At the halfway mark, Project Bifrost already confirms large Danish CCS potential

The state-funded Bifrost Project, which is being supported by the Danish Underground Consortium DUC (North Sea Fund, Noreco and TotalEnergies), Ørsted and the Technological Institute of Denmark (DTU), is now halfway through the two-year study of large-scale CO₂ transport and storage.

Bifrost is analyzing the potential for storing CO₂ in the depleted oil and gas field Harald in the North Sea underground. Halfway through the study, the partners behind Bifrost now confirm that their expectation that Denmark can become a European hub for CO₂ storage is valid.

- Denmark has a unique opportunity to develop a completely new green industry that contributes to Denmark's and the EU's transition to renewable energy. I am proud that industry and research have come together to kickstart new green large-scale technologies that are also cost-effective, says Martin Rune Pedersen, Country Manager at TotalEnergies Denmark, in a press release.

Among the most important findings in the first part of the research project is that there are favorable conditions for storing CO₂ in the Harald field's depleted sandstone reservoirs. The study also confirms that the clay layers above the reservoir are capable of retaining the CO₂, and that the previously drilled wells are tight, and therefore do not pose a risk of CO₂ escaping into the atmosphere. Other parts of the study have also shown promising results for storing CO₂ in limestone reserves.  

- These early studies of CO₂ storage in both sandstone and limestone reserves are very promising and show that we are on the right track with Project Bifrost. Since most of the future empty oil and gas fields in Denmark are limestone-based, this could be the first opening towards storing CO₂ in other parts of the North Sea - and it could potentially be a game changer, says Center Director at DTU Offshore, Morten W. Jeppesen.

Looking for transport options

Project Bifrost is also studying various options for transporting CO₂ to the Harald platform. The project is investigating an offshore concept where a floating unit can temporarily store and prepare the CO₂ before it is sent underground. In addition, the potential of reusing Denmark's existing pipeline infrastructure for transporting CO₂ is being investigated. Preliminary results indicate that both the floating storage option and the pipelines are stable and safe.

- We have analyzed the possibility of reusing our existing gas pipeline infrastructure, and it looks very promising. Right now, we are investigating a concept that connects the existing pipeline with a terminal where CO₂ from various sources can be delivered to, and then transferred from ship to pipeline so that it can be sent to the North Sea. There are clear advantages in reusing existing infrastructure, including cost-effectiveness, sustainable and large-scale transport of CO₂, says Johannes Sand Poulsen, Head of Infrastructure Assets at Ørsted.

With these important findings halfway through the collaboration, the contributors behind Project Bifrost are close to long-term solutions that can be scaled up to multiple CO₂ storage projects in the North Sea, thereby realizing Denmark's CCS (carbon capture and storage) potential. Over time, this could lead to Denmark further developing the prerequisites for becoming a European hub for CO₂ storage, the press release states.  

In the next phase of the study, the contributors to Project Bifrost will mature the transport and storage solutions by further investigating the infrastructure and technologies.    

amp