Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) receives carbon storage award for world’s first C02 storage site

The PTRC was honoured with the Carbon Storage Award at the Canadian Carbon Capture Conference held in Edmonton, September 12-14, 2023. The national award highlighted PTRC’s exceptional contributions to the carbon capture and storage field.

MLT Aikins Regina partner and PTRC chair, Randy Brunet, along with PTRC CEO, Ranjith (Ran) Narayanasamy, accepted the award on behalf of the organization at the awards ceremony. PTRC clinched this award in recognition of its pioneering work on the Aquistore deep saline storage project. This ground-breaking initiative has been instrumental in advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives in Canada.

Randy Brunet expressed his deep gratitude for the Carbon Storage Award, acknowledging this pioneering project’s significance and the invaluable support from its partners, including the Government of Saskatchewan and SaskPower. He emphasized the pivotal role the Aquistore deep saline project has played in demonstrating the safety and security of long-term geological storage of CO2 from SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Capture Facility. Significantly, the PTRC is on the verge of achieving a significant milestone – the storage of 600,000 tonnes of CO2, 3,000 metres underground within the Aquistore project. This achievement underscores the project’s commitment to sustainable carbon storage and its vital contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In commenting on the award, Randy stated, “I am honoured and proud that our truly innovative work on the Aquistore has been recognized. This is the first C02 storage site in the world and will serve as a model globally. The PTRC will continue to advance carbon capture and storage technologies that pave the way for a sustainable low-carbon future.”

PTRC award | Randy Brunet

The Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) is a Regina-based not-for-profit corporation founded in 1998 to facilitate research, development and demonstration projects to reduce the carbon footprint and increase subsurface energy production by focusing on CO2 capture, storage and utilization. PTRC seeks to support industry, governments and research providers to realize their environmental, social and governance needs.

The Carbon Capture Canada Conference is a premier national event that serves as a platform to showcase Canada’s significant potential in carbon capture and underground storage innovation and technology. It plays a crucial role in attracting global investment to Canada’s burgeoning CCS sector. The three-day event featured a diverse range of topics and discussions aimed at advancing CCS technology and its applications. Its awards spotlight excellence in the CCS industry, celebrating leaders and innovators who have been at the forefront of sustainable solutions over the previous year.

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