The UK has a soon to be legally binding target to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050. As a contribution to achieving this reduction, much of the UK’s fossil-fuelled power generation is expected to be replaced by new coal-fired power stations equipped with carbon capture. This will make available large quantities of CO2 which could be injected into depleted reservoirs. The UK is collaborating with Norway and other countries around the North Sea rim in the planning of CO2 storage regulations and infrastructure, and is assisting in the development of carbon capture and storage technology in developing countries. There is no experience of injecting anthropogenic CO2 into offshore oil fields so despite the maturity of land-based CO2 EOR, this is a new challenge.

     As there is a global imperative to reduce CO2 emissions, this opportunity is also available to other countries with significant coal-fired electricity generation and an indigenous oil industry (e.g. USA and China). The talk will include policy background, plans by utility companies, sources and sinks for CO2, the EOR opportunity, infrastructure requirements and engineering challenges.