Fugro to Support Development of Equinor’s Major European CO2 Highway

17 December 2024

WaveWalker. (Image credit: Fugro)

Fugro is carrying out a comprehensive ground investigation for a ground-breaking new CO2 highway off the coast of Belgium. The contract is part of a 1,000-kilometer-long planned pipeline by Equinor to transport CO2 between mainland Europe and Norway. Bringing large-scale CO2 storage to the European industry, this project could be a game-changer for CO2 transport and storage in northwestern Europe.

With an ambitious target to come on stream in 2030, it’s vital to avoid delays due to poor design based on incorrect and unsuitable Geo-data. Fugro has been chosen to acquire high-quality data that will allow Equinor to calculate ground risk quickly and reduce uncertainty quickly.

WaveWalker, Fugro’s innovative liveaboard jack-up platform, is carrying out the ground investigation. Jack-up barges are ideally suited for projects in shallow waters, making WaveWalker an effective solution for the site’s coastal location in Zeebrugge, Belgium.

WaveWalker can operate in a range of weather conditions, allowing Fugro to mobilize on the project in the winter of 2024 while mitigating schedule and cost risks associated with adverse winter weather operations. Safety and operational efficiency are enhanced by reducing wave interference as the jack-up’s legs are fixed to the seabed, and the need for time-consuming crew changes is eliminated as staff can live aboard.

Prior to the site works, Fugro conducted a search for unexploded ordnance to ensure WaveWalker could be safely deployed and ensure feasibility for the full ground investigation scope. This includes geotechnical borehole drilling, high-quality sampling, and downhole cone penetration tests (CPT). The ground investigation will provide Equinor with insights for the development of the landfall and for deep pipeline burial under the Scheur ship channel, which are vital to ensure the safe and efficient installation of the CO2 pipeline.

This contract award comes off the back of the successful marine geotechnical campaign Fugro completed earlier this year. Two vessels were deployed in August, the first Fugro Galaxy, performing CPT and Vibrocore sampling along the CO2 highway route. Fugro Meridian then took over to complete the deep-water sections.

Matthew Chappell, Regional Nearshore Service Line Director Europe and Africa: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our Fugro teams across Europe to deliver critical data acquisition works for Equinor, especially within the pioneering CCUS sector, which aligns with our mission to help create a safe and livable world.”

The 1,000 km long CO2 pipeline is planned to start from CO2 hubs in Zeebrugge, Belgium, and Dunkirk, France, connected to storage wells at the Norwegian continental shelf. Fugro’s geotechnical work is part of the maturation of the project before a potential investment decision is made.