Long-Haul, China's oil pipeline successfully adapted for carbon dioxide transport

China has completed a 27km trial transporting carbon dioxide through a repurposed long-haul oil pipeline, marking a technical milestone in the country’s carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) programme.

The route delivered captured CO₂ to an oilfield in Henan province earlier this month, according to China Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (PipeChina). The state-owned operator described the trial as a “replicable and scalable” model for future carbon transport infrastructure.

The project supports China’s “dual-carbon” strategy, which aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. CCUS technologies capture emissions from industrial sources, compress the gas and transport it for utilisation or storage.

A key challenge identified by PipeChina is the geographical mismatch between carbon emission sources and storage locations. Industrial emitters are concentrated in eastern and coastal regions, while major storage and utilisation sites are located in northern and western China. PipeChina stated that building an economical, safe and efficient long-haul CO₂ transport network is critical for large-scale deployment.

Repurposing existing oil pipelines presents cost and time advantages compared to constructing new infrastructure. PipeChina estimates that conversion of existing pipelines could reduce investment costs by 40% to 80% and shorten construction periods by 20% to 60%.

In parallel, new infrastructure is also advancing. Construction began in April on a dedicated 400km carbon dioxide pipeline in Jilin province. Once operational, it is expected to sequester more than 4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and increase crude oil production by 1 million tonnes per year, according to China National Petroleum Corporation.

By 2025, renewable energy accounted for more than 60% of China’s installed power capacity, generating 4 trillion kilowatt-hours, according to National Energy Administration data.