Study of a technical and economic feasibility of converting offshore CO2 into urea

Abstract

The intensification of CO₂ emissions and its consequent influence on the environmental context reinforce the need to search alternative for disposal of this pollutant. Thus, the technologies of capture, transport and sequestration, geological or chemical, of CO₂ gained notorious prominence in the scientific literature. Among the potentially sequestering chemical routes, the synthesis of urea also denotes a strategic function within socioeconomic scope, because it allows attending the demands focused on food production and on the minimization of the strong external dependence on this commodity because of its low domestic production. In this context, a study was developed to evaluate the use of CO₂ from pre-salt in the production of urea. Thus, it proposes an integrated plant production of ammonia and urea, with capacity 1Mt/ano, estimated average consumption of 1.90 x 10⁸ kW and potential to prevent the emission of 20.7 Mt CO₂ per year. The initial investment was estimated in US$ 241.2 million, with a payback time of 6.1 years. The Net Present Value (NPV) was US$ 65,141,152.61 applying corresponding to a Minimum Attractive Rate of Return (MARR) of 15%, and the Internal Rate of Return (ROR) predicted was 48%.