Project status
Publication of VenP
Scheduled for 22 May 2026
Application for storage permit
Scheduled for Q1 2027
Publication of draft NRD
Scheduled for autumn 2026
Final investment decision
2029
Location
Between 1982 and 2022, Petrogas (and its legal predecessors) produced oil in the Q1 block of the North Sea. This took place, among other locations, in the Helm and Helder fields. These fields are located approximately 40 kilometres west of Den Helder and have since been depleted and decommissioned.
During the decommissioning of these fields, the pipeline was retained. This pipeline runs from the Amerikahaven in Amsterdam via IJmuiden and the North Sea Canal to the Helm field in the North Sea. The pipeline is currently temporarily out of service but can be brought back into operation with limited modifications.
One of the aspects involves the installation of compression facilities for the CO₂ storage. The choice of location of such compression is further elaborated in the VenP publication, which outlines the three options shown in the adjacent figure.
Safety and environment
A key condition for the realization of the Abeona project is that it can be carried out safely and responsibly. Studies and comparable projects in the Netherlands and abroad show that CO₂ storage in these and similar fields is technically feasible and involves minimal risk. The project draws on existing knowledge and experience in offshore operations, industrial safety, project development, execution, subsurface expertise, and infrastructure.
The project consists of two components: redeveloping the depleted oil fields Helm and Helder into a single CO₂ storage site and repurposing the abandoned oil pipeline leading to it. Storage will take place in depleted oil fields beneath the North Sea. These fields are geologically stable and are considered safe.
CO₂ will be injected in accordance with international standards and actively monitored during and after injection. The pipeline has also been in stable, incident-free operation for decades.
By reusing existing infrastructure, the ecological footprint of the project remains limited. Temporary works will be carried out to construct or modify the potential compressor station, a maintenance facility, and several connection points. These activities will take place in the port area and along sections of the existing pipeline.
Nature-inclusive construction and stakeholder engagement are key principles. The surrounding community and other stakeholders will therefore be actively involved in the realization of the project.
About the project initiator
Abeona CCS Storage B.V. is part of the Petrogas Group. In the Netherlands, the group operates as an operator of gas fields in the North Sea through Petrogas E&P Netherlands B.V. Petrogas has been active in offshore oil and gas production in the Netherlands for more than forty years. Abeona Storage is a newly established entity with the purpose of developing the Abeona project.