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Morgan, David [NETL] (ORCID:0009000908479136)

Publications and source records attributed to Morgan, David [NETL] (ORCID:0009000908479136).

Carbon storage cost modeling for the offshore Gulf of America

At the 2025 Annual University of Houston ROICE Workshop, Dr. Chung Shih delivered an invited talk titled "Carbon Storage Cost Modeling for the Offshore Gulf of America." This presentation highlighted the capabilities of NETL's offshore saline carbon storage cost model (CO2_S_COM_Offshore) in evaluating the economics of both new and reused storage infrastructure. While primarily intended for screening-level analysis, the model comprehensively considers critical components such as onshore facilities, pipelines connecting shore to offshore platforms, main platforms, and satellite platforms. Additionally, its integrated cashflow model encompasses the entire project lifecycle, from initial site screening to post-injection site care, providing users with a thorough understanding of how various operational or financial parameters impact project economics.

cost modeling

Optimal CO2 Transport and Storage Cost Screening: Application Example

Poster on “Optimal CO2 Transport and Storage Cost Screening: Application Example” for the CCUS 2025 conference held in Houston, Texas March 3-5, 2025. A major challenge to commercial scale CCS deployment from the perspective of coal and natural gas-fired power plants is understanding cost-optimal CO2 transport and viable geologic storage options. This study demonstrates unique workflows, using NETL-developed, publicly-available models and tools, to efficiently estimate optimal CO2 transport and storage (T&S) costs for each of the CO2 sources in NETL’s Carbon Capture Retrofit Databases (CCRD) for Electricity Generating Units. The results demonstrate the impact of cost-drivers on optimal T&S, and trends in optimal T&S data, based on real point sources that could be retrofitted with CO2 source technologies.

application example

CO2 Storage Economic Analysis: CarbonSAFE Use Case

Poster on “CO2 Storage Economic Analysis: CarbonSAFE Use Case” for the CCUS 2025 conference held in Houston, Texas March 3-5, 2025. The cost of designing, permitting, constructing, operating, and closing a CO2 storage project is of vital importance to project developers. The National Energy Technology Laboratory has developed the NRAP/SMART Technoeconomic and Liability Evaluation for Storage (TALES) Model to provide quantitative cost-based insights to support developers planning CO2 injection and storage projects. This study presents a collaborative economic analysis applying TALES with data from the San Juan Basin CarbonSAFE Phase III project led by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to estimate potential costs incurred during the implementation of a real-world commercial-scale carbon storage project. Scenario analysis was implemented in which different operational and cost attributes were varied and the associated cost implications observed. Key results data and project cost summary metrics, first-year breakeven price of CO2 ($/tonne) and net present value (NPV), are presented for base and alternative cases. Output provides a unique perspective for project stakeholders towards evaluating the influence of different operational strategies and financing approaches on overall project cost and financial viability.

carbon storage