Canada's CO₂ Capture and Storage TRM 
Appendix D: Glossary

Absorption:

Chemical or physical take-up of molecules into the bulk of a solid or liquid, forming either a solution or compound.

Acid Gas:

Any gas mixture that turns to an acid when dissolved in water (normally referring to a hydrogen sulphide/carbon dioxide mixture from sour gas)

Acid Rain:

Also referred to as 'acid precipitation' or 'acid deposition', acid rain is any form of precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulphuric acids, formed primarily by nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides released into the atmosphere upon combusting fossil fuels.

Adsorption:

A phenomenon which involves the uptake of molecules in a fluid onto the surface of a solid.

Amine:

Organic compounds of nitrogen that are derived from ammonia by replacing one or more hydrogen atom with a carbon group.

Ash:

The inorganic, non-flammable substances (impurities such as silica, iron and aluminium) left over after coal, pet-coke or other solid fuels have been burned off.

Avoided Emissions:

A measurement of greenhouse gas emissions reductions that takes into account the reduced capacity of power plants and other industrial facilities due to the addition load of utilizing carbon dioxide capture systems.

Backbone:

The concept of pipeline network connecting major carbon dioxide emissions hubs, together with feeder lines from the backbone connecting to the variety of potential storage sites that exist. A pipeline backbone could operate much like the gathering, transmission and distribution systems used for natural gas transportation today.

Biomass:

Plant materials and animal waste available especially as a source of fuel. Biomass is considered to be renewable and carbon-neutral source of energy.

Bitumen:

A naturally occurring viscous mixture, mainly of hydrocarbons, which may contain high levels of sulphur compounds and that, in its natural occurring viscous state, is not recoverable at a commercial rate through a conventional oil well.

Cap Rock:

Low permeability rock that acts as an upper seal to prevent fluid flow out of a reservoir.

Captured Emissions:

The gross amount of greenhouse gases (generally carbon dioxide) that have been separated and captured from a flue gas stream, without having considered the extra emissions caused by incorporating the capture systems into the equation (see also Avoided Emissions).

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂):

A colourless, odourless, non-poisonous gas that is a normal constituent of the earths many systems including the atmosphere, biosphere and oceans. Carbon dioxide is exhaled by humans and animals and is absorbed by green growing plants and by the oceans. Carbon dioxide is also produced during the combustion of any carbonaceous fuel source including fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and is the primary one of concern related to climate change, because of its pervasiveness and increasing concentration in the earth's atmosphere as a result of human-related activities.

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS):

The capture of carbon dioxide from flue gases or from other industrial processes, followed by the transportation and injection of it into a permanent geological site for storage. Examples of storage sites include ocean beds, aquifers, abandoned oil and gas reservoirs and coal beds. This is a new and developing concept for controlling human induced carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and mitigating the climate change.

Clean Coal Technology (CCT):

Refers to a number of innovative, new technologies designed to extract and utilize coal in a more efficient and cost-effective manner while reducing the environmental impact of these activities. Examples of clean coal technology include oxy-fuel combustion or coal gasification.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM):

One of three market mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean Development Mechanism is designed to promote sustainable development in developing countries and assist Annex I Parties in meeting their greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments. Clean Development Mechanism enables Annex I countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries and receive Certified Emission Reductions in return.

Climate Change:

The term "climate change" is used to refer to all forms of climatic inconsistency, but, because the Earth's climate is never static, the term is more often used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another. Today, 'climate change' is used synonymously with the term global warming (also see global warming).

Coal:

A black or brownish-black solid combustible substance formed from prehistoric organic material such as vegetable matter. Coal is mined and combusted to produce heat and energy.

Combustion:

The oxidation of carbonaceous fuels with the release of energy in the forms of heat and light. The combustion of fuels, such as coal, oil, gas, and wood, releases pollutants and other air emissions into the atmosphere as a by-product, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and carbon dioxide.

Cryogenics:

A branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures, often at minus 100 degrees Celsius.

