India: Feasibility Study: IOCL Carbon Capture and Utilization Project
September 4, 2020
- October 19, 2020
The Grantee invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the “Proposal”) from interested U.S. firms that are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to execute a feasibility study to evaluate and develop an implementation plan for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) at the Koyali refinery in Gujarat, India.
Project Background
Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) entails capturing CO₂ generated in flue gases from various refinery operations and diverting it to other applications or sequestration (long-term storage) to prevent release into the atmosphere. CCUS allows the refinery operator to capture the CO₂ that would otherwise have been released into the environment and potentially monetize the diversion of that CO₂ to alternative applications. There are several methods of CCUS that are commercially available, and the strategy has long been recognized as a useful tool to address CO₂ emissions.
In 2019, IOCL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), another Indian government-owned oil and gas company, on a combined CCUS and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) system. EOR refers to the process by which CO₂ is transported and injected into a depleting oilfield to increase oil production. As per the MoU, CO₂ that is captured at IOCL’s Koyali refinery would be transported by pipeline to the nearby ONGC Gandhar oilfield in the state of Gujarat, India. Additionally, IOCL has also signed a similar MoU with Oil India Limited (OIL) for IOCL’s Digboi refinery to provide CO₂ for EOR at OIL’s Naharkatiya and Dikom oilfields in the state of Assam, India. IOCL is also in discussions with food and beverage companies to sell food-grade CO₂ produced through carbon capture technology. These applications would allow IOCL to identify various uses for the captured CO₂ and offset the costs associated with introducing carbon capture technologies at its refinery.
About the Grantee
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is a government-owned oil and gas company in India that accounts for nearly half of India’s petroleum product market share, operating 11 of the country’s 23 refineries. IOCL has expressed interest in adopting carbon capture technology at its Koyali refinery for CCUS to reduce refinery CO₂ emissions.
About the Study
IOCL has requested a feasibility study (FS) to evaluate the implementation of carbon capture technology at the Koyali refinery. The proposed FS would evaluate the economic feasibility of capturing CO₂; develop technical specifications, designs and plans; review and identify necessary approvals and permits required; and analyze the potential environmental impact of the CCUS Project. In addition to EOR and food and beverage applications, the FS would consider various alternative applications for the captured CO₂ in order to ensure that the project is technically and economically feasible.
The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $507,690 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
