Photo 5: ICorr CED Conference 2026 Speakers.
CCUS – The Big Picture Problem
Danny Burkle (Cortest) opened the technical programme with an overview of the wider corrosion challenges associated with CCUS deployment. The presentation explored the scale of infrastructure required for Net Zero ambitions and highlighted the operational risks associated with transporting and storing dense phase CO2.
Real-world examples of failures, pipeline ruptures, and containment incidents were discussed to demonstrate that corrosion risk in CCUS systems is already becoming an operational reality. The presentation also emphasised the importance of understanding when and where corrosion mechanisms become critical, rather than simply whether corrosion can occur.
Key challenges identified:
• Impurity chemistry: Parts-per-million levels of SOx, NOx, O2, and H2S can form strong acids.
• Phase behaviour: Stratified flow creates localised attack at low points.
• Non-linear corrosion: Small condition changes can trigger large jumps in corrosion rates.
• Testing gaps: No standardised methodology; results vary by an order of magnitude between labs.
Managing Corrosion Risk in CCS Infrastructure
Chris Scales (HSE Energy Division) discussed the importance of integrity management, regulation, and risk assessment within future CCS infrastructure.
The presentation highlighted the challenges associated with scaling up CCUS infrastructure while maintaining safe operation and regulatory compliance. The role of industry standards, inspection methodologies, and operational monitoring was discussed alongside the need for practical approaches to corrosion management within emerging CCS projects.
Chris outlined the new regulatory framework under the Carbon Capture, Utilisation, Storage and Offshore Hydrogen Production Regulations 2026, effective 6 April 2026. CCS projects now require formal safety cases demonstrating risks are managed to levels “as low as reasonably practicable” (ALARP).
He emphasised:
• CO2 is heavier than air – releases offshore will slump rather than disperse.
• Joule-Thomson cooling during depressurisation creates structural risks.
• Corrosion management is a critical element in safety case acceptance.
• Operators must engage early with regulators during design phases.
Are Current CO2 Specifications Realistic?
Steve Paterson (Arbeadie Consultants) delivered a presentation focused on CO2 specifications and impurity management within CCS projects.
A major topic of discussion throughout the conference was the balance between operational practicality, economic viability, and corrosion risk reduction. The presentation explored whether current impurity specifications are achievable for emitters and whether overly restrictive specifications could negatively impact project viability.
Discussions during both the presentation and panel session highlighted:
• The importance of understanding impurity interactions.
• No universal agreement exists on safe impurity limits.
• The challenge of controlling oxygen and acidic species.
• The need for alignment between emitters, transport operators, and storage operators.
• Lessons being learned from global CCS projects such as Northern Lights and ADM.
• Concerns around the gap between design assumptions and operational reality.
• Round-robin testing across laboratories is needed to validate results.
The audience discussion demonstrated strong industry interest in how specifications will evolve as projects move from design into long-term operation.
CO2 Capture and Conditioning
George Winning (Wood PLC) explored impurity reactions, CO2 conditioning, and the importance of understanding changing CO2 streams from different emitters.
The presentation discussed:
• Different capture technologies (amine absorption, physical solvents, membranes, cryogenic) produce different impurity profiles.
• Pre-treatment and post-treatment add costs that must be balanced against specifications.
• Chemical treatments such as scavenging and inhibition show promise for upset conditions.
• Online monitoring at ppm levels presents practical challenges. • Challenges associated with developing standardised specifications.
Reference was made to Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) focused on impurity specifications and corrosion risk management.
A recurring theme was that future CCS networks will require collaboration between emitters, transport operators, regulators, and researchers to ensure specifications remain technically achievable while maintaining infrastructure integrity.
Corrosion Testing Challenges in CCUS
Richard Barker (University of Leeds) from the University of Leeds discussed corrosion mechanisms and testing challenges associated with CO2 -rich environments.
The presentation focused on:
• Electrochemical behaviour in CO2 systems.
• Localised corrosion risks.
• Scale formation and breakdown.
• The complexity of reproducing realistic service environments within laboratory testing.
• The need for representative testing methodologies for CCS applications.
Richard described the challenges of laboratory testing in supercritical CO2:
• Impurity depletion in closed systems produces misleading integrated measurements.
• Water splashing during pressurisation and condensation during depressurisation create artefacts.
• Absorption/desorption on infrastructure creates lag times.
The session reinforced the importance of high-quality experimental work in understanding corrosion mechanisms and supporting future material selection and design decisions. Leeds is developing continuous-injection infrastructure to support improvement in testing methodologies in this area.