Dense Phase:

The physical state that a gas undertakes when it is compressed to the extent that its density approaches that which it would have in its liquid phase.

Depleted Oil and Gas Fields:

The oil and gas fields where production has reached the economic limit.

Emission Hub:

Places where significant emission sources that are close to one another could be economically joined using a carbon dioxide gathering system.

Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery (ECBM):

The use of carbon dioxide to enhance the recovery of the methane present in unminable coal beds through the preferential adsorption of carbon dioxide to coal.

Enhanced Natural Gas Recovery (ENGR):

The act of injecting of fluids such as carbon dioxide into depleting natural gas reservoirs to recover additional gas beyond that which would have been recovered conventionally.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR):

The injection of fluids such as steam and carbon dioxide into depleting oil reservoirs to recover additional oil beyond that which would have been recovered conventionally.

Fuel Cell:

An electrochemical device in which the fuel is oxidized in a controlled manner to directly produce an electric current and heat.

Flue Gas:

Gas that is left over after a fuel is burned. Flue gas is typically disposed of through a pipe or a stack to the atmosphere. In some cases flue gas is captured, and its constituent gases are used for additional useful purposes.

Fossil Fuel:

Any naturally occurring organic fuel such as crude oil, natural gas, coal, peat or by-products of any of these. Fossil fuels are all formed by a series of earthly processes whereby the remains of formerly living organisms have been geologically buried and have sustained the appropriate amount of underground bacterial action and/or heat and pressure (and for the right amount of time) to form the fossil fuel or hydrocarbon product.

Gasification:

Partial (or controlled) oxidation of carbonaceous fuels, which produces a mixture of gases (including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and water) and solids such as ash or slag. Gasification is the first step in a process that can be used to generate a multitude of fuels and chemical feedstocks.

Geological Formation:

A section of contiguous underground material which is sufficiently homogeneous to be considered a single unit. Geological formations with a certain structure and porosity present an opportunity for underground carbon dioxide storage, as evidenced by existing formations which have been storing carbon dioxide for millions of years. Examples of formations with carbon dioxide storage potential include depleted oil reservoirs, depleted gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams, saline aquifers.

Global Warming:

The gradual rise of the earth's average surface temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for global climate changes (also see climate change). Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases today.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG):

The atmospheric gases that allow solar radiation to penetrate the earth's atmosphere and therefore reach the earth's surface, yet which absorb the infrared radiation that would otherwise return back to space. The process of trapping the long-wave infrared radiation is known as the greenhouse effect, and it is what prevents the earth's atmosphere from being as cold as it otherwise would. However, human induced activities may be increasing the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases to dangerously high levels. The primary greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, water, and chlorofluorocarbons.

Hydrates:

A hydrate is a naturally occurring, ice-like crystalline compound in which a crystal lattice of water molecules encloses a molecule of some other substance such as methane or carbon dioxide. The compounds are very dense and insoluble in water. Carbon dioxide hydrates are being investigated for use in carbon dioxide capture and storage.

Hydro Electricity:

Electricity that is produced by capturing the kinetic energy of falling water, by using the water to mechanically rotate a turbine generator. Hydro electricity is commonly referred to as 'hydro'.

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC):

Is a process that is similar to natural gas combined cycle, with the exception of the fuel source. In integrated gasification combined cycle, the fuel is produced from a solid source such as coal, which is then gasified to produce syngas, which in turn is combusted and expanded in a gas turbine (Brayton cycle) followed by a second cycle of heat recovery from the flue gases to run a steam turbine (Rankine cycle), all for the purpose of electricity generation.

Joint Implementation (JI):

One of three market mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol, Joint Implementation is a contractual agreement where an Annex 1 country invests in an emissions reductions or a sink enhancement project in another Annex 1 country in order to earn Emissions Reduction Units.

Kyoto Protocol:

An international agreement adopted in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The Protocol has binding greenhouse gas emission targets for developed countries, whereby they will be expected to jointly reduce their emissions from 1990 levels, by (on average) 5.2 percent. The Kyoto Protocol officially came into force as a binding agreement on February 16, 2005.

