31 March 2025

From gas production to CO₂-storage: a new destination for offshore infrastructure

TAQA Energy B.V’s P18-A gas production platform and its associated wells and gas fields under the Dutch North Sea will soon be given a new purpose.

Gas production on the P18-A platform ceased as of 26 March. Preparations will soon begin to convert the platform and its wells for the safe, permanent storage of CO₂ beneath the seabed. Currently owned by TAQA, the platform, wells, and associated fields are scheduled to be transferred to Porthos later this year.

René Zwanepol, Managing Director of TAQA says: “TAQA has produced 17 billion m³ of gas from these fields since the start in 1993 and contributed to an affordable and reliable supply of gas for industries, businesses and communities. We are pleased that the infrastructure will now be given a new purpose that will benefit the energy transition in the Netherlands. Reuse is smarter and cheaper than building new platforms, wells and other facilities.”

The Porthos project is the first CO₂-transport and storage project in the EU. CO₂ from industry in the Port of Rotterdam will be transported via an underground pipeline and permanently stored under the North Sea.  This project will contribute to meet the Netherlands’ climate change targets. “For Porthos, the conversion of P18-block is the beginning of a new phase in the construction of the CO₂ storage infrastructure,” said Hans Meeuwsen, Project Director of Porthos: “Not only will the platform be given a new function, but it will also be made more sustainable with solar panels and wind turbines. The conversion of the platform is expected to be completed by the end of this year.”

Porthos will store around 37 million tonnes of CO₂, which is about 2.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year for 15 years. The system is scheduled to be operational from 2026.