DNV has issued a Statement of Feasibility for a proposal by Aker BP and Höegh Evi to carry liquefied CO2 offshore by shuttle carrier and inject it directly into subsea wells for permanent storage at the Atlas project off Norway.
The classification society’s assessment concludes the technical concept is practicable in principle, addressing the transfer of liquefied carbon dioxide from shuttle vessels to subsea injection systems and the subsequent emplacement in subsea wells for long-term storage. MarineLink reported the finding, noting DNV’s formal feasibility statement.
The concept under evaluation calls for shuttle carriers to transport liquefied CO2 to a subsea injection location and couple with a system that would inject the fluid directly into existing or purpose-drilled subsea wells at the Atlas project. The arrangement would remove the need for topside injection facilities and aims to provide a simplified logistics chain between capture point and storage site.
DNV’s role and assessment
DNV examined whether the system elements, including maritime handling, transfer interfaces and subsea injection operations, could function together safely and reliably in an offshore setting. The Statement of Feasibility reflects an engineering appraisal that the proposal, as conceived, meets the threshold for further technical development rather than a final design endorsement.
The society’s finding is an interim step commonly used to identify technical risks and the scope of additional work required before detailed engineering and regulatory approvals. It therefore sets the stage for follow-on studies to address operational procedures, integrity of subsea equipment and long-term monitoring of stored CO2.
The Atlas project context and storage intent
The concept is intended for the Atlas project offshore Norway, where the objective is to store captured CO2 permanently beneath the seabed. The proposal’s emphasis on direct subsea injection targets an integrated route from ship-to-well intended to reduce complexity on surface facilities and potentially lower some cost and scheduling barriers.
Permanent storage entails ensuring injectivity, containment and monitoring programmes meet the regulatory and technical standards applicable to geological disposal of CO2. DNV’s feasibility statement does not itself approve those wider regulatory or environmental requirements but flags the engineering areas that will require robust verification.
Industry implications and next steps
With DNV’s feasibility statement in hand, Aker BP and Höegh Evi will be able to progress more detailed engineering work and risk assessments necessary for project permitting and contractor selection. The assessment is likely to inform subsequent design choices for shuttle carriers, transfer connectors and subsea injection equipment, as well as the operational protocols that will govern ship-to-subsea transfers.
Further work will need to consider site-specific factors at Atlas, including well integrity, reservoir characteristics and the monitoring regime required to demonstrate long-term containment. The Statement of Feasibility is not a substitute for those studies but it is a decisive early milestone that supports continued development of the concept.
Regulatory and operational considerations
Any move toward operationalising ship-to-subsea injection would require collaboration with regulators, operators of the Atlas field infrastructure and companies responsible for capture and shipping. These parties must satisfy Norwegian regulatory frameworks for offshore CO2 storage and the associated health, safety and environmental regimes.
Operational protocols will have to cover emergency preparedness, containment of releases during transfer operations and verification of subsea equipment performance under expected environmental loads. DNV’s statement highlights that while the technical architecture appears achievable, confirmed operational procedures and regulatory approvals remain necessary before deployment.
What the feasibility statement means for offshore carbon management
The assessment by a major classification and verification body marks a tangible step in exploring alternative logistics for carbon dioxide transport and storage. By focusing on a ship-to-subsea injection route, the owners aim to broaden options for connecting capture sites to suitable storage reservoirs, particularly where existing surface infrastructure is constrained.
DNV’s finding does not close out technical questions but signals sufficient confidence to justify investment in detailed design, testing and regulatory engagement. The outcome will be watched by developers and regulators as a possible model for future offshore CO2 handling and storage projects.
Source material: MarineLink Maritime News reported the issuance of DNV’s Statement of Feasibility concerning the Aker BP and Höegh Evi ship-to-subsea CO2 injection concept for the Atlas project offshore Norway.