Abstract: Include “What is the one idea you would like the members to take away from
this lecture?”
As the global energy sector strives to meet ambitious climate goals, carbon capture, utilization,
and storage (CCUS) remains a cornerstone of the pathway to net-zero emissions. One of the
most exciting advancements in this field is Direct Air Capture (DAC), a technology capable of
removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere. DAC projects are already operational across
Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and Africa. This lecture will
explore the potential of DAC as a key partner to existing CCUS solutions, examining how its
integration into current and planned systems can accelerate the transition to a lower carbon
future.
Through an overview of major DAC technology types, this presentation will highlight the
current state of development, its scalability, and the role of DAC in addressing the hard-toabate
emissions that traditional capture methods may miss. Technology and site selection
case studies will illustrate key considerations in planning and deployment. Given the
development and uptake of DAC technology relies on policy and market signals, the topic will
be examined through both technical and commercial lenses.
A key takeaway is that integrating DAC with CCUS infrastructure can significantly enhance the
global capacity for carbon removal. DAC is not a standalone solution, but a powerful partner in
the broader effort to achieve net-zero emissions and create new business opportunities. The
petroleum industry – leveraging its subsurface expertise, large-scale project execution
capability, and worldwide infrastructure – is uniquely positioned to enable, deploy, and scale
this technology as part of the evolving energy transition.
Biography:
Helena Wu is Business Development Manager at Santos, leading the company’s Direct Air
Capture initiatives since 2022. She is responsible for setting and executing the strategy,
overseeing project origination, technology vendor and customer collaborations. Helena has
engaged over 40 vendors globally, representing Santos in technical and management
meetings. Helena’s background is in reservoir and production engineering, planning and
commercial, working across assets in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste. Helena
holds an honors degree in Mechanical Engineering, masters degree in Petroleum Engineering
and an MBA. Helena is an active SPE volunteer, serving on the SPE International Board from
2016-2019.
📍 Event Details
Location: TBD
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2027
Time: 17:00
🤝 STAY AFTERWARDS
A networking reception with light refreshments will follow.
