8. CCS activities
From the reporting year 2022, Footprint has been adapted to also report on drilling activity from CCS wells. These are not defined as petroleum activities, but there are significant similarities with "normal" drilling, and the NEA grants permits for operations based on the same framework. Therefore, an agreement was reached between the operators and the NEA that these well activities will also be reported in Footprint.
Currently, activities are limited but are expected to increase as new storage licences are awarded. In 2023, 3 exploration licences were granted in the North Sea under the CCS storage regulations on the NCS, bringing the total to 7 licences.
In 2023, there was activity related to the preparation of subsea control in the Northern Lights licence (Aurora), with very limited discharges and emissions to sea and air. Some key figures are provided below:
Emissions of chemicals:
- Yellow category 79 tonnes
- Green category 595 tonnes
Emissions to air:
- CO2 emissions 176 tonnes
- NOx emissions 3 tonnes
- nmVOC 0.3 tonnes