10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are now stored underground at Sleipner in the North Sea.
Illustration of carbon storage in the Utsira formation.
2,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) are removed from natural gas produced on the Sleipner West field in the North Sea every day.
The carbon dioxide is injected and stored in the Utsira formation rather than being emitted into the atmosphere. This sandstone formation extends over a large area in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
The facility has been online since the autumn of 1996, recording a very high regularity.
On the Sleipner T platform carbon dioxide (CO2) is separated from the well stream. (Photo: Dag Myrestrand)
Important tool
Carbon storage under the seabed may be an important tool in the efforts to slow global warming.
Research and monitoring of the carbon injection into the Utsira formation show that the greenhouse gas is retained in the formation and that this is an environmentally friendly and safe way of reducing climate gas emissions.
"This is a good carbon capture demonstration project. Sleipner documents that carbon storage is feasible and safe," says Rolf Håkon Holmboe, head of HSE on the Sleipner field.
"We wish to build on the experience we have gained through 12 years of operations employing carbon capture and storage techniques," says Sjur Talstad, vice president, Sleipner production.
Used for other discoveries?
The Sleipner organisation is exploring the possibilities of offering other petroleum discoveries in the area the opportunity to process gas, remove CO2 from the gas and store it in the Usira formation.
The possibility of receiving carbon dioxide from land for injection into the Utsira formation is also being considered.
The EU aims to cut Europe's carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020. Carbon storage may be one of several necessary actions.
A decision by the EU Parliament as to whether, and on what conditions, such storage may be permitted is scheduled for 2008.
