Full Title: Accufacts’ Perspectives on the State of Federal Carbon Dioxide Transmission Pipeline Safety Regulations as it Relates to Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration within the U.S.
Author(s): Richard B. Kuprewicz
Publisher(s): Pipeline Safety Trust
Publication Date: April 18, 2022
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Accufacts Inc. (“Accufacts”) was asked to review and comment on various aspects related to carbon dioxide transmission pipeline safety and federal pipeline safety regulations within the U.S. In recent years, there has been considerable discussion about how to address carbon dioxide emissions and global warming through carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (aka “CCUS” or “CCS”). CCS efforts are intended to help mitigate climate change by capturing carbon dioxide emissions both before and after they are released to the atmosphere and permanently storing such material deep in underground geological structures.
This report is intended to increase regulator and public awareness of the regulatory challenges posed by this proposed massive expansion in CO 2 pipeline mileage and the unique safety risks of transporting CO 2, especially in its supercritical state. It focuses on a higher–level review of the more technical pipeline safety matters, based on decades of pipeline safety experience including pipeline failure investigations, process engineering and process safety management practice, as well as years of experience in processing and handling many tons of liquid CO2 . This report also makes specific recommendations for improvements in federal pipeline safety regulations needed to fill regulatory gaps and ensure public safety.