The Innovation and Technology Center (ICP acronym in Spanish) is in charge of leading studies, research, and new developments to leverage Ecopetrol's decarbonization goals.  The ICP has defined a technological portfolio, which includes initiatives for the optimization of processes, energy efficiency, new energy vectors valorization, carbon capture and development of low-carbon products.

Decarbonization technological portfolio

Efforts are focused on the following work lines:

Hydrogen

• Green hydrogen production

In 2022, the first green hydrogen production pilot was conducted, being pioneer in Latin America, and operated at the Cartagena Refinery. A state-of-the-art PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyser was purchased, with a photovoltaic energy supply, managing to produce green hydrogen to be combined with the hydrogen produced by industrial catalytic reforming and contributing to the improvement of the fuels offered by the Refinery.

While developing the test, the technology that will leverage decision-making for larger-scale hydrogen production systems was validated.

• Mobility with green hydrogen

At the Caribbean Innovation Center, in Cartagena, the first mobility park for fuel cell vehicles is being built, with hydrogen as the main source of energy, which emits water vapor as a by-product, reducing significantly the impact on the environment.  This infrastructure will enable the technical evaluation of the use of hydrogen in light vehicles, considering factors such as performance, efficiency and autonomy at different heights above sea level.

• Hydrogen mixtures with natural gas

In 2023, the first mobile laboratory for mixing hydrogen with natural gas, located in the Caribbean Innovation Center, will come into operation. With this equipment, it will be possible to evaluate the impact on integrity, functionality, and efficiency of the transportation lines, distribution of hydrogen mixtures with natural gas, and performance of end-use devices selected for the mobile laboratory.

• Model of the hydrogen supply chain

The model being developed consists in a strategic-tactical decision support system for Ecopetrol, which enables the design of the hydrogen value chain (H₂), considering:

• The spatial-temporary distribution of the input material for the generation of H₂, its potential uses within Ecopetrol, and as a business opportunity.
• The selection and location of technologies for the production and storage of H₂.
• The logistics and infrastructure needs for the transport of H₂ to the costumer.
• The analysis of policies and incentives that make viable the future implementation of a H₂-based economy in Colombia.

• CCUS supply chain model

The ICP is developing a model that supports CCUS decision-making in investment and technology for Ecopetrol, by optimizing the supply network (capture, compression, and transportation) of CO₂ for its use in processes such as enhanced recovery, manufacturing of new producrts and and fuels, or for storage in geological formations.

• Geospatial data processing and analysiss

The incorporation of spatial analysis in studies of energy systems and especially in projects for the capture, transport, and storage of CO₂ and H₂ at Ecopetrol, optimizes the application process of emerging technologies through geoprocesses that link emission sources and sinks. ECO2SIGHT is the geospatial tool developed for the consultation, analysis, and visualization of the results of the evaluations of the EOR-CO₂ recovery process, geological storage, supply chain, natural sinks, and in general all  technologies applicable to the use of CO₂ and H₂.

CO2 Management

• CO2 Capture emerging technologies

Emerging technologies for the capture/separation of CO2 from flue gas streams are considered an alternative that will make the challenge of reducing emissions feasible at a lower abatement cost compared to commercial technologies; therefore, this research is focused on estimating the technical-economic feasibility of emerging technologies with the greatest potential to contribute to decision-making for implementation in Ecopetrol.

• Geological storage of CO2

The geological sequestration of CO2 has been identified as an option to leverage the company's decarbonization goals. The study of energy transition is addressed in a comprehensive manner, based on:

• Regional geological information
• Storage mechanisms
• Risk identification and assessment
• Seal rock effectiveness
• Site geochemistry and thermodynamics
• Monitoring
• Volumentrics
• Sirte ranking
• Dynamic simulation

• Enhanced recovery with CO2

The use of CO2 as enhanced recovery method (EOR/ Enhanced Oil Rcovery) offers the opportuity of capturing a percentage of CO2 in the subsurface and to create financial benefits through additional oil extraction.

