Petrofac to support CCS and hydrogen project in UK

Petrofac’s Engineering and Production Services (EPS) business has been awarded an engineering and project management office support contract for the Acorn project in the UK.

Petrofac said on Wednesday that EPS will provide Project Management systems and technical support during the front end engineering design for Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and the concept select for Acorn Hydrogen, both part of developments planned at the St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

Acorn CCS is Pale Blue Dot’s flagship project designed to take advantage of existing oil and gas infrastructure and a well understood offshore CO2 storage site.

Petrofac has been supporting renewable energy projects since 2008 and is actively expanding its renewable energy portfolio, with a focus on CCS, offshore wind, and concentrated solar power.

Acorn CCS holds the first UK CO2 appraisal and storage licence awarded by the Oil and Gas Authority and is looking to establish CO2 mitigation infrastructure essential for meeting the Scottish and UK Government Net Zero targets.

Through the Acorn Hydrogen project, North Sea natural gas would be reformed into clean hydrogen, with CO2 emissions safely mitigated through the Acorn CCS infrastructure.

Hydrogen would be used in transport applications, and in the gas grid to decarbonise heating in homes and industries.

Commenting on the award EPS Chief Operating Officer, and Petrofac’s global Corporate Development Officer, John Pearson, said: “The Acorn project represents an exciting shift in the North East’s energy dynamic and an important catalyst for sustainable energy growth generally.

“Like our existing wind portfolio, CCS and hydrogen require the sophisticated engineering and project management skills that we have developed in oil and gas.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to deploy this expertise, alongside our proven systems and technologies, in support of Pale Blue Dot Energy and its landmark project”.

Ian Phillips, Acorn Project Director, said: “Pale Blue Dot is pleased to be in a position to appoint Petrofac – a partner with much of its history rooted in Aberdeenshire – to support the next critical phase of the Acorn project. Petrofac’s appointment represents another key milestone for Acorn, which is on track to establish critical low carbon energy and CCS infrastructure in the mid-2020s”.