Fugro has been awarded a contract by Saipem to deliver integrated marine survey and inspection services for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP). This is the UK’s first CO2 transportation and storage infrastructure project.
Saipem is leading the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the offshore pipeline and associated infrastructure for NEP, an incorporated joint venture between BP, Equinor and TotalEnergies.
With access to up to one billion tonnes of CO2 storage capacity beneath the North Sea, the programme aims to decarbonise some of the UK’s most carbon-intensive industrial regions. Once operational, the infrastructure will play a key role in reducing emissions while supporting ongoing industrial activity and strengthening regional energy security.
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Surveys and inspections
Fugro will deliver nearshore and offshore survey and inspection operations to support pipeline installation, from landfall through to connection with existing offshore infrastructure. Nearshore works will focus on pre-lay surveys from the tunnel exit, extending several kilometres offshore, along with installation monitoring as the pipeline is pulled out to sea to confirm it is being laid as designed and to identify any unexpected seabed changes early.
Further offshore, Fugro will provide surveys, installation support and verification along the pipeline route, including at third-party pipeline and cable crossings. This source-to-seabed approach provides Saipem with consistent, reliable Geo-data along the entire route, helping reduce installation risk and support efficient project delivery.
‘As the UK’s first major carbon capture and storage project, NEP’s work marks an important milestone for the energy transition, and we’re thrilled to be part of it,’ says Mike Duncan, Fugro’s Director of Marine Asset Integrity in Europe and Africa. ‘By working closely with Saipem across nearshore and offshore environments, from early surveys through to installation, we support informed decision‑making that helps Saipem manage risk across a technically complex route.’
Picture: Fugro deploying an FCV 3000, a work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) designed to capture and deliver accurate subsea data fast and safely (photo by Fugro).
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