A new pilot project is to clear the way for storage of CO2 in the North Sea from 2025. The project is called Greensand, and Blue Water is one of the companies contributing with innovative solutions.
Blue Water Shipping explains: The aim is to obtain the political objective of storing 4-8 million tonnes of CO2 annually from 2030. By means of CCS technology (Carbon Capture and Storage), it will be possible to capture, transport and store CO2 in drained oil wells in the Nini field situated in the Danish North Sea. The CCS technology is based on an imitation of earth’s own CO2 cycle.
How is CO2 transported?
Blue Waters’s role in the project covers the core competence: to create logistics solutions. In the Greensand project this covers the acquisition of special containers able to transport CO2, handling of containers and chartering the vessel carrying them offshore and back again.
“We acquire a large number of IMO certified ISO-containers to transport the liquid CO2, charter the right vessel given the assignment and deliver a transport frame to the containers, so they can be transported safely. The frame is designed by our own technical department, as well as they will perform calculations on the movements of the vessel. Our strength is our ability to deliver the full package, and especially our technical department with engineers, former captains, HSSEQ specialists and experienced projects managers will play an important role in the project. We are the focal point in relation to transport and logistics throughout the entire project.
Blue Water has no previous experience with transporting such great amount of CO2, but we love challenges like this at Blue Water. We are experienced with handling all types of transports in enormous projects. Both within oil and gas in the North Sea since the 1970’s and wind logistics since the 90’s, our innovative approach to logistics has ensured us many interesting jobs”, says Allan Leiberg who is Business Development Manager at Blue Water, Energy & Projects.
Creating logistics competencies within green transition contributes to strengthening the sustainable profile which Blue Water wishes to develop. With skilled and experienced staff, the foundation is in place.
Sustainable development in the right setup
Denmark’s ambitious climate goal of reducing CO2 emission by 70 % in 2030 is to be helped along by the findings of the Greensand project. The project is the first of its type in Europe.
The former oil field is located in an optimal depth of 1,5-2,3 km and is encased in cap rocks. The area – which has retained oil and gas for 10-20 million years – is geologically very stable making it a safe and permanent storage site for CO2.
In total, 29 operators have joined the consortium cooperating to solve the many new tasks carried along by the project. The other members are Danish and international companies, research institutes and other specialists with knowledge of monitoring technologies.
