Maersk rig set to drill pilot injection test for North Sea Project Greensand

Offshore staff

LYNGBY, Denmark – Maersk Drilling has entered an agreement confirming it as the preferred contractor for drilling associated with Phase 2 of the Project Greensand carbon storage development in the Danish North Sea.

The frame agreement is with the Nini joint venture, operated by INEOS Oil & Gas Denmark and Wintershall Dea.

If ratified (the agreement remains subject to securing funding for the project and a final investment decision), Maersk Drilling would conduct all drilling work involved in the project on market-rate terms until the end of 2027.

Project Greensand aims to develop capacity to permanently store up to 8 MM metric tons of CO₂ per year from 2030, which would effectively account for all the CO₂ storage proposed in the Danish Climate Program.

CO₂ would be captured onshore and transported to the sea for injection into decommissioned oil and gas reservoirs.

Under Greensand Phase 1, the four initial consortium partners including Maersk Drilling demonstrated the conceptual feasibility of developing an offshore CO₂ storage site at the Nini West field, subsequently certified by DNV.

Greensand Phase 2, announced in August, involves a consortium of 29 companies, research institutes and universities said to represent all parts of the prospective carbon capture and storage value chain.

During Phase 2, a pilot phase will involve a first on-site injection test, expected to start offshore at the end of next year. The aim is to have the first fully operational injection wells ready in 2025, with an annual injection capacity of 0.5-1.5 MM metric tons (0.55-1.65 Mm tons) of CO₂.

Maersk Drilling would supply a rig to assist the pilot test, along with manpower and a cash investment.

10/14/2021