ExxonMobil initiated the process for engineering, procurement, and construction contracts as part of its plans to expand carbon capture and storage (CCS) at its LaBarge, Wyo. plant.
The proposed $400-million expansion project will capture up to 1 million metric tons of CO2, in addition to the 6-7 million metric tons already captured at LaBarge each year.
The LaBarge expansion project is in the design and permitting phase and a request for bids for engineering, procurement and construction contracts has been issued to third parties. A final investment decision is expected in 2022 and will be based on several factors, including regulatory approvals. Operations could start as early as 2025.
ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions is evaluating several other large-scale carbon capture and storage projects in the US Gulf Coast, Europe, and Asia. The company has an equity share in about one-fifth of global CO2 capture capacity and has captured some 40% of all the captured anthropogenic CO2 in the world.
In addition to producing natural gas, LaBarge is one of the world’s largest sources of helium and produces about 20% of global supply.