Norwegian trio targeting the Trudvang project aims to pioneer ‘direct offshore batch injection’ technology using unmanned platforms and LCO2 carriers
Aker Solutions, Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC), and Vår Energi CCS have agreed to jointly mature the concept for an integrated CO2 transportation and storage value chain on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS)
Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU), the parties aim to develop flexible and commercially attractive CO2 transport and storage solutions for European industrial customers.
Centred on the Trudvang project, the MoU seeks to advance “direct offshore batch injection”, which will use KNCC’s liquefied CO2 (LCO) carriers, equipped with dynamic positioning systems, to offload directly into an unmanned CO2 injection platform. Aker Solutions will provide the techno-economic expertise and standardised engineering solutions required to mature the interface between these vessels and the offshore receiving facilities.
The direct offshore batch injection concept is designed to be both scalable and replicable, enabling initial injection volumes of around 2M tonnes per annum (mtpa), with the potential to increase capacity to more than 20 mtpa.
Trudvang will inject CO2 into the Utsira Formation storage site, the same reservoir used by the pioneering Sleipner carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.
Drawing on nearly 30 years of operational data from Sleipner, the Trudvang project benefits from a proven track record of safe storage in the Utsira aquifer, reinforcing its position as a reliable solution for long-term industrial sequestration.
Under the MoU, the parties will jointly optimise the project’s technical and commercial framework. Key focus areas include engaging with customers and regulators to build market confidence, and developing transport options across medium-pressure (MP) and elevated-pressure (EP) modes. The collaboration will also focus on optimising unmanned platforms and subsea designs to reduce costs and environmental impact, while refining offshore injection interfaces to ensure safe operations in the North Sea environment.
Trudvang holds the EXL007 CO2 storage licence on the NCS, awarded by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in September 2023. The Trudvang licence is located in the Norwegian North Sea, east of the Sleipner field and approximately 165 km from the Norwegian coast.
At the time of signing the MoU, the project is owned by Vår Energi CCS AS (40%), INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS (30%), and Storegga Norge AS (30%). Together, the parties aim to establish Trudvang as a primary gateway for managing European industrial emissions.
