ABB has signed a partnership deal with Canadian-based Computer Modelling Group (CMG) – a global simulation technology company that has been involved in carbon capture for over 20 years – to incorporate subsurface modelling into their existing digital twin technology for commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) operations.
Being able to simulate scenarios at every stage of the captured carbon dioxide’s journey from surface to underground – whether to subsea or land aquifers – reduces risks and saves costs by allowing operators to test options in a virtual setting.
With this collaboration, ABB will use its Ability™ OPTIMAX® energy management system to integrate above ground digital twin technology with CMG’s subsurface modelling, providing a full end-to-end solution.
“Capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground is a highly technical and challenging process. Being able to deliver proof of concept across the entire CCS process is crucial to accelerate adoption,” said Brandon Spencer, president of ABB Energy Industries. “Without subsurface modelling, industry simply cannot calculate the cost or manage the risks, which is crucial if we are to scale the CCS market to the extent required to support decarbonization of industry and emissions reductions in line with the Paris Accord.”
Subsurface modelling enables businesses to assess risks against various operating scenarios. These risks include losses or leakage often caused by unexpected physical and chemical reactions underground between the carbon dioxide, water, rocks and cement, or technical faults such as wellbore failure caused by salt precipitation.
“This partnership brings together two powerful technologies to develop a product to support the intelligent, real-time operational decision making required to make carbon storage a success at scale,” said Pramod Jain, CEO of CMG. “Advanced subsurface modelling is necessary to assess and monitor risks of CO2 injection against various operating scenarios and is critical to the safety, feasibility and scaling of carbon capture and storage projects. We are pleased to partner with ABB, a global leader in innovation, to provide our industry leading, subsurface simulation capabilities to their enhanced digital twin technology.”
ABB drives CCS progress by adding subsurface modelling to digital twin technology
