The first phase of the ACCS project intends to capture carbon emissions from Aramco gas plant facilities near Jubail, as well as from third-party emitters. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Wood has completed the front-end engineering and design (FEED) scope for the first phase of Aramco’s Accelerated Carbon Capture and Sequestration (ACCS) project in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, which is being developed with partners SLB and Linde

The Jubail CCs hub set to be the world’s largest carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) hub upon completion in 2027, with the capacity to capture nine million metric tonnes of CO2 and sequester them within onshore geological storage.

Key role in reducing emissions

Aramco sees CCS as playing a key role in global efforts to reduce emissions. The first phase of the ACCS project intends to capture carbon emissions from Aramco gas plant facilities near Jubail, on the east coast of Saudi Arabia, as well as from third-party emitters.

Wood designed the greenfield dehydration and compression facilities and the large pipeline network, including a 200+ km dense-phase CO2 pipeline for the ACCS project, designed to transport the emissions. Aramco plans to store up to 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of CO2 equivalent by 2035 – contributing towards the Kingdom reaching its CCUS goal of 44 MTPA by 2035.

Craig Shanaghey, Wood’s executive president of Projects, said, “We are proud to be at the forefront of designing the future of energy by leveraging our 20 years of experience in carbon capture engineering to bring the ACCS project to life, supporting Aramco as our long-term client on its energy security and transition ambitions.

“The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has underlined the significant role CCS can potentially play in helping to reach the 2-degree goal set out in the Paris Agreement, and it is investments like this world-leading project that can support that progress and make a tangible difference to reduce the carbon emissions of heavy industries.”

A significant wave of new investment in LNG is expected in the coming years. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Global upstream oil and gas investment is expected to increase by 7% in 2024 to reach US$570bn, following a similar rise in 2023, according to the IEA’s latest World Energy Investment report

The growth in oil and gas spending in 2023 and 2024 is dominated by national oil companies in the Middle East and Asia. NOCs are set to provide over 40% of global upstream spending in 2024, compared with less than 25% in 2015, and NOCs in the Middle East and Asia have been responsible for nearly all the increase in investment in 2023 and 2024. This includes investment by PetroChina to explore for conventional resources and develop tight liquids and gas basins, Saudi Aramco’s push to meet its expanded gas production target, and new sour gas field developments in the UAE. 

A significant wave of new investment is expected in LNG in the coming years as new liquefaction plants are built, mainly in the USA and Qatar.

Clean energy investment by oil and gas companies reached US$30bn in 2023, accounting for only 4% of the industry’s overall capital spending, according to the report.

Global clean energy investment growing strongly

However, global investment in clean energy is set to be almost double the amount going to fossil fuels in 2024, helped by improving supply chains and lower costs for clean technologies. Total energy investment worldwide is expected to exceed US$3trillion in 2024, with some US$2 trillion set to go toward clean technologies, according to the report. In 2024, investment in solar PV is set to grow to US$500bn, boosted by the fall in module prices.

China is set to account for the largest share of clean energy investment in 2024, reaching an estimated US$675bn, followed by Europe and the USA, with clean energy investment of US$370bn and US$315bn respectively. The new report highlights however the low level of clean energy spending in emerging and developing economies (outside China), with the high cost of capital being a key constraint.

“Clean energy investment is setting new records even in challenging economic conditions, highlighting the momentum behind the new global energy economy. For every dollar going to fossil fuels today, almost two dollars are invested in clean energy,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol.

“More must be done to ensure that investment reaches the places where it is needed most, in particular the developing economies where access to affordable, sustainable and secure energy is severely lacking today.”

Energy investment in the Middle East is expected to reach approximately US$175bn in 2024, with fossil fuels predominating and clean energy accounting for only around 15% of total investment.

“The region’s power sector holds a distinct opportunity for increasing investment in clean energy technologies, notably for solar PV,” the report notes.

Accurate flare gas measurement is essential for controlling emissions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A new partnership between Fluenta and SEGITEC will potentially help North African operators reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Fluenta, which provides ultrasonic sensing technology to measure flare gas, has been appointed official distributor for SEGITEC, a North Africa-focused integrator of control and instrumentation solutions. Fluenta's solutions and SEGITEC's established distribution network in North Africa will facilitate accurate and reliable flare gas measurement for operators, which is essential for emissions control, demonstrating environmental commitment, complying with regulatory requirements and ensuring safety.

Emissions reduction priority

Reducing emissions and minimising environmental impact are top priorities for oil, gas and petrochemicals companies worldwide. In North Africa, Algeria has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 22% by 2030, Tunisia has set a conditional emissions reduction target of 45% below 2010 levels by 2030, and Gabon is aiming for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. More than 50 oil and gas companies committed to ending routine flaring by 2030 at COP28, as well as to increasing transparency on GHG emissions.

Julian Dudley-Smith, Fluenta managing director said, "Fluenta's mission to help operators comply with environmental regulations is complemented by SEGITEC's expertise in providing value-added services, which include project management, engineering, commissioning, operations, and maintenance. The partnership will support operators' decarbonisation plans, enhance environmental credentials, and ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards."

Omar Ben Ayed, SEGITEC's CEO, said, "This partnership is a significant milestone, as it allows us to offer energy companies in North Africa and Gabon the best-in-class solutions to meet tightening environmental standards. Together, we are committed to empowering the region's oil, gas, and petrochemical industries to achieve their environmental goals while maintaining operational excellence."

SEGITEC and Fluenta will be showcasing at this year’s NAPEC event on 14-16 October in Algeria.

e-NG can use existing infrastructure. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

TES and OQ Alternative Energy have signed an agreement to assess the development of an e-NG facility in Oman

e-NG is a green hydrogen-based green molecule chemically identical to natural gas and obtained by combining green hydrogen with CO2 through a methanation process. As such it can leverage existing infrastructure for liquefaction, regasification, transportation and storage, gradually replacing natural gas.

Leading in green hydrogen

Oman is a leader in the development of a green hydrogen economy, aiming to produce in excess of 1mt annum of green hydrogen by 2030. Its strong renewable resources, in particular wind and solar, combined with a one-stop-shop implementation framework under Hydrom’s directive, has boosted the Sultanate’s attraction as a green hydrogen hub.

“This agreement with OQAE underscores our dedication to advancing the global energy transition and strengthens our commitment and ongoing activities in the Middle East. By harnessing the expertise of OQAE, a global leader in the energy industry, we are enabling the production of green hydrogen at an industrial scale, making e-fuels accessible and cost-effective,” said Marco Alverà, CEO and co-founder of TES.

Najla Al Jamali, CEO of OQ Alternative Energy, added, “Collaborating on the study helps us move forward to identify additional downstream opportunities and vectors to diversify markets for green hydrogen.”

TES co-founded the global e-NG Coalition in March 2024 with industry leaders TotalEnergies, Engie, Sempra Infrastructure, Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas and Toho Gas.