Climate Change

We offer high-technology services that provide scientific data used when designing projects involving the injection of CO₂ into oil fields.

In our laboratories, we study how CO₂ interacts with other fluids in the reservoir as well as how the CO₂ mobilizes residual oil within the reservoir. This provides at least two benefits which help the environment:

First, CO₂ can be captured from industrial complexes and injected into oil fields, thereby reducing the amount of CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere.

Second, the CO₂, once injected into the reservoir, can improve the recovery rate of hydrocarbons from the reservoir – making the reservoir as efficient as possible by minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons trapped within that reservoir.

Thus, the positive impact to the environment is not only the reduction of CO₂ in the atmosphere, but also the more energy-efficient and more environmentally friendly recovery from an existing reservoir.

CarbonNet Project Southeast Coast of Australia

During the third quarter of 2020, Core Laboratories, under the direction of The CarbonNet Project (“CarbonNet”) engaged in laboratory analysis of 300 feet of conventional core from the Gular-1 appraisal well in the offshore Gippsland Basin, in the Bass Strait, off the southeast coast of Australia. CarbonNet is funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments of Australia.

In a recent press release the CarbonNet team mentioned, “The CarbonNet Project is advancing the science and viability for establishing a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (“CCS”) network. The network would bring together multiple carbon dioxide (“CO2”) capture projects in Victoria's Latrobe Valley, transporting CO2 via a shared pipeline and injecting it into deep, underground, offshore storage sites in the Bass Strait. CCS is being investigated as part of a suite of solutions with the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.”

The cores are progressing through physical laboratory measurements, in an iterative analytical program. The data generated by Core Lab will provide insight into seal capacity, storage capacity, geomechanical properties and the pore system properties of the rock. Core Laboratories is pleased to be playing a role in evaluating this important CCS project, which is among the most promising CO2 storage opportunities in the region.

Greenhouse Gas Reporting

The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has certain annual reporting requirements related to the quantities of petroleum fuels and blend stocks imported into or exported out of regulated areas. The EPA’s regulation provides specific instructions regarding methods that can be used to determine quantities for imported and exported shipments. Core Laboratories will assist clients with these measurements used for their annual reporting.

Reporting requires petroleum product suppliers to use an appropriate method developed by a consensus-based standards organization, when such a standard exists, or industry standard practices to measure the shipment quantities. In addition, suppliers of petroleum products must also ensure that equipment used to measure quantities of imported and exported fuel is calibrated and periodically recalibrated according to the manufacturer’s recommended procedures or by using an appropriate consensus-based industry standard method for calibration. Core Laboratories provides these approved measurement practices to ensure the proper reporting of greenhouse gases.