Ashtead Technology supports Northern Lights Carbon Capture Storage project17 February 2020

Subsea equipment solutions specialist Ashtead Technology has completed subsea installation monitoring work to support the Northern Lights Carbon Capture Storage project (CCS) in the North Sea.

Developed by Equinor in partnership with Shell and Total, the Northern Lights project is said to be the first of its kind in the region, aiming to securely collect and transmit CO₂ from onshore sources and store this under the seabed.

The project marks the first occasion Ashtead Technology has been involved in a CCS programme; providing a subsea services company with its integrated Deflection Monitoring System (DMS) and associated equipment.

The DMS is a suite of structural monitoring systems to assist offshore construction operations, combining software with modular technology. Using the DMS, Ashtead Technology personnel and equipment successfully monitored the installation of an Integrated Satellite Structure (ISS).

Ashtead Technology’s dual independent DMS systems monitored and analysed parameters, such as structure deflection, heading, pitch, roll and suction. During the placement of the structure, the DMS system was configured for autonomous independent operations, communicating data to one of the installation ROVs.

Allan Pirie, chief executive of Ashtead Technology, says: “Our DMS has a strong track record in greenfield projects for oil and gas operators. It reliably and accurately provides real-time guidance during subsea structure placement work, anticipating any issues as the installation work progresses.

“This is the first time we have used its application in the CCS development market. We are very pleased to have seen this successfully completed and to have played a part in the Norwegian sector’s ambitions towards a zero-carbon future.

“We expect to see an increasing demand for our support services across the blue economy industries as our vast years of experience and range of unique technologies are further recognised for projects across the energy transition.”

The development of the Northern Lights project is made up of several processes. CO₂ from industrial sources in the Oslo fjord area is first captured, then liquified and transported to an onshore terminal on Norway’s west coast. From there, the liquified CO₂ is transferred by pipeline to a subsea offshore permanent storage location in the North Sea.

Adam Offord

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