HyNet carbon dioxide transportation and storage project - Offshore

Introduction

The HyNet Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Storage project - Offshore (Proposed Development) forms part of the wider HyNet Project and is focussed on Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Storage (T&S) offshore in Liverpool Bay. The objectives of HyNet are to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industry and support economic growth in the North West of England and North Wales.

The offshore T&S proposed development involves the repurposing of the existing offshore natural gas import pipeline from Point of Ayr (PoA) Gas Terminal to become an export pipeline to transport CO₂ to a newly constructed Douglas Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) platform, and onwards to the Hamilton Main, Hamilton North, and Lennox platforms for injection into the depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

Proposed activities

The Proposed Development is located entirely within the 12 nm limit of both Welsh and English territorial waters and will include:

• installation of a new Douglas CCS platform to replace the existing Douglas Process platform to receive CO₂ from the onshore PoA Terminal and distribute CO₂ to the Hamilton Main, Hamilton North, and Lennox wellhead platforms.
• utilisation of the existing Hamilton Main, Hamilton North, and Lennox reservoirs for the injection of 109 Mt of CO₂ for permanent geological storage.
• drilling and re-completion of injection and monitoring wells by side-tracking existing production wells.
• installation of new sections of pipeline to connect the new Douglas CCS platform and the existing subsea natural gas pipelines.
• installation of new platform topsides on the Hamilton Main, Hamilton North, and Lennox wellhead platforms.
• installation of two submarine 33kV power cables, with integrated fibre-optic cable connections from PoA Terminal onshore to the modified Douglas platform, and onward connections to the three satellite platforms; Hamilton Main, Hamilton North, and Lennox.
• monitoring and management of the Liverpool Bay CSS storage sites during and after CO₂ injection in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The Proposed Development infrastructure will be located within the ‘Eni development area’ defined by both the Licence area (CS004), and the existing pipeline and cable corridor connecting the Point of Ayr Terminal to Douglas Offshore Platform (up to Mean High Water Springs (MHWS)), as shown by the red line in the diagram. The corridor approach to shore is located to the north of Talacre in Flintshire, Wales, near the mouth of the Dee Estuary. Within the Eni Development Area, the diagram also shows a black, dotted, and dashed line, which identifies the ‘area of project physical works’. It is within this area that the works required for the Proposed Development will be carried out. Storage of CO₂ will be within the depleted Hamilton North, Hamilton, and Lennox oil and gas reservoirs shown as orange areas in the diagram. The Douglas reservoir is also shown but will not be part of the storage site.

Project stage

To gain consent to install and operate the Proposed Development, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (the Applicant) has submitted a Carbon Storage Permit application to the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) in January 2024 and the supporting Environmental Statement (ES) submitted to OPRED. A Marine Licence application has also been submitted to Natural Resources Wales for the elements of the Proposed Development located in Welsh Waters.

The Proposed Development is currently in its public consultation and determination phase, where OPRED and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are engaging with stakeholders and statutory consultees. Questions raised during this consultation and determination period will be addressed by the Applicant to enable decisions to be made on the relevant consents and licences.

The permit and licence applications

Carbon Storage Permit application: The Proposed Development has been subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process under the 2020 EIA Regulations. Further information on the EIA and the decision status can be accessed by selecting the relevant link (ES-2022-009) on the OPRED website as follows: EIA Submissions and Decisions - 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Environmental Statement prepared by the Applicant for the Carbon Storage Permit application can be found here: Carbon Storage Permit ES.

Representations, comments, or questions relating to the project may be made to the Secretary of State by 30/04/2024. All representations should quote reference number ES/2022/009 and may be made by letter or by email to: Business Support Team, Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment & Decommissioning, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, AB1 Building, Crimon Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1BJ or OPRED@Energysecurity.gov.uk.

Marine Licence Application: The Proposed Development has been subject to an EIA process under the 2020 EIA Regulations. Further information on the EIA and the decision status can be accessed by selecting the relevant link (CML2365) on the NRW Public Register as follows: Natural Resources Wales / Public register: environmental permitting, water resources and marine licensing information.

The Environmental Statement prepared by the Applicant for the Marine Licence application can be found here: Marine Licence Application ES

Please note: The content of Volume 1 and 2 of both Environmental Statements is very similar. Volume 3 differs only that the version for the Marine Licence application contains additional appendices.