Glencore – Murrin Murrin Nickel Refinery Operations

Glencore – Murrin Murrin Nickel Refinery Operations

CarbonCQ was engaged by Glencore to identify and evaluate CO2 sequestration options for its Murrin Murrin Nickel Refinery operations (MMO) located near Leonora, Western Australia. The high-level screening study reviewed CO2 storage and transportation options for the North Perth Basin, Officer Basin and unconventional geological storage options in the Yilgarn Craton. The screening study developed criteria to rank the alternative storage options.

A ranking of potential storage sites was addressed with a focus on:

  • The North Perth Basin, a mature and prolific oil and gas production area with excellent data coverage; with both depleted fields and saline aquifers for storage.
  • The Officer Basin, an under explored and uncertain area with saline aquifer storage potential.
  • Unconventional storage potential in the Yilgarn Craton; with both basaltsandshallow saline aquifers found relatively local to MMO.

Development Screening was undertaken with focus on:

  • Pre-treatment and dehydration requirements for the MMO vent stream
  • A CO2 capture and the technical readiness review for various CO2 capture technologies.
  • High level design and cost estimations were derived for CO2 compression, pipeline, injection well, injection manifold and capture costs
  • Screening level economics for the preferred storage option.

The study introduced the CCS HUB concept to Glencore, which involves aggregating, compressing, transporting and storing the CO2 from multiple projects, through common use infrastructure. CCS HUBs are critical for decarbonising existing facilities, as an enabler for expansion of existing industrial facilities and  facilitate new industries in the region. Cooperation and collaboration are key to driving down the unit cost of CO2 sequestration.

The status of WA CCUS legislation and regulations was addressed in the report, including expected timeframes for resolution of outstanding issues by the WA government.

Finally, the study introduced possible future phases of work necessary to establish whether the MMO CCS opportunity has a viable pathway to proceed.