Shell - Imperial College Grand Challenge on Clean Fossil Fuels
A project on the extractation difficult hydrocarbons with minimal GHG release
A multi-million pound joint research programme, the Shell - Imperial Grand Challenge Programme on Clean Fossil Fuels will focus on developing processes that will enhance extraction of difficult hydrocarbons with minimal release of greenhouse gases (GHG). It will examine processes from the extraction stage through to downstream delivery of energy and chemicals to the consumer.
One of the key initial themes of the Energy Futures Lab was ‘The integrated clean production of fossil fuels’, this envisages radical changes in the methods of production of coal, oil and gas over the next few decades as these energy sources continue to supply a large fraction of the world’s growing energy needs throughout this century.
The new methods will aim to produce at surface only what is required – low or zero carbon fuels, heat and power, and chemical building blocks for materials and chemical products. Much of the downstream fossil fuel processing currently carried out on surface (eg synthesis gas production, coal or gas-to-liquids) will be relocated in the sub-surface, exploiting the high temperature-high pressure environment and transforming the subterranean well network from a passive fluids transportation conduit to an active, continuous processing plant. A large part of the carbon will remain underground, either as low-value residues or CO2 produced, captured and stored in the reservoirs without release. The energy efficiency of fossil fuel recovery will be enhanced and its environmental impact dramatically reduced. The responsibility for reducing carbon emissions will be transferred in large part from the user to the primary producer.
Theme A: Carbon dioxide lifecycle engineering in the reservoir.
Theme B: Low energy, low environmental impact processes for the recovery of non-conventional hydrocarbons
Programme Director: Prof Geoff Maitland, Chemical Engineering
