China Launches First Offshore Carbon Capture Facility to Boost Oil Production

China has initiated operations at its first offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in the Pearl River Mouth Basin. This project, Enping 15-1, captures CO2 from oil extraction, processes it, and injects it into subsea reservoirs. Located 200 km southwest of Shenzhen, the platform operates at a 90-meter water depth and produces over 7,500 tonnes of crude oil daily. The CCS facility currently injects carbon dioxide at eight tonnes per hour. CNOOC aims to inject over 1 million tonnes of CO2 in the next decade, boosting crude oil production by 200,000 tonnes. Since its launch in June 2023, nearly 200,000 tonnes of CO2 have been injected, with potential injection rates rising to 17 tonnes per hour with upgrades. While the Enping facility reduces emissions, a recent study questions the feasibility of CCS as a primary climate solution. The study suggests the IPCC overestimated the amount of CO2 that can be stored underground long-term. The report warns that current plans to limit temperature rises to 1.5C may be unrealistic due to geological and economic constraints.