On November 4th, 2025, the Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department at Tishk International University (TIU), in collaboration with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) TIU Student Chapter and the SPE Northern Iraq Section, successfully hosted an international workshop as part of the SPE Distinguished Lecturer Program (DLP).
The workshop, titled “Carbon Storage Risks and Costs: Busting Perceptions and Myths,” was presented by Mr. Diego A. Vazquez Anzola, Managing Director of Asia Pacific Energy Evolution (APES), a decarbonization consultancy company based in Australia.
Mr. Vazquez Anzola, a distinguished expert with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, shared valuable insights from his work on global carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects such as Northern Lights (Norway), Aramis and Porthos (Netherlands), Endurance (UK), Gorgon (Australia), and others. His presentation addressed common misconceptions surrounding CCS, highlighted successful case studies, and emphasized the importance of proper site selection, regulatory frameworks, and operational strategies to ensure large-scale CCS success.
The workshop took place at TIU Main Campus, Education Building, Hall 302 (3rd Floor), starting at 10:00 a.m. The presentation covered several key areas, including:
Perceptions and realities of carbon storage risks and costs
Successful global CCS project examples and diverse business models
Geological CO₂ storage regulations and technical standards
Selection of suitable geological sites for CO₂ storage
Operational challenges involving fluids with unique thermodynamic properties
Impact of legacy wells on project risk and cost
Value creation beyond direct economic revenue
Scalability and maturation time as key performance indicators
The event was honored by the attendance of Prof. Dr. Idris Hadi, Head of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Sultan Abu-Orabi, President of TIU, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdemir, Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Fadhil Ali, Head of the Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department, as well as several Heads of Departments, lecturers, and students from various engineering programs.
Officers from the SPE Northern Iraq Section also joined the event, further strengthening academic–industry collaboration. Following the first session, attendees enjoyed a coffee break and networking opportunity. Afterward, Ms. Srwa Salam, Young Professional (YP) Chairperson at SPE Northern Iraq Section, delivered a presentation highlighting the section’s recent achievements and activities.
The second session continued with Mr. Vazquez Anzola providing additional insights into the technical and operational dimensions of carbon storage projects.
At the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Fadhil Ali expressed his sincere appreciation to the distinguished lecturer for his commitment and long journey from Australia to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to deliver this valuable workshop. He also extended his gratitude to SPE Northern Iraq Section and the SPE-TIU Student Chapter for their active role in organizing such impactful academic–industry events at TIU.
