http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/2017/07/06/shells-quest-marks-milestone-ahead-of-schedule
Shell’s Quest marks milestone ahead of schedule
By Leanne Delong, Fort Saskatchewan Record
Thursday, July 6, 2017 1:03:34 MDT PM
The Quest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project, designed by Shell
Canada has proven successful by capturing two million tonnes of carbon
dioxide ahead of schedule.
Shell Scotford hit their target goal of 2 million tonnes in just 21
months, exceeding the initial expectation of two years.
“This project has just been incredibly exciting because not only are we
proving that this technology works, but we are demonstrating that
Canadians are at the forefront of carbon capture and technology,” said
Shell Canada external relations advisor, Conal MacMillan. “We’re showing
the world we can develop real solutions to address climate change right
here in Fort Saskatchewan and Strathcona County.”
The CCS project, which is among just a handful throughout the world,
captures CO2 emissions from flue gas (the gas left over and burned off
at the upgrader) and sent via pipeline to Thorhild County, the gas is
injected more than two kilometres underground and held within cap rock.
The project reduces CO2 emissions from Shell’s upgrader by more than one
million tonnes per year, which is equivalent to annual emissions of
roughly 250,000 cars.
“Being the first ever CCS project associated with oil sands, the intent
was to demonstrate this technology to reduce carbon emissions does exist
and can be an effective way to reduce emissions,” noted MacMillan.
The external relations advisor added when they announced the project,
they estimated it will operate for 25 years and from what they have seen
in the first two years of operation has been successful and they are
quite proud. Since Quest’s launch in 2015, Shell is also only using two
of the three available wells underground to hold the CO2.
“There’s maybe only a dozen of these projects in the world right now and
to show that this one works at a commercial scale, a significant scale
like we’re doing here, is just incredible evidence that Canadians are at
the forefront of this technology,” said MacMillan.
The project is estimated to cost $1.35 billion over a 10 year period.
Funding was provided through both levels of government, receiving $120
million federally and $745 million provincially.
In the spring of this year Shell Canada was awarded the Association of
Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (APEGA) Summit Award for
environment and sustainability for the Quest project.
