A Strategic Solution for Hard-to-Abate CO2 Emissions

Published by HSM Offshore Energy

Executive summary

The global push to combat climate change has underscored the urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions across all industries. While many sectors are transitioning to renewable energy, hard-to-abate industries require alternative solutions due to their energy-intensive processes and inherent CO2 emissions. Offshore Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has emerged as a key technology to address this challenge, offering a reliable method to capture CO2 onshore and to transport and permanently store CO2 safely and efficiently in depleted offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs or in aquifers.

The Dutch North Sea provides a unique opportunity for the CCS market, with an estimated 1,200 Megatons (Mt) of offshore storage capacity. This equates to approximately 20-40 years of CO2 storage at current capture rates, establishing the region as a strategic hub for offshore CCS development.

With extensive offshore expertise, HSM Offshore Energy is uniquely positioned to support this emerging market by delivering turnkey EPCI CCS solutions: designing and constructing new CCS platforms. This paper explores the potential of offshore Carbon Capture and Storage technology and highlights HSM Offshore Energy’s role in enabling large-scale decarbonization.

Introduction

Offshore Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a proven method for mitigating CO2 emissions by capturing them at the source, transporting them to a storage site and securely injecting them into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs or in aquifers. Offshore CO2 storage is particularly interesting for The Netherlands, where the North Sea offers an estimated storage capacity of 1,200 Megatons (Mt) in depleted offshore hydrocarbon field that can be repurposed for CO2 storage significantly reducing the costs and timelines for CCS deployment.

The process of offshore CCS: technical overview

Offshore CCS is a three-stage process that involves the capture, transportation and storage of CO2. Each stage requires advanced engineering, state-of-the-art technology and rigorous safety measures to ensure secure, long-term CO2 sequestration.

1. CO2 Capture

• CO2 is captured from industrial emissions using advanced technologies, such as chemical absorption, membrane separation and cryogenic distillation.
• The process separates CO2 from exhaust gases emitted by large industrial facilities and energy plants, preparing it for offshore transport.
• Capture efficiency and purity levels are crucial to ensure economic feasibility and operational safety in subsequent stages.

2. Transportation of CO2

• Once captured, CO2 is compressed to a supercritical state (a dense phase that combines properties of both liquid and gas) to facilitate transport.
• Treatment systems for compression and dehydration are used to prepare CO2 for safe, long-distance transportation, minimizing risks of corrosion and phase change.
• High-pressure pipelines are the preferred method for transporting CO2 to nearby offshore storage sites. For storage sites further offshore, marine transportation with CO2 tankers is also seen as a viable option for emitters remote from pipeline infrastructure.

3. Offshore injection and storage

• The compressed CO2 is injected into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs or aquifers, beneath a secure cap rock or thick salt layer that prevents leakage.
• Storage sites undergo extensive geological analysis and modeling to verify their suitability for CO2 storage.
• Injection wells are outfitted with monitoring systems, including pressure sensors, seismic monitoring and chemical tracers, to ensure secure, permanent storage of CO2 and to meet regulatory requirements.

Key benefits of offshore CCS:

• Compatibility with existing processes: CCS enables significant CO2 reduction without altering production processes, providing an immediate, scalable solution.
• High capture efficiency: Advanced capture technologies can isolate over 90% of CO2 emissions, allowing companies to make substantial strides toward decarbonization goals.
• Regulatory compliance: CCS supports compliance with increasingly stringent emissions regulations, especially in jurisdictions aiming for net-zero targets.

HSM Offshore Energy’s role in the CCS value chain

With decades of experience in executing Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) projects for the offshore oil & gas and wind industry, HSM Offshore Energy is uniquely positioned to contribute to the growing CCS market. Our expertise in designing and fabricating offshore platforms for the oil & gas and wind industry translates seamlessly into the development of CCS infrastructure:

1. Engineering and fabrication of new CCS Platforms

• HSM Offshore Energy specialises in the design, engineering and construction of offshore integrated platforms, modules and jackets ensuring that CCS platforms meet the highest safety and operational standards.
• Due to our strong track record in the EPCI of offshore oil & gas and wind platforms and thorough understanding of the requirements for CCS platforms and facilities, we are able to combine the proven methodologies with new methodologies for the CCS projects, ensuring reliability, efficiency and assets integrity during the project lifetime.
• Our expertise in modular and scalable platform design enables the development of CO₂ injection platforms that can be customised to suit various storage sites and project requirements.

2. Expertise in interface management & strong industry network

Offshore CCS projects involve complex interface management, coordinating between multiple stakeholders:

• HSM Offshore Energy has extensive experience in managing multidisciplinary interfaces, ensuring seamless integration between engineering, construction, installation and commissioning.
• We leverage our broad network of trusted partners across the CCS value chain, including subsea engineering firms, pipeline operators and offshore installation specialists, to deliver fully integrated and efficient solutions.

By combining proven offshore expertise, ongoing CCS design studies, strong interface management and a robust partner network, HSM Offshore Energy plays a key role in delivering safe, reliable and cost-effective CCS infrastructure.

Conclusion

Offshore CCS offers a proven, scalable method for permanent CO₂ storage, making it an essential tool for hard-to-abate industries seeking sustainable decarbonization. As the demand for CCS infrastructure grows, HSM Offshore Energy is well-positioned to lead in this evolving sector. Through our engineering expertise, commitment to innovation and our expertise in interface management combined with our strong industry network, we are dedicated to advancing the CCS industry and supporting global net-zero goals.

1Source: https://www.noordzeeloket.nl/en/functions-use/co2-opslag/