About the Topic

There are a lot of new faces working with or planning to work with CO2 , but is there really any "innovation" or unknowns here? In this Event, we will host a panel of experts who have been working with legacy and emerging CO2 compression technologies for their whole careers. We'll learn about best practices in system choice and procurement for diverse needs, where the industry stands, and about some emerging technologies to keep an eye out for in the upcoming years.

About the Audience

If you are a company with little to no experience handling CO2, now progressing with a CCUS strategy and a need for CO2 compression technology, this event is for you. Come prepared with questions for our experts, and get ready for an enlightening discussion.

There's a lot to cover - so we'll try to compress it into one hour!

About the Speakers

We have a fantastic collection of panelists for this session representing energy operator, compressor OEM, EPC, and emerging tech perspectives. Learn a bit more about them below.

• Operator Perspective: Bruce McCain from Occidental Petroleum

  • Bruce McCain is a Senior Engineering Consultant at Occidental Petroleum, a role in which he leverages over 25 years of experience primarily in the upstream sector. His expertise encompasses technical support for rotating, reciprocating, and stationary equipment, both as a plant engineer and in staff functional roles. McCain is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas, a Certified API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector, and an active member of the TAMU Turbomachinery Advisory Committee. He also contributes to the API Std 688 (Pulsation and Vibration Control in Positive Displacement Machinery Systems) Taskforce. McCain holds a BSME from Texas Tech University. His work at Occidental Petroleum involves applying his extensive knowledge in carbon management and storage technologies, particularly in the context of the Permian Basin, where Occidental has been a leader for over 40 years.

• EPC Perspective: Matt Taher from Bechtel

  • Matt Taher is a Technology Manager at Bechtel, where he serves as a distinguished technical specialist and turbomachinery advisor for the LNG technology center of Bechtel Energy Inc. in Houston, Texas. Taher is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas and a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His experience spans various applications and types of turbomachinery in carbon capture and LNG processing operations. Taher has contributed to several publications, including "OXY-Fuel Combustion Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle – A Critical Look" and "Carbon Capture: CO2 Compression Challenges and Design Options," showcasing his expertise in CO2 compression technology and its challenges. Bechtel has over 50 years of experience in building cryogenic storage systems and has developed extensive expertise in the storage and compression of CO2, LNG, and hydrogen. The company has also been actively involved in delivering carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) solutions, having constructed more than 40 amine-based CO2/H2S removal systems for various plants and refineries.

• Compressor OEM Perspective: Travis Phoenix from Siemens Energy

  • Travis Phoenix is the Director of Sales- Upstream and Midstream Markets at Siemens Energy. In his role, Phoenix focuses on delivering solutions that support the energy sector's transition towards more sustainable practices, including carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technologies. Siemens Energy's portfolio includes a wide range of products and services aimed at decarbonizing processes, including CO2 compressors. Siemens operates in the CO2 compression space by offering a comprehensive portfolio of compressor technologies tailored for various applications, including CO2 injection, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), and urea plants. Their solutions aim to help clients achieve economic and sustainability goals by providing efficient, cost-effective, flexible, and reliable compression technologies. Siemens' expertise is demonstrated through their involvement in significant projects, such as supplying compression units for Occidental Petroleum's direct-air capture (DAC) plant in the Permian Basin, which aims to capture up to 500,000 metric tonnes of CO2 annually.

• Emerging Tech Perspective: Shawn Lawlor from NextGen Compression

  • Shawn Lawlor is a seasoned aerodynamicist and an expert in turbomachinery, with a 25-year career dedicated to the design, development, and testing of innovative turbomachinery for power generation and process gas compression. As the Director and Co-Founder of NextGen Compression, Lawlor has led the design of a series of groundbreaking turbo-compressor systems over the past 15 years. These systems feature unique fully supersonic internal aerodynamics aimed at creating ultra-compact and high-efficiency compressors for high molecular weight gases. Lawlor's recent work has culminated in a patent-pending design breakthrough that addresses all previous challenges in commercializing this technology. This advancement promises a highly efficient system capable of achieving very high stage pressure ratios, while being compact, cost-effective, and adept at handling significant variations in mass flow with minimal efficiency loss. His efforts have been recognized by multiple independent groups, including the DOE, DARPA, and AFRL, and have even garnered support from Nobel Prize winner Dr. Steven Chu, former Secretary of Energy, who allocated significant resources for aerodynamic design optimization to aid in reducing the cost of carbon capture and storage (CCS). With this IP, Lawlor and his team hope to bring supersonic compressors to the commercial stage.