Home / Environment / Oil Fields Now Storing CO2 Under North Sea
Oil Fields Now Storing CO2 Under North Sea
26 Nov
Summary
- Depleted oil fields are being repurposed for CO2 storage.
- Project aims to store millions of tons of CO2 annually.
- Environmentalists caution against using CCS to delay emission cuts.
The remote Nini oil field in the North Sea is being given a new purpose: storing planet-warming carbon dioxide beneath the seabed. Chemical giant INEOS is repurposing the field, injecting liquefied CO2 into depleted oil reservoirs approximately 1,800 meters underground. This initiative, known as Greensand Future, is poised to become the European Union's first fully operational offshore CO2 storage site when it begins commercial operations next year.
Initially, the project will store 400,000 tons of CO2 annually, with plans to scale up to 8 million tons by 2030. INEOS highlights Denmark's potential to store significant emissions, creating a new industry to support Europe's decarbonization efforts. Deals are in place with Danish biogas facilities to bury their captured emissions, and a dedicated CO2 terminal is under construction, alongside a specialized carrier vessel.
While proponents view carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a crucial climate solution, environmental groups express concern that it may allow industries to delay necessary emissions cuts. They advocate for CCS to be reserved for sectors where emissions are difficult to abate. Despite these critiques, the project aims to store millions of tons of CO2 annually, contributing to the EU's net-zero goals.
