Description

This curriculum spans the technical, operational, and regulatory dimensions of carbon capture systems with a scope and granularity comparable to a multi-phase engineering and advisory program for industrial decarbonization, covering everything from technology selection and integration in power and industrial plants to long-term storage stewardship and cross-jurisdictional project development.

Module 1: Fundamentals of Carbon Capture Technologies

Selecting between post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion systems based on existing plant infrastructure and fuel type.
Evaluating solvent-based amine systems versus solid sorbents for CO₂ capture efficiency and degradation under continuous operation.
Integrating cryogenic separation units in natural gas processing facilities to co-capture CO₂ and NGLs.
Assessing energy penalties associated with solvent regeneration in amine systems across different plant loads.
Designing slipstream pilot units to test capture technology performance on actual flue gas streams before full-scale deployment.
Specifying materials of construction for CO₂-rich environments to prevent corrosion in absorber and regenerator units.
Optimizing flue gas conditioning (temperature, humidity, particulates) to improve capture solvent performance.

Module 2: Integration with Power Generation Systems

Retooling pulverized coal plants with post-combustion capture while maintaining grid stability during transient operations.
Redesigning steam balance in combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) to compensate for energy diverted to capture processes.
Modifying air separation units (ASUs) for integration with pre-combustion IGCC systems.
Managing turndown ratios in power plants equipped with carbon capture during low-demand periods.
Implementing dynamic control strategies to match capture plant operation with variable power output.
Upgrading ducting and fans to handle increased flue gas pressure drops after adding capture equipment.
Conducting heat integration studies (pinch analysis) to minimize parasitic energy loads from capture units.

Module 3: CO₂ Compression, Piping, and Transport Infrastructure

Specifying multi-stage compression trains with intercooling to achieve supercritical CO₂ for pipeline transport.
Designing pipeline networks with batch scheduling to accommodate fluctuating CO₂ supply from multiple sources.
Selecting carbon steel versus corrosion-resistant alloys based on CO₂ purity, moisture content, and impurities.
Implementing inline monitoring for water content and hydrocarbon levels to prevent hydrate formation and corrosion.
Planning right-of-way acquisitions and regulatory approvals for cross-jurisdictional CO₂ trunk lines.
Designing slug catchers and relief systems for two-phase flow scenarios in long-distance pipelines.
Integrating pigging operations into pipeline maintenance schedules without interrupting CO₂ flow.

Module 4: Geological Storage Site Selection and Characterization

Interpreting 3D seismic data to map structural closures and fault integrity in saline aquifers.
Drilling and testing appraisal wells to measure formation injectivity and caprock sealing capacity.
Assessing reservoir heterogeneity using core samples and well logs to forecast plume migration.
Conducting pressure interference tests between injectors and monitoring wells to validate containment.
Modeling brine displacement and pressure propagation using reservoir simulation software.
Screening sites for proximity to existing wellbores or abandoned wells that could compromise containment.
Establishing baseline groundwater chemistry for future monitoring and liability management.

Module 5: Monitoring, Verification, and Accounting (MVA)

Deploying time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to track CO₂ plume evolution over multi-year intervals.
Installing downhole fiber-optic DAS/DTS systems for continuous temperature and strain monitoring.
Calibrating atmospheric monitoring networks to detect surface leakage with background noise filtering.
Implementing tracer injection protocols (e.g., SF₆, noble gases) to quantify flow paths and leakage risks.
Validating mass balance calculations using injection metering, seismic volume estimates, and pressure data.
Generating third-party audit-ready MVA reports aligned with regulatory frameworks (e.g., EPA Class VI).
Integrating automated anomaly detection in sensor networks using statistical process control.

Module 6: Regulatory Compliance and Permitting Strategy

Preparing Class VI UIC permit applications including site characterization, risk assessment, and closure plans.
Coordinating with state and federal agencies on jurisdictional overlaps for cross-border storage projects.
Developing corrective action plans for non-compliance events such as exceedance of pressure limits.
Negotiating pore space rights with landowners and mineral rights holders in storage basins.
Aligning project documentation with ISO 27916 and other international CCS standards.
Managing public comment periods and stakeholder consultations during environmental impact assessments.
Updating financial assurance mechanisms (e.g., trust funds) to cover post-closure monitoring liabilities.

Module 7: Economic Modeling and Project Financing

Building discounted cash flow models with sensitivity analysis on capture efficiency and electricity prices.
Structuring tolling agreements between emitters and transport/storage operators.
Quantifying revenue potential from 45Q tax credits under current IRS guidance and verification requirements.
Assessing bankability of CCS projects based on offtake agreements and counterparty creditworthiness.
Modeling cost escalation risks in EPC contracts for first-of-a-kind capture installations.
Allocating capital and operating costs across capture, transport, and storage components for cost recovery.
Integrating carbon price forecasts into long-term investment decisions under policy uncertainty.

Module 8: Cross-Sector Applications and Industrial Decarbonization

Adapting oxy-combustion systems for cement kilns with high-purity CO₂ off-gas streams.
Integrating blue hydrogen production with CCS in steam methane reforming (SMR) facilities.
Designing capture units for ethanol biorefineries to meet LCFS credit requirements.
Modifying steel plant off-gas systems to capture CO₂ from blast furnace and BOF operations.
Co-locating capture facilities with hydrogen production and synfuels plants for shared infrastructure.
Assessing retrofit feasibility in aging petrochemical complexes with space and utility constraints.
Developing cluster strategies to aggregate emissions from multiple industrial sources for shared transport and storage.

Module 9: Operational Management and Long-Term Stewardship

Establishing control room protocols for real-time monitoring of injection pressure and rate limits.
Developing emergency response plans for pipeline ruptures or wellhead leaks with local authorities.
Transitioning from active to passive monitoring regimes after site closure based on regulatory timelines.
Archiving geological, operational, and monitoring data in standardized formats for future access.
Managing workforce transition from construction to operations, including specialized training for CCS systems.
Conducting periodic integrity assessments of wells and surface facilities during post-injection phases.
Coordinating liability transfer from operator to regulatory body in accordance with national frameworks.