Large Final Emitters (LFEs):

A group of almost 700 companies that produce roughly half of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions — including companies in oil and gas, mining and manufacturing, and thermal electricity.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG):

Natural gas that has been condensed to its liquid form, which is typically done by cryogenically cooling the gas to minus 200 degrees Celsius.

Membrane:

A material that is selectively permeable to one or more chemical species and can therefore be used to separate that species from others in a fluid stream. Selective separation is driven by the partial pressure difference across the membrane surface. Membrane materials are being developed for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrogen, natural gas and flue gas.

Migration of CO₂:

The movement of CO₂ through a geological formation, largely driven by a density or a pressure differential.

Mineral Fixation:

A process in which CO₂ reacts with magnesium, calcium oxide (or some other compound) to form stable mineral carbonates. The process results in the creation of un-reactive solids which act as permanent means of storing carbon. The challenges involved in using mineral fixation as a means of storing carbon is the slow reaction rates and the large tonnage of mineral-rich earth that must be mined for each unit of CO₂ sequestered.

Monitoring, Measurement and Verification (MMV):

This is defined as the capability to measure the amount of carbon dioxide stored at a specific storage site, to monitor the site for leaks or other deterioration of storage integrity over time, and to verify that the carbon dioxide is stored safely. Monitoring, measurement and verification is used to ensure safe permanent storage, reduce the risk associated with buying or selling credits for sequestered CO₂, and help satisfy regulators and local government officials who must approve large sequestration projects.

Natural Analogue:

A situation in nature that parallels features of man-made systems, for example natural carbon dioxide reservoirs compared to a man-made carbon dioxide reservoir.

Natural Gas:

A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases found in porous geological formations beneath the earth's surface. The principal constituent of natural gas is methane, but it also includes ethane, butane, propane and other gases. Impurities in natural gas often include nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide.

Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC):

An integrated power generating plant that, first extracts energy from the high temperature combustion of natural gas by using expansion turbines to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy (Brayton Cycle), followed by heat recovery from the outgoing flue gas to produce additional electricity through a steam expansion turbine (Rankine cycle).

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx):

These air emissions are criteria air pollutants. They are often formed from the nitrogen in air when any carbonaceous fuel is burned at a high temperature. Nitrogen oxides react with volatile organic compounds to form smog. Nitrogen oxides are also an important contributor to the creation of acid rain.

Nuclear Power:

Electricity that is generated by either splitting heavy atoms (fission) or joining light atoms (fusion). Currently, only nuclear fission is technologically feasible for power generation.

Ocean Storage:

Storage of CO₂ in ocean waters. Oceans are an important part of the natural carbon cycle because they store, release, and absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide to and from the atmosphere, but their managed use for the purpose of storing carbon dioxide is a somewhat novel concept that is quite controversial today.

Oil (Crude):

A liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is found in suitable rock formations, which can be discovered, extracted and refined to produce a variety of oil products, such as gasoline, diesel, paraffin, and chemical feed stocks.

Oil Sands:

Bitumen-soaked sand, located in four geographic regions of Alberta (Athabasca, Wabasca, Cold Lake and Peace River) and in other parts of the world. The Athabasca oil sands constitute the largest deposit in the world, encompassing more than 42 340 square kilometres. Total bitumen resources in Alberta are estimated at 1.7–2.5 trillion barrels.

Oxy-fuel Combustion:

The combustion of a carbonaceous fuel in a pure oxygen, or nitrogen deficient, environment to produce a flue gas stream that consists mainly of water and carbon dioxide. The purpose of this process is to avoid inert nitrogen in the burning process, thereby controlling the flue gas streams, by reducing the volume of flue gases and making it easier to concentrate carbon dioxide for capture, transportation and storage.

