Trinidad universities, BP collaborating on carbon mapping project

Oil and gas company, bpTT, says it has joined forces with two universities in Trinidad & Tobago to support the Caribbean country’s first carbon capture and storage or CCS mapping project.

The CCS Atlas project, jointly led by the University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago, seeks to map underground sites that can be used to store captured carbon dioxide.

Giselle Thompson, vice-president of corporate operations for bpTT, the country operations of British Petroleum, said the energy company is working collaboratively to “identify pathways for T&T to transition to a low carbon future”.

“Carbon capture and storage can play a crucial role in helping Trinidad and Tobago reduce carbon emissions and keeping our energy exports globally competitive,” Thompson said.

The company said it has committed TT$340,000 to the CCS Atlas project, which includes depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs both onshore and offshore; and that the project would form the foundation for assessing the feasibility of using carbon capture and storage as a solution to significantly reduce Trinidad and Tobago’s carbon emissions. Apart from funding, bpTT’s support for the project includes technical support and access to reservoir data.

“CCS technology captures CO2 generated from the production or processing of natural gas and safely stores it in reservoirs underground. CCS could play an important role in helping Trinidad and Tobago meet its global commitments aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is also complementary to the development of a hydrogen industry,” bpTT said in a statement.

It added that CCS can help Trinidad & Tobago decarbonise its gas value chain.

“If we can make the energy products we export less carbon intensive, then those products will retain or enhance their value in global energy markets,” bpTT said.

British Petroleum is working towards net-zero emissions across its global operations, by 2050, a programme that includes reducing emissions from its operations as well as providing support for initiatives, which will help the world get to net zero.

“In T&T, bp has been working to reduce emissions from its operations and is partnering with others on net zero-related initiatives,” the company said, adding that a consortium made up of bp, Lightsource bp and Shell “are currently working with the government to finalise agreements for T&T’s first utility scale solar project”

CMC