Allseas has finished laying a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) subsea CO2 pipeline for Porthos, the Netherlands’ pioneering offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) project and the first of its kind at large scale within the European Union (EU).
The Porthos project will channel carbon dioxide emissions from industrial facilities in the Port of Rotterdam to depleted gas reservoirs beneath the North Sea, around 20 kilometers offshore (12.4 miles). Once transported, the CO2 will be injected and stored permanently more than 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) below the seabed.
As the lead offshore contractor, Allseas was responsible for the full installation, burial, and commissioning of the subsea pipeline, linking a future compressor station at the Maasvlakte with the P18-A platform operated by TAQA.
To ensure efficiency and stability, the pipeline is coated with both thermal insulation and a concrete layer for seabed anchoring.
Before construction began, Allseas’ offshore construction vessel Oceanic conducted a survey to identify any unexploded ordnance along the route.
Once cleared, the pipelaying ship Lorelay began installing the 16-inch pipe. Work was temporarily halted in May due to a mechanical issue with onboard tensioning systems, requiring portside inspection and repairs. Installation resumed in July following successful testing.
Relevant: First Drilling Under Seawall Marks Start Of Porthos Project
Now that the pipeline is in place, trenching operations are progressing on schedule. The burial process will secure the pipeline beneath the seabed, protecting it against environmental wear and ensuring long-term reliability.
Following the final investment decision in October 2023, additional project partners have been confirmed: MAN Energy Solutions will supply key compressor systems, KCI will oversee modifications to the P18-A platform for carbon storage operations, and Expro will deliver tubular running services.
Developed by a consortium of EBN, Gasunie, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Porthos is expected to cut CO2 emissions from Rotterdam’s port industry by approximately 10% and help achieve an estimated 17% reduction in industrial emissions across the Netherlands by 2030.
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