SAF g-Methanol™CCS
CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage) captures CO2 generated by burning fossil fuels and stores it into specific geological layers in the ground safely and reliably. Thus, it is expected to be a promising method of reducing CO2 emissions while maintaining convenience of fossil fuels and economic sustainability simultaneously.
It is difficult to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 without CCS, but the reduction of the CCS cost and the establishment of carbon credit scheme are crucial issues at this moment. Therefore, the business sustainability in terms of its economic aspect is the key for its social implementation.
CCS drew our attention early on, and we invested in Japan CCS Co., Ltd. when that company was established in 2008. In addition, we are planning to participate in several CCS projects, where our experience in separation, recovery, transportation and storage of CO2 (including the experience of CO2 EOR projects) are applied for the study / evaluation of the appropriate whole system configuration and the project feasibility in terms of both technical and economic aspect. In recent years, we are working toward the establishment of a CO2 value chain and social implementation of CCS in order to reduce CO2 emissions during the production of blue hydrogen / ammonia as well as during thermal power generation.