The company has studied transport solutions on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) from the planned carbon capture plant for the gas-fired power station at Kårstø. 

It is now also studying the possible transport of carbon dioxide from the combined heat and power (CHP) station under construction at the Mongstad refinery north of Bergen. Gassnova SF is in overall charge of this transport and storage project, while responsibility for the transport component has been assigned to Gassco.

The latter began work on such solutions in 2006 as part of a broader project on using carbon dioxide to improve oil recovery from suitable fields on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). 

Systems planned for carbon transport would be similar in most respects to those already in use for carrying oil and gas on and from the NCS.

Special attention must be paid in certain areas, however, such as corrosion threats, the discharge of carbon dioxide to the air from pressure reduction, and the noise of such blowdowns. Gassco is now working to develop cost-effective solutions which are simultaneously at least as safe as those used to transport oil and gas. 

Conceptual studies for Mongstad
Conceptual studies for a carbon pipeline from Mongstad are being pursued by Gassco up to the end of 2010. This would be laid through the Fens Fjord, a particularly demanding stretch of seabed along the Norwegian coast.

Onward transport to four different storage locations in the Troll area of the North Sea – the Johansen formation and Troll near-shore – will then be assessed.

The pipeline will have a diameter of 10 or 12 inches, depending on the storage location chosen, and vary between 60-110 kilometres in length for the four options.

These transport solutions have been assessed with regard to alternative capacities, and account has been taken of costs, reservoir conditions and technological risk.

A report from this conceptual phase will be submitted to the MPE and Gassnova by the end of 2010. Further work on a transport solution will be tailored to the overall timetable for carbon capture at Mongstad.

Kårstø
Gassco has developed the technical basis for an investment decision on carbon transport from the planned capture plant for Naturkraft’s gas-fired power station at Kårstø north of Stavanger.

The procurement process for the project was halted in the government’s revised national planning budget for 2009 because of uncertainties over the operating pattern for the power station.

At the request of the MPE, Gassco has identified technical solutions for process-based integration of Naturkraft’s power station and the gas processing plant at Kårstø. This study was submitted to the government on 6 March 2009.

Goal of full-scale CCS
The background for Gassco’s assignment is the Norwegian government’s targets for carbon capture and storage.
At Kårstø, the government has resolved to build a full-scale carbon capture plant for the gas-fired power station.
Carbon capture at Mongstad involves a two-step model which initially involves testing of capture solutions at the Mongstad technology centre (TCM). This will be followed by a full-scale capture unit for the CHP station.

EU carbon programme for Europipe
CO2 Europipe is a research programme partly funded by the European Union to learn more about carbon capture and storage (CCS) in a European perspective. It is intended to produce recommendations for the European Commission related to the technical, legal and commercial challenges posed by large-scale carbon transport in Europe.

Gassco is one of 21 industrial companies participating in the project, taking part in three work packages and leading one of these – a case study based on a Kårstø carbon pipeline. The two other work packages with Gassco involvement embrace legislation and statutory regulations as well as technical aspects. Launched in April 2009, the programme is due to be finalised in October 2011. Read more about the project here.

(08.12.2010)