Saudi Aramco has a clear strategic intent to reach net zero emissions across all operations by 2050, despite Upstream low carbon footprint.  The presentation highlights the main pathways to mitigate Upstream operations’ carbon intensity and their potentials through CO₂ utilization. In line with this intent, EXPEC ARC maintain and continue venturing in ideation initiatives and R&D projects to support Upstream reduce its carbon footprint through technologies.

CO₂ EOR stand out as primary initiative to achieve net zero emissions, and with ongoing Saudi Aramco demonstration project, many concepts have been innovated to maximize the CO₂ value, including carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The presentation will give an overview on the current CO₂ utilization and underground storage efforts, both challenges and opportunities, and will highlighted serval R&D research topics on using advanced materials and AI to unlock the CO₂ underground storage and utilization potential.

The presentation will shed light on CO₂ utilization research activities EXPEC ARC to pursue in the newly established Saudi Aramco Research Center at KAUST primarily under AI and Advanced Materials domains such as functionalized materials for EOR applications, CO₂ to chemicals or other commodities, and developing bio-based materials capitalizing on CO₂ capture and conversion utilizing algal cultivation.