Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (LBCCS) has extensive experience designing, building, and operating safe and effective high-pressure gas pipelines and it will use this expertise to develop the Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Development to the highest safety standards.
The UK is home to a range of high-hazard industries and has developed a world-class safety regulatory regime. The UK government regulates all CCS project, its infrastructure and its operation. LBCCS is actively engaging with the UK Health and Safety Executive (the UK Safety Regulator, including for spur pipelines), ensuring that the pipeline and its operation are compliant with all relevant regulations and associated guidance.
LBCCS will carefully monitor the Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, throughout all the operation phases, CO₂ transportation, injection and safe containment within the reservoir, using state of the art techniques.
Carbon dioxide storage
Gas has remained safely trapped in geological structures such as sandstone reservoirs, like the ones in Liverpool Bay, for millions of years. These reservoirs are deep below the surface of the seabed (see diagram). The Liverpool Bay CO₂ store will be up to 1km below the seabed and approximately 20 miles offshore. Hundreds of metres of shale lie over the top of these sandstone reservoirs, making an impermeable layer which traps the gas in place. The CO₂ will be stored in the same way as the original natural gas and will remain safely contained in the sandstone reservoirs.
Safety standards
The design, operation and maintenance of the pipeline system will comply with well-established codes and standards, the applicable UK Regulations (including the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996) and industry best practices. Together with detailed safety assessments, and operational and integrity management systems, these will ensure the potential for any leakage of CO₂ is minimised and as low as reasonably practicable.
Monitoring and maintenance of the proposed spur pipeline will be regularly performed. The proposed spur pipeline network will be fitted with leak detection systems with early warning and remote identification ensuring that it can be safely managed in the event of any leakage. CO₂ point gas detectors will also be installed externally at the Padeswood AGI.
Long-term monitoring
To ensure the safety of the offshore storage under Liverpool Bay, a programme of monitoring, measurement and evaluation will assess the behaviour and integrity of the CO₂ throughout the planned 25-year life span.
Following this, a ‘post-closure’ phase of works will take place to end the injection of CO₂ into the reservoir and ensure that it remains permanently enclosed within it. The post-injection monitoring period performed by the licence operator will be in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and is not a subject of negotiation.