Oil Rigs Could Pump Emissions Below North Sea

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North Sea oil and gas rigs could be modified to pump vast quantities of carbon dioxide emissions into rocks below the seabed, research shows.

North Sea oil and gas rigs could be modified to pump vast quantities of carbon dioxide emissions into rocks below the seabed, research shows.

Refitting old platforms to act as pumping stations for self-contained CO2 storage sites would be 10 times cheaper than decommissioning the structures, researchers say.

The sites would store emissions generated by natural gas production, and could also be used to lock away CO2 produced by other sources – such as power stations – helping to combat climate change.

Offshore sites

Edinburgh researchers analysed data from the Beatrice oilfield – 15 miles off the north east coast of Scotland. They found that existing platforms could be re-used as storage sites by making minor modifications.

Read more at University of Edinburgh

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