Harbour Energy PLC, operator of the Humber, UK-based Viking CO2 transportation and storage network and partner in the Acorn carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in northeast Scotland, won Track 2 status for both projects as part of the UK Government’s CCS cluster sequencing process. The change in status allows both projects to move into front end engineering and design (FEED) and discussions with the government over the terms of economic licenses, ahead of final investment decisions (FID).
Viking has the potential to transport and store up to 10 million tonnes/year (tpy) of CO2 by 2030 and 15 million tpy by 2035, with independently verified storage capacity of 300 million tonnes of CO2 across the depleted Viking gas fields. Harbour describes the project as transformational for the Humber region, potentially unlocking up to £7 billion of investment across the full CO2 capture, transport, and storage value chain between 2025 and 2035.
Harbour says Viking can also enable, through the company’s work with Associated British Ports at the Port of Immingham, the potential for shipped CO2 from emitters elsewhere in the UK and internationally to be transported for permanent storage in the Viking fields, creating a new industry for the UK.
Viking, which stopped production in 2018, lies under the southern North Sea off the coast of Lincolnshire, UK. Harbour and bp share an interest in the 120 km, 36-in OD Lincolnshire Offshore Gas Gathering System pipeline which will be repurposed and lengthened by 20 km to connect to Viking (OGJ Online, Apr. 11, 2023).
Acorn CCS is a CO2 transportation and storage system which reuses legacy oil and gas infrastructure to transport emissions from the Scottish Cluster to permanent storage under the North Sea. Acorn’s partners describe the Scottish Cluster as a collection of industrial, power, and hydrogen businesses in central and northeast Scotland.
Harbour is Viking’s operator with a 60% interest and is partnered with bp PLC which has a 40% non-operated share. Harbour has a 30% non-operated interest in Acorn CCS, which lead developer Storegga operates. Shell UK and North Sea Midstream Partners Ltd. our also part of the Acorn joint venture.
