Welltec, a global hi-tech solutions provider for the energy industry, has begun extensive testing to identify optimal materials for Project Greensand, an initiative that will store CO₂ in the subsurface of the North Sea.
Project Greensand is the most mature project of its kind in Denmark, with the potential of storing up to 1.5 million tons of ₂CO per year by the end of 2025, and up to eight million tons of CO₂ per year by 2030. The consortium behind Project Greensand consists of 23 different Danish and international partners working to deliver a significant contribution to the green transition in Denmark.
“We recreate the subsea environment of the North Sea and expose the materials to that environment for a long period, so we find out which materials are best suited to function over time,” says Linda Nolting Kristensen, Technology Innovation Lead at Welltec.
Test in Two Phases
“At Welltec, we are happy and proud to be part of Project Greensand. We have made a meaningful investment in our Test Flow Loop, and also gained valuable experience in the energy transition. It is an important area for us – both for our business and equally for our desire to contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions through CO₂ storage,” says Kristensen.
Tank containers, ships, and developed designs for the pump systems that will transport CO₂ down to the sandstone reservoir have already been secured.
“We look forward to following the testing process at Welltec closely. They have extensive experience in offshore pipes, and we are sure that they can take on the task so that we can reach the goal together. It is crucial for us that we select the right materials for the dedicated CO₂ injection wells for Project Greensand, so that in the future we can store CO₂ safely in the Danish subsea,” says Søren Reinhold Poulsen, Project Director for Project Greensand.
In connection with the pilot project for CO₂ injection, Project Greensand expects to test the first storage of CO₂ in the subsurface of the North Sea around the end of the year.
Weltec consists of 23 companies and organizations that is collaborating to deliver a significant contribution to the green transition in Denmark through the storage of CO₂ under the seabed in the North Sea. In December 2021, the EUDP awarded Project Greensand DKK 197 million with a view to developing and demonstrating CO₂ storage in the North Sea. The project is currently in the pilot phase – phase 2 – where the storage process is developed, demonstrated, and monitored.
