LONDON – The UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has offered 10-year license to dCarbonX to store gas in the depleted Bains Field in the East Irish Sea, east of the producing Morecambe fields.
Redeveloping Bains for gas storage through drilling new wells could deliver a storage capacity equivalent to three to four days' supply for the UK, the NSTA said, with injection potentially starting in 2028.
However, further regulatory approvals are needed before storage operations can begin.
London/Dublin-based dCarbonX describes itself as a geo-energy company focused on developing subsurface facilities that help usher in the energy transition. It aims to compile a portfolio of assets offshore Ireland and the UK with a focus on energy storage (hydrogen) and carbon capture and sequestration.
In November 2021, dCarbonX established a strategic energy transition alliance with Snam, which is now its main corporate shareholder.
The Bains gas field is in UK Block 110/3c, 27 km west of Blackpool in water depths of 18 m to 27 m. Centrica developed it as a single well subsea tieback to the South Morecambe Field with production starting in 2002. The gas was exported through a subsea pipeline to the South Morecambe terminal at Barrow-in-Furness, northwest England. Centrica subsidiary Spirit Energy secured approval for cessation of production in late 2017.
04.18.2023
