Aquaterra Energy has moved into fabrication of its first Recoverable Abandonment Frame (RAF) system for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), marking a key milestone for offshore carbon storage infrastructure in the UK.
The RAF system is designed to address one of the biggest technical challenges facing offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS): the safe management of legacy oil and gas wells that could compromise long-term CO2 storage integrity. The technology supports vertical well re-entry, remediation and permanent abandonment while remaining recoverable and reusable.
Aquaterra said the system could reduce well abandonment costs by up to £20 million ($27 million) per well and cut remediation timelines by as much as 50%, helping accelerate the deployment of offshore CCS projects in mature basins.
The RAF system forms part of Aquaterra’s wider legacy well re-entry and re-abandonment offering and will be deployed as part of the NEP project, which underpins the UK’s East Coast Cluster industrial decarbonisation initiative.
UK-built system targets global CCS market
Fabrication is being carried out by Derrick Services Ltd in Great Yarmouth, with additional components sourced through the UK supply chain. Aquaterra said the project highlights the role of British offshore engineering expertise in supporting large-scale carbon storage developments.
Aquaterra Energy CEO George Morrison said the move into fabrication demonstrates growing momentum behind offshore CCS and the need for technologies that can safely manage historic wells in future storage sites.
NEP Managing Director Rich Denny described the RAF system as an innovative solution for ensuring the long-term integrity of CO2 storage reservoirs.
NEP is one of the UK’s most advanced CCS projects and is expected to support the storage of up to 4 million metric tons of CO2 annually from 2028. The RAF system is planned for deployment on the project’s expansion stores.
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