Danish CO2 storage project : Maersk Drilling joins INEOS & Wintershall Dea

Danish CO2 storage project : Drilling rig operator Maersk Drilling will join INEOS Oil & Gas Denmark and Wintershall Dea in a new Danish offshore CO2 storage consortium.

According to Maersk Drilling, the consortium will mature a well progressed carbon capture and storage project in Danish waters. It will aim to develop CO2 storage capacity offshore Denmark based on reusing discontinued offshore oil and gas fields for the purpose of permanently storing the gas.

The Danish CO2 storage project is backed by the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP) through the Danish Energy Agency.

Hugo Dijkgraaf – Chief Technology Officer of Wintershall Dea, commenting on the Danish CO2 storage project, said: “At Wintershall Dea we are very certain: the global energy transition is happening, and we intend to play a decisive role in it. One way we will do so is through technology and innovation projects like this. Offshore CO2 storage can have a significant contribution to a cleaner energy future and the potential to significantly mitigate CO2 emissions in Denmark.

“Thus, we really appreciate the support of the Danish authorities to fund this important endeavour.”

Maersk Drilling joins INEOS Oil & Gas Denmark and Wintershall Dea in the Danish CO2 storage project. Photo courtesy of MAERSK DRILLING.

Maersk Drilling, on its part, has committed to offering its expertise and limited funding to the initial phases of the CO2 storage project.

As part of the project, the partners will look to build infrastructure and capabilities that will allow the CO2 captured in onshore facilities to be transported offshore for injection and storage underneath the seabed.

Under the first phase of the Danish CO2 storage project, the partners will carry out a feasibility study to validate reservoir compatibility, after which there will be a pilot for testing CO2 injection.

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) will be the research partner to the project and will carry out specialized laboratory experiments and results analysis.

Maersk Drilling said that the target is to get the first well ready for injection in 20205 from the Nini platform in Danish waters. The eventual target will be to develop the capacity to store nearly 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030 in line with the Danish Climate Council’s recommendations of actions required to meet Denmark’s 70% reduction target.

The Danish drilling rig operator anticipates its offshore rigs to be employed for repurposing the existing oil and gas wells for CO2 injection.

Commenting on the Danish CO2 storage project, Jørn Madsen – CEO of Maersk Drilling said: “We’re really excited to be joining this effort to support the green transition by using the facilities and capabilities of the offshore industry and Maersk Drilling’s more than 40 years of experience with drilling wells in the North Sea.

“As the Danish government recently stated in its climate plan, carbon capture and storage is an important component in the efforts needed to reach the goal of reducing Denmark’s emissions by 70% by 2030. For Maersk Drilling, the project is part of our innovation initiatives and an attractive opportunity for building additional competencies and broadening the use of our rigs.”