New Technical Report Explores the Future of CO₂ transport for UK CCS

Penspen has today (Thursday, July 30) published a report commissioned by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) into the challenges posed by transporting carbon dioxide through offshore pipelines.

Penspen’s wide-ranging study looks into the properties of new-build pipelines, considering topics including contaminant management, fracture control, long-distance subsea tiebacks, metering, and flow modelling and concludes that there are no significant hardware blockers. There is however limited whole system experience of large-scale offshore CO₂ pipelines around the world.

Therefore, there is significant reliance on hydrocarbon pipeline experience, supported by modelling and testing, rather than proven CCS systems in making design assumptions.

And, as a result, the detailed requirements for CCS pipeline systems – including for factors such as system integration, validation, and alignment across technical, commercial and regulatory interfaces – require resolution.

Addressing these areas will be critical to establishing industry best practice and enabling the successful large-scale deployment of new CCS infrastructure in the UK.

Nigel Curson, Executive Vice-President – Technical Excellence at Penspen, said: “Carbon Capture and Storage represents one of the UK’s most significant opportunities in the energy transition, allowing the country to build on decades of world-class oil and gas engineering expertise. Penspen is delighted to have delivered this study, which identifies the key actions needed to support the safe, efficient and successful large-scale deployment of new CO₂ transportation infrastructure.”

A second report also launched today by DNV, looks at the potential repurposing of existing offshore hydrocarbon pipelines and associated equipment for CO₂ transportation.

Ernie Lamza, NSTA Technology Manager, said: “The NSTA is committed to supporting the growing carbon storage industry and this work is intended to help licensees, potential licensees and the supply chain in a critical part of their business. 

“These reports, produced by external consultants, and freely available from them, will help existing and future developers look at the potential for repurposing existing pipelines and installing new infrastructure.”

The new studies follow a raft of information the NSTA has produced for the carbon storage industry. Guidance on the safe, effective and transparent delivery of carbon storage projects was published on 16 July 2026 (NSTA support for carbon storage industry)and a first set of stewardship expectations were provided in September 2025.

The UK’s second carbon storage licensing round was launched in December 2025 and the bids received in March 2026, are now being evaluated.