Case Study – Sleipner CCS Project: Pioneering Industrial-Scale Carbon Capture & Storage in Norway

Client - Norwegian Continental Shelf Operators (led by Equinor, formerly Statoil).

A global benchmark Norwegian carbon reduction initiative for clean gas production and climate impact.

Objective

To comply with natural gas export specifications by:

• Reducing CO₂ concentration in Sleipner West field production from ~9% to ≤2.5%.
• Incorporating atmospheric CO2 emissions mitigation technologies and minimizing environmental impact of Sleipner CCS.
• Demonstrating commercial viability of CCS for large-scale industrial application.
• Supporting Norway’s decarbonization ambitions and global climate leadership.

What We Did

Implemented the world’s first operational industrial scale CCS project analysis system, initiated in 1996:

• Captured CO₂ generated from offshore gas field carbon solutions and gas processing.
• Injected up to 0.9 million tonnes of CO₂ per year into deep geological formations.
• Established a proven model for CCS infrastructure and long-term storage integrity.

How We Did It

Gas Processing & CO₂ Separation
• Used amine-based carbon capture technology advancements located on the Sleipner T (SLT) platform.
• Reduced CO₂ in processed natural gas to ~3 mol% through continuous optimization.

Geological Storage Strategy
• Transported and injected CO₂ into the Utsira Formation, a major deep saline reservoir CO₂ storage site.
• Storage depth: 800–1,000 meters below the seabed ensuring secure long-term containment.

System Optimization Over Time
• Continuous upgrades reduced OPEX and improved gas quality compliance.
• Leakage risk and reservoir integrity monitored through advanced seismic imaging.

Balancing Compliance Mechanisms
• Utilized selective injection or gas blending when excess CO₂ remained above tolerance limits.

Outcome

The Sleipner CCS project has delivered measurable and globally recognized success:

• Over 27 years of safe, uninterrupted long-term CO2 injection.
• Prevented millions of tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.
• Proven geological storage security with no leakage detected.
• Positioned CCS technology as a commercially scalable decarbonization solution.
• Strengthened Norway’s role as a global CCS leader for innovation in carbon capture projects.

The project continues to serve as a reference model for sustainable energy transition in Europe across industries.

Client Actions

Following project success, operators:

• Accelerated CCS development across other North Sea assets.
• Enabled shared infrastructure learnings for future CO₂ storage and transport networks.
• Supported global climate solutions & policy discussions through real-world performance data.
• Contributed to expanding CCS markets in Europe and worldwide.

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