Norwegian energy giant Equinor is moving one step closer to realizing its vision for large-scale carbon storage in the North Sea, thanks to promising results from two recently drilled test wells.
The wells, part of Equinor’s Low Carbon Solutions division, suggest the underground rock formations could be ideal for safely storing carbon dioxide emissions, according to an announcement by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate.
A Big Step for “Smeaheia” Project
The drilling operation, carried out about 70 kilometers offshore from Bergen and 20 kilometers east of the Troll A platform, targeted a site earmarked by Equinor for the Smeaheia carbon storage project. Using the DeepSea Stavanger rig, the company drilled two wells—designated 32/7-1 and 32/4-4—in areas referred to as Gamma and Alpha, respectively.
These wells are part of exploration license EXL 002, which was granted in mid-2022. They mark Equinor’s second and third attempts to assess the feasibility of long-term carbon storage beneath the Norwegian seabed.
What the Tests Found
Each well reached depths of nearly two kilometers below the sea floor, cutting through layers of shale and sandstone. These underground rock layers act as both reservoirs to hold the CO2 and as “cap rocks” that seal it in.
- In both wells, key sandstone formations showed strong potential for storing CO2, with good to very good porosity and permeability.
- Multiple layers of dense shale above these reservoirs were found to be intact, which is critical for keeping the gas sealed underground.
- Preliminary injection tests—where water or gas is pushed into the rock to test its capacity—returned positive results.
The deeper rock layers did show signs of pressure depletion, especially in the Sognefjord formation, which could influence how much CO2 the site can hold over time.
Next Steps: Data Crunching Before Decisions
Equinor collected a vast amount of geological data and physical samples from both sites, including results from eight injection tests. This data will now be analyzed in-depth to help the company decide how to move forward with the full-scale Smeaheia project, which is part of Norway’s broader push to become a leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The wells have since been sealed and permanently closed, but their findings could lay the groundwork for one of Europe’s most advanced climate tech projects that can provide storage for carbon captured from projects in the UK and Europe.
Read more: Norway Awards Equinor, Harbour Energy and Aker BP New CO2 Storage Permits
