The contract will see DNV assessing the fracture and suitability of offshore pipelines for re-use in carbon dioxide (CO2) transport.
In cooperation with its license partners and CO2 emitters, the pipeline materials analysis is part of a wider feasibility study being conducted by Neptune Energy.
Neptune plant to review plans for a large-scale offshore CCS project at its 10-area in the Dutch North Sea. If developed, it will be one of the largest CCS facilities in the Dutch North Sea and could meet more than 50% of the CO2 reduction being targeted by the Dutch industrial sector.
About the project, Prajeev Rasiah, Executive Vice President, Regional Director Energy Systems Northern Europe at DNV, said, “We see CCS as one of the ways to accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy sector.”
“DNV is a pioneer in the field of CCS, with a track record dating back to the 1990s, and we are excited to be involved in a project of this size with Neptune Energy.”
Rasiah also praised the experience and knowledge of DNV’s research team within the area of CO2 transport projects, specifically on running ductile fracture.
Rene van der Meer, Head of New Energy at Neptune Energy, said, “Given the existing infrastructure that connects offshore with onshore, there is real potential for the Dutch North Sea to develop new energy faster, more effidicent and in a safe way.”
“With support from partners, such as the experienced team of DNV, we are well placed to enable offshore CCS and offshore green hydrogen production using existing infrastructure.”
The first phase of the DNV study will involve technical literature reviews to understand and implement the most suitable approach to ductile fracture assessments in dense phase CO2 pipeline systems. It will also study how such assessments apply to both welded and seamless subsea line pipe.
Phase two will involve taking the approach identified in the first phase to assess the suitability of the existing pipelines for dense phase CO2 transport at up to 120 bar.
The result of the study is hoped to inform the Neptune feasibility study about the level of confidence in the suitability of the existing pipelines, which would be set to inject between five and eight million tonnes of CO2 annually into the depleted gas fields.