How dangerous are CO₂ emissions?

One of the main risk areas for the CCS chain is the risk associated with handling large amounts of CO2.
CO2 differs from hydrocarbons in many ways, and it is important to note that it does not ignite like hydrocarbons. There is therefore no risk of explosion due to ignition. CO2 is not harmful to living organisms in low concentrations. HSE risks are linked to overpressure and leakage of large volumes. Leakage of large volumes with high concentrations of CO2 is harmful to most living organisms and should be avoided. Read more about safe storage of CO₂ here.

The interface between regulatory authorities needed clarification

Experience from the Langskip project showed that the interface between the regulatory authorities, The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) and the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway, needed clarification.

DSB (supervisory authority on land) regulates plant handling of hazardous substances, including pressurized CO₂. The Directorate has given the necessary consents to the industrial partners in Langskip.
The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (offshore supervisory authority) has the regulatory responsibility for safety, working environment, preparedness and safety in the petroleum sector. They have developed new regulations on safety and the working environment when transporting and injecting CO₂ on the continental shelf (the CO₂ safety regulations).

During the planning of the transport and storage infrastructure in Longship, it turned out that it was not clear where DSB’s responsibility stopped and the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway began. Regarding the intermediate storage of CO₂ on land before transport in a pipeline for permanent storage in a reservoir under the seabed, DSB and the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway have generally agreed on the following:

• DSB is the responsible authority for handling CO₂ on land. This applies both at the capture facilities and in the intermediate storage before transport by pipeline.
• The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway is responsible for transport in the pipeline from the export pump upstream. It includes the necessary equipment and piping systems for operation and maintenance of the pipeline, as well as equipment and systems for well monitoring and control, and associated emergency and safety systems in connection with the pipeline and injection well. However, this is an interface that can be complicated for the receiving facilities. There may therefore be a need for concrete assessments of where the interface should go.

This article was written based on the report «Regulatory lessons learned from Longship», which is based on the experiences gained from the Longship project.