Draeger Marine & Offshore (DMO) has supplied equipment to support the UK’s first carbon dioxide (CO2) injection test for carbon capture and storage (CCS). The gas monitoring equipment is being used to ensure safe operations aboard Petrodec’s ERDA rig during its trailblazing project in the North Sea.
Draeger’s X-zone gas detection technology
Perenco recently announced the completion of the tests at the depleted Leman natural gas reservoir in the Southern North Sea using Petrodec’s ERDA rig, the first rig in the UK to have achieved an approved safety case for supporting CCS operations.
As well as marking a major milestone for the wider Poseidon CCS project, a joint venture between Perenco UK, Carbon Catalyst Ltd, and Harbour Energy, it is the first time that CO2 has been injected for carbon storage in the UK.
For this innovative and challenging project, DMO, which is headquartered in Rotterdam with a sister facility in Aberdeen, delivered gas detectors that were used to monitor CO2 on deck during transport and transfer.
That includes the Dräger X-zone, which was used for extensive area gas monitoring, which can fence line up to 25 devices and measure up to six gases.
“At Draeger Marine & Offshore we are proud to have supported the Poseidon joint venture partners in this landmark project for the UK’s burgeoning CCS industry,” said Jesper de Jong, Sales Manager DMO. “Petrodec is well aware of the risks of CO2 expose to workers and has been cognizant to take relevant precautions to prevent incidents and workers from the project’s outset.
“By deploying our advanced gas detection solutions, including the Dräger X-zone for extensive area monitoring and the Dräger X-am 5000 for reliable personal gas monitoring, we have helped to ensure a safe environment throughout this innovative CO2 injection test.
“Our commitment to state‐of‐the‐art safety technology is reflected in every facet of our work, from continuous on-deck gas monitoring to providing up to 15 minutes of lifesaving air with the Dräger Saver CF15 in emergency situations,” de Jong continued. “This successful collaboration demonstrates that with the right tools, legacy infrastructure can be effectively adapted to drive the future of sustainable, safe energy.”
Exposure to CO2 can pose serious health and safety hazards. A common misconception is that it presents only an asphyxiation risk, however CO2 reaches toxic levels long before it has displaced enough oxygen to present such a hazard.
This means that the protection of workers from the risks of CO2 leaks is of the upmost importance, particularly while the industry is maturing and gaining understanding of the injection process.
A total of 15 injection cycles were performed into the Leman gas field across the test phase, mobilizing 11 CO2 offshore batch refills. Perenco said the operational program was performed in a timely and safe manner, without injection issues and with the acquisition of an exceptional dataset.
As well as proving the viability of carbon storage in the Southern North Sea, these tests also underscored the potential for the industry to widely reuse oil and gas infrastructure to deliver cost effective CCS projects.