Ozone:

A molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms. Ozone, a GHG, occurs naturally, and large concentrations are found in the stratosphere high above the earth

Pet-coke:

An oil sands residue that is high in carbon and low in hydrogen content. It is a by-product of the thermal decomposition of oil sands or heavy oil, from the condensation process in upgrading. Pet-coke is typically greater than 90 percent carbon and low in ash, however, it contains heavy metals such as Vanadium.

Post-combustion Capture:

The combustion of carbonaceous fuels in air followed by the capture of carbon dioxide from flue gases, usually by scrubbing the flue gases using solvents such as amines.

Pre-combustion Capture:

Refers to a sequence of processes that take place prior to end use combustion, where syngas, formed from partial oxidation or steam reformation of a carbonaceous fuel, is decarbonised through shift conversion process which convert carbon oxides into capture ready carbon dioxide.

Pulverized Coal (PC) Combustion:

A process in which very finely ground (pulverized) coal is combusted, with the heat being used to produce steam for power generation (in a Rankine cycle). Normally this process is referred to as 'sub-critical steam cycle', 'supercritical steam cycle' or 'ultra-supercritical steam cycle' depending on the steam pressure/temperature conditions. The higher the steam temperature in the Rankine cycle the higher the fuel to electricity conversion efficiency.

Renewable Energy:

Energy from a source which can be managed so that it is not subject to depletion in human timescales. Sources include the solar radiation, wind, waves, river streams, tides, biomass, and geothermal. Renewable energy does not include energy sources which are limited in abundance, such as fossil fuels and uranium fuel.

Reservoir:

A subsurface, porous, permeable rock body surrounded by impermeable rock and containing oil, gas or water. Most reservoir rocks consist individually or collectively of limestone, dolomite, and Saline Aquifers.

Saline Aquifers:

A geological formation of porous rock that is filled with brine.

Sink:

Refers to the natural uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, typically into soils, forests or oceans. Reservoirs are also used as sinks.

Shift Conversion:

A catalytic process that is used to convert one molecule into another, such as using steam to shift carbon monoxide into hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Smog:

A mixture of pollutants (principally ground-level ozone) produced by chemical reactions that include smog-forming constituents like nitrogen oxides and water. Fossil fuel combustion is a major contributor to the formation of smog. However, smog is often worse further away from the source, since the chemical reactions that result in smog occur in the air while the reacting chemicals are being blown away. Smog is a health hazard, it damages the environment and it causes poor visibility.

Source:

Any industrial process, activity or mechanism that results in the release of greenhouse gases, aerosols or precursors thereof into the atmosphere.

Sulphur Oxides (SOx):

These air emissions are criteria air pollutants. Sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide are produced during the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels, mostly from power plants. Some industrial processes, such as paper production and metal smelting, also produce sulphur oxides. Sulphur oxides are closely related to sulphuric acids, which are strong acids that play a significant role in the formation of acid rain.

Syngas:

A synthetic form of natural gas made from coal gasification, and consisting mainly of a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Technology Pathway:

A linear progression, or a continuum, of a technology-suite's development over time.

Temporary Storage:

Refers to underground caverns, mines (salt or potash mines) or depleted oil and gas reservoirs, which provide the capacity to temporarily store carbon dioxide. As is the case in current natural gas distribution networks, this type of storage will play an important role in balancing the pipeline pressure in a carbon dioxide transportation backbone.

Ultra Clean Coal (UCC):

An extremely pure coal product (greater than 99 percent carbon and hydrogen) that is the result of an ore beneficiation process, whereby the coal has been stripped to near zero sulphur content and less than one-percent inorganic content.

Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB):

The primary and most prominent continental sedimentary basin in Canada, which extends from British Columbia in the west to Manitoba in the east, and from the Northwest and Yukon Territories south into the United States. The Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin covers approximately 1 484 800 square kilometres and it is the primary source of fossil fuel deposits in Canada whether oil, natural gas, bitumen, or coal.

Wind Power:

A renewable form of electricity that uses the energy from wind to mechanically drive wind turbines. Inside each wind turbine is an electricity generator that converts the mechanical power into electrical power.

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