NSTA: Pipeline studies will help carbon storage industry

Penspen’s report (Industry Report - Capability Gap Analysis for Newbuild Offshore CO2 Pipeline Transportation Systems - Penspen)?looks into?the properties of new-build pipelines.?The wide-ranging study?looks at?topics including?contaminant?management,?fracture control,?long-distance subsea tiebacks, metering,?and flow modelling?and concludes that there are no significant?hardware blockers.?There is however?limited?whole system?experience?of?large-scale?offshore?CO₂?pipelines?around?the world.??

Therefore,?there is significant reliance on hydrocarbon pipeline experience,?supported by modelling and testing,?rather than proven CCS systems in making design assumptions.?

As a result, the detailed requirements for CCS?pipeline systems – including for factors such as?system integration, validation, and alignment across technical,?commercial?and regulatory interfaces?-?require resolution.????

Addressing these areas will be critical to?establishing?industry best practice and enabling the successful large-scale?deployment of?new?CCS infrastructure in the UK.??

The second report?(Offshore carbon dioxide pipeline repurposing), produced by?DNV,?looks at?the potential repurposing of existing offshore hydrocarbon pipelines and associated equipment for CO2?transportation.?It?focuses on?what factors must be?taken into account?when considering?the case for?repurposing?and?includes?a methodology?for repurposing evaluations and two case studies to illustrate its?application.???

After considering?key criteria?the report?concludes:??

• Repurposing offshore?hydrocarbon?infrastructure is technically?feasible?and cost efficient compared to new build.
• The condition of?existing infrastructure must be assessed and found to be sufficient for the proposed new service.
• Running ductile fracture, a phenomenon relevant to dense phase CO₂?pipelines,?is a key factor in?determining?repurposing suitability.
• Pipelines can?generally be?repurposed; some for dense phase operation, others for gas phase. If neither?is?feasible, a new pipeline is?required.??

Ernie?Lamza, NSTA?Technology?Manager,?said: “The NSTA is committed to supporting the growing carbon storage industry?and?this work is?intended to help licensees, potential?licensees?and the supply chain in a critical part of their business.??

“These reports, produced by?external consultants,?and freely available from them,?will help?existing and future developers?look at the potential for?repurposing?existing pipelines and?installing?new infrastructure.”??

Nigel Curson, Executive Vice President – Technical Excellence,?Penspen, said: “Carbon?capture and?storage?represents?one of the UK's most significant opportunities in the energy transition, allowing the country to build on decades of world-class oil and gas engineering?expertise.??

“Penspen?is delighted to have delivered this study, which?identifies?the key actions needed to support the safe,?efficient?and successful large-scale deployment of new CO2 transportation infrastructure.”?

Hari Vamadevan, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, UK and Ireland, Energy Systems at DNV,?said: “As the UK scales up its CCUS industry, the reuse of offshore hydrocarbon pipelines presents a significant opportunity to accelerate deployment while making the most of existing assets.??

"DNV is proud to have supported the NSTA in advancing understanding of this opportunity, which has the potential to unlock economic value, reduce capital expenditure and shorten project timelines for emerging CCUS?value chains.”?

The?new studies?follow a raft of?information the NSTA has produced for the carbon storage industry. Guidance on?the safe,?effective?and transparent delivery of carbon storage?projects was?published on?16 July 2026 (NSTA support for carbon storage industry)?and a first set of?stewardship expectations?were provided?in?September 2025.??

The UK’s second?carbon storage licensing round?was launched in?December 2025?and the?bids?received in?March 2026, are now being?evaluated.???

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/offshore-and-subsea/03082026/nsta-pipeline-studies-will-help-carbon-storage-industry/