Bumi Armada carbon storage and injection vessel gets class nod

The Malaysian oilfield services company’s carbon storage unit concept is a floating terminal capable of storing and injecting liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) into depleted oil and gas fields or aquifers. 

The design incorporates the ability to accept LCO2 deliveries in an offshore setting, the flexibility to manage liquefied CO2 at low or medium pressure, the provision of LCO2 buffer storage and the preparation of the same for permanent sequestration deep beneath the seabed.

The FCSIU can receive LCO2 from various sources, such as electricity generation, manufacturing and construction, offering a new solution for reducing CO2 emissions from these industries.

ABS said the AiP is applicable to either a newbuild or a converted carrier, with smaller tanks to optimise the cargo space layout.

ABS president and chief operating officer John McDonald commented, “Carbon capture and reinjection in depleted fields is a promising technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and it is likely that this process will become more widespread and play an increasingly important role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.” 

Bumi Armada chief executive Gary Christenson said, “We are excited to bring sustainable and scalable solutions to reduce carbon emissions, which is also in line with Bumi Armada’s recently launched decarbonisation agenda to achieve net zero by 2050. This solution is a testament to our strong commitment towards providing the best decarbonisation solutions globally.”

In June, Bumi Armada formed Bluestreak CO2, a joint venture with UK firm Navigator Holdings. Bluestreak will design and implement a chain of shuttle tankers delivering to a floating carbon storage and injection unit, targeting emitters who have no access to pipeline infrastructure. This market is estimated at having the potential to cover more than 30M tonnes of CO2 per annum in the UK alone.