StatoilHydro storing 2,800 tonnes of CO2 underground every day
06 May 2008
Norway's oil giant Statoil that merged last year with Norsk Hydro to form StatoilHydro, has been storing every day nearly 2,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is removed from natural gas produced on its Sleipner West field in the North Sea every day.
The carbon dioxide is injected and stored in the Utsira formation, contains porous sand rock filled with salt water, 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 1996, recording a very high regularity.
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| [Caption: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is separated from the well stream on the Sleipner T platform . (Photo: Dag Myrestrand) ] |
StatoilHydro says its 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.It says the possibility of receiving carbon dioxide from land for injection into the Utsira formation is also being considered.
