Thursday 22 November , Director of Energy Research in the Directorate General (DG) for Research, Raffaele Liberali, visited the Sleipner platform at the invitation of StatoilHydro, accompanied by, amongst others, Counsellor of Research from the Mission of Norway to the EU, Tore Grønningsæter.
The same day, EU’s strategic technology plan was published, presenting Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as one of the technology initiatives. Friday 30 December, DG Research is announcing funds for 2008; CCS is considered important, and Liberali showed great interest in storing of CO2 under ground as being done in the Utsira formation.
At Sleipner the CO2 content of the gas is reduced from 9 to 2 percent. The separated CO2 is then injected into the Utsira formation. Illustration: http://infotore.com
Wednesday this week Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Åslaug Haga, had a guided tour at Sleipner West, and on Saturday five Brussels based journalists will visit the gas field, accompanied by Counsellor of Information, Rune Bjåstad.
Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy (left) with, amongst others, Platform Manager from StatoilHydro, Helge Smaamo. Photo: Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.
Since 1996, one million tonnes of CO2 has been stored annually in the Utsira formation in connection with the processing of gas from the Sleipner field. The storage of CO2 in the Utsira formation is unique, because this is the only facility in the world with storage of large amounts of CO2 in a geological formation under the seabed.
The Sleipner platform - midway between Norway and the United Kingdom. Photo: Tore Grønningsæter.
Panoramic view of the Sleipner control room. Foto: Tore Grønningsæter.
Walking from one platform to the another: well protected from winds and rain. Photo: Tore Grønningsæter.