UK Begins Carbon Injection Tests in North Sea

The first tests in the UK for injecting CO2 into depleted wells under the North Sea got underway this week. The UK government is a strong supporter of the carbon capture and storage approach and has been moving forward with licensing for potential projects.

Carbon Catalyst, a UK company founded in 2020, reported working with its partners on the first test at the Project Poseidon site. Perenco UK, a large independent energy producer, is the operator for the project, with Wintershall Dea, a German gas and oil producer, as a partner.

Project Poseidon and Carbon Catalyst

Carbon Catalyst was awarded three Carbon Dioxide Appraisal and Storage Licenses by the UK Government in August 2023. The company’s Poseidon site, located in the southern North Sea sector on the UK Continental Shelf, aims to inject captured CO2 into depleted gas reservoirs and saline aquifers.

The initial annual injection capacity of Poseidon is set at 1.5 million tonnes of CO2, with plans to scale up to 40 million tonnes annually. The project has a potential storage capacity of 1 billion tonnes, making it one of the largest Carbon Capture & Storage projects in Northwest Europe.

Future Plans and Expansion

Following the successful injection test, the Poseidon Joint Venture anticipates making a Final Investment Decision in 2027, with commercial CO2 injection scheduled to begin in 2029. Carbon Catalyst also plans to develop additional projects across the North Sea, including the Orion site near the Humber region of England.

Global Carbon Capture Initiatives

Denmark and Norway have also made significant progress in carbon capture initiatives. Denmark completed the world’s first injection test in 2023 at the INEOS-led Project Greensand in the North Sea, while Norway’s Northern Lights project is gearing up for commercial CCS operations with the recent arrival of CO2 transport vessels.

With these advancements in carbon capture technology, the UK is taking proactive steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable energy practices in the region.