Prospects for petcoke utilization with CO 2 capture in Mexico

Abstract

This paper evaluates the introduction of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to Mexico. The gasification technology is presented as a potential alternative to be applied into refinery plants due to high petcoke production. Although economic aspects, such as fuel price and selling CO2, are important in the selection of CCS alternatives, there are other limitations, i.e. water availability and space. In March 2014, Mexico launched its CCS technological roadmap. However, an evaluation of the installation of new CO2-capture ready power plants was not considered. For that reason, this study could be useful to create a technology roadmap that includes the design of CO2 capture plants into refineries and how they will have to operate for CO2 emissions reduction, and taking advantage that most of refineries and petrochemical plants are close to oil fields for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) with CCS was chosen in this paper for power generation using petcoke as feedstock. The emissions of CO2 in kg/kWh could be reduced by 68%.