A call to action from the UK Government to form a clear government policy on Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in the North Sea has been made.
The move has been made as part of a transition towards a low-carbon economy in the UK.
It comes after findings from a joint research project between Robert Gordon University (RGU) and the Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (SCCS) which highlights the differing attitudes when people consider how government priorities on maximising oil recovery relate to climate change objectives.
The research was conducted by Dr Leslie Mabon from RGU’s School of Applied Social Studies and Chris Littlecott from SCCS.
Their findings have been published in the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control.
Their paper is entitled: “Stakeholder and public perceptions of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) in the context of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) – results from UK focus groups and implications for policy.”
It assesses the views of citizens and expert stakeholders regarding the government’s policy push to maximise oil recovery in the North Sea against the need to combat climate change and the UK’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.
CO2-EOR is distinct from other forms of Enhanced Oil Recovery as it has the potential to be linked with CCS and could form part of a managed transition for the UK economy. Other forms of EOR are already in use in the North Sea, but do not provide any direct climate benefits.
Based on focus group data from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and London, the research assessed how stakeholders and members of the public responded to four varying scenarios for CCS with CO2-EOR in the North Sea, and drew implications for deployment in other mature fossil fuel basins around the world.
Dr Mabon said: “Interest is growing in carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery as an additional economic incentive for CO2 injection and the acceleration of CO2 storage as a means of addressing climate change..
“However, given increasing concerns and campaigns against the continued extraction of fossil fuels, it is possible that CO2-EOR may unintentionally hinder CCS by reducing support from neutral or cautiously supportive voices from Non-Governmental Organisations.”
Dr Mabon and Mr Littlecott found that scenarios which emphasised maximising oil recovery were met with scepticism or even opposition, and that there is an expectation for national governments to lead and ensure CO2-EOR and CCS are developed in the public interest.
Mr Littlecott said: “Through our research we found that all stakeholder groups wanted to look beyond scenarios that focus purely on maximising economic recovery of North Sea oil.
“Citizens and experts alike recognise that action must be taken to reduce CO2 emissions, and want to see coherence between these different government objectives.
“We also found that the public recognises that fossil fuels are currently deeply embedded in society, with Scotland particularly dependent on the offshore oil and gas sector. There was therefore significant interest in seeing a fair transition pathway put in place for workers.
“Within this context, we found that there may be qualified support for CCS with CO2-EOR to make best use of existing fields whilst decarbonising the power and industrial sectors at the same time.
“However, for this support to emerge there is a need for a joined-up government policy that positions CO2-EOR firmly within a managed transition towards a low-carbon economy.”