Renewable energies production

• Technologies for offshore energy generation

Colombia's maritime territory has renewable natural resources with the potential to be used according to the renewable energy source: offshore wind, wave, tidal, solar, salinity and temperature gradients. The research in "Technologies for offshore energy generation from renewable sources" is projected as a tool to evaluate the availability and use of renewable Energy Unconventional Sources of marine origin, which allow leveraging the energy of marine origin in the energy transition.

• High enthalpy geothermal potential

To reduce uncertainty in the selection of the area with the best technical-economic conditions for the production and generation of renewable energies, different Geophysical methodologies, 3D Geological modeling, and lab analysis of outcrop and core samples are applied in Colombia.

To conduct prospect identification, initial estimation of geothermal potential, characterization of temperature profiles, natural fracture network analysis, and assignment of petrophysical, mineralogical, geochemical, rock mechanics, and thermal properties in each of the polygons of interest, the three-dimensional geological models are initially updated with new data acquired in the well and the outcrops in the areas of interest.

Simultaneous to these geological processes, the geomechanical design of the wells and the surface facilities for receiving heat and producing energy is conducted, relying on tools relying on tools such as numerical simulation of heat mining.

CO2 Uses

The ICP is conducting research intended to define the technical and economic feasibility of aqueous mineralization and bioconversion technologies by microalgae on a laboratory scale, and a pilot prototype for CO2 fixation from diluted streams of flue gas and the use of residual aqueous currents available at Ecopetrol. This implies obtaining products such as carbonates, bicarbonates, and revalued biomass.

Additionally, different technological routes are being evaluated for the production of synthetic fuels (e-gasoline, e-diesel, e-kerosene, methanol, methane, ammonia, urea) from H2 and CO2 streams as input materia, with the potential to gradually replace fossil fuels.

Renewable Diesel and Jet production

The incorporation of vegetable oil into the oil production chain allows the production of diesel and renewable jet using patents developed by Ecopetrol such as Biocetano®. These tests evaluate the behavior and determination of optimal operational parameters for the use of the catalyst and mix vegetable oil and intermediate streams to secure the yield and quality of the diesel and jet produced to international specifications.

In 2022, the industrial co-processing test of Bleached Palm Oil (ABP for the Spanish) was performed in a hydrotreatment unit of the Cartagena Refinery, reaching a concentration of  5% of vegetable oil, maintaining the operational stability of the unit. The result obtained from the test allows projecting the renewable diesel production operation at Ecopetrol facilities.

Carbon natural sinks

SProgress is being made ind the study of Nature-Based Solutions on a country scale, which covers a diversity of ecosystems, where technology and innovation are determining factors. Partnering with Universities, Research Centers and public entities, progress has been achieved in activities such as:

• Updating the country's coverage and deforestation maps, and development of new methods for the study of carbon in ecosystems (IDEAM).
• Launching for the first time in Colombia a spectrometer for monitoring greenhouse gases on board the nanosatellite-Chiribiquete-(6U cubesat). (FAC2).
• Deployment of Eddy Covariance towers that will measure the exchange of CO2, CH4 and N2O between the different compartments in the ecosystems and the atmosphere in real time. (Universidad Javeriana).

These partnerships with leading science and technology institutions are part of the world scale "Innovation Ecosystem" built by Ec copetrol to such end.

• Integrated digital system for Ecopetrol - Microsoft nature-based solutions

Ecopetrol, partnering with Microsoft, develops an integrated digital system for nature-based solutions, focused on strategic study ecosystems for the Ecopetrol group, which and  applicability is of country scale and value. This brings together various digital technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and advanced modeling, integrating different types of data, for designing the resilient territories of the future, where energy production -hydrocarbons and renewables-, natural climate solutions, environmental conservation, communities, and the growth of the environment are part of Ecopetrol's vision of the future.

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