Page 29: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2022)

Carbon Capture & Storage

A New Lease of Life for

Submarine Pipelines?

Since 2019, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) have risen up the political agenda, globally, of ering a route to decar- bonization, as well as (more recently), increased energy securi- ty. Many are eying use of existing pipeline to make both happen.

Elaine Maslin takes a look. ydrogen production and CCS sition Authority (NSTA, formerly the that further work is required to determine offers a more or less “green” Oil & Gas Authority), said analysis by exactly how many of those pipelines are decarbonization options for NSTA has highlighted about 100 pipe- suitable for repurposing.”

Hoil and gas companies, along- lines of particular interest for reuse in the Graeme Rogerson, Senior Project Man- side carbon capture and storage (CCS), UK sector. “If a pipeline were to be used ager at the Net Zero Technology Centre especially if existing offshore infrastruc- for CCS or hydrogen (or indeed any other (NZTC, formerly the Oil & Gas Tech- ture could be reused to make it happen. use) it has the effect of saving the new nology Centre), agrees. He said that off-

Instead of bringing natural gas onshore owner the time, effort and cost of install- shore submarine pipelines haven’t got up from offshore reservoirs, existing pipe- ing a new pipeline,” she says. “That’s not to speed when it comes to design codes lines could be connected with offshore only good from an environmental per- for reuse for hydrogen, but that there is wind parks that produce hydrogen, when spective it’s also good from a cost per- a longer history for reuse and transporta- there’s excess wind power. Alternatively, spective. Money saved from installing tion of CO . 2 they could be used to export sequestered infrastructure can be used elsewhere in That’s not stopping companies work-

CO from onshore power production fa- the business.” ing up ideas. Among others, Mitsubishi 2 cilities or industrial areas to be stored un- If half of those 100 identi