Abstract:
As a leader in the energy transition, Equinor is committed to decarbonizing its oil and gas operations while developing commercial CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure. Pipeline transport of CO₂ streams plays a central role in this strategy. Building on its expertise as a frontrunner in multiphase flow transport technology for oil and gas production, Equinor has also taken a leading role in R&D activities focused on CO₂ flow assurance—initiating, leading, and actively participating in key research programs.
To enable cost-effective and safe CO₂ transport and injection solutions, accurate assessment of CO₂ flow assurance is critical. Equinor employs a systematic approach that integrates operational insights from existing CCS projects, fundamental understanding of relevant physical phenomena through dedicated experiments, technology gap analysis, and hands-on technology development.
In this presentation, Dr. Yang will provide an overview of Equinor’s CCS status and ambitions, share operational experience with single-phase CO₂ pipeline transport, discuss fundamentals and potential risks of CO₂ two-phase flow in pipeline and well injection systems, and outline mitigation strategies. He will also review the current state of CO₂ flow assurance technology and illustrate potential field applications.
Dr. Zhilin Yang is currently a specialist researcher at Equinor, leading the CO₂ flow assurance research and development program. He earned his PhD in Nuclear Engineering, specializing in multiphase flow, boiling, and condensation, in 1993. After a decade of teaching and research in nuclear power safety, he transitioned to petroleum engineering in 2002. From 2002 to 2009, he led the development of the LedaFlow ID code at SINTEF, Norway.
Since joining Equinor in 2009, Zhilin has managed R&D programs focused on heavy oil transport and production, encompassing internal experimental studies, model development, and coordination of external R&D activities. Since 2018, he has been leading Equinor’s CO₂ flow assurance R&D program. During this time, he has served as project manager for several joint industry projects addressing CO₂ flow challenges in pipeline transport and well injection systems, with a focus on mitigating risks associated with two-phase CO₂ flow.