Sustainable Energy Future
Preparing for the emerging offshore CCS market
Noble is at the forefront of advancing offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS), a critical component of a lower-carbon future.
In the coming decades, offshore CCS is expected to store 25-50% of the millions of tons of CO₂ captured from industrial sites. Noble is preparing to be the first-choice provider of safe, cost-effective and scalable operations in offshore carbon storage reservoirs.
We are a partner in multiple research and development projects advancing the technology and operational capabilities needed to safely inject industrial-scale volumes of CO₂ into offshore reservoirs. We are applying our learnings – along with our technology acumen and innovation capacity – to work toward industry standards for equipment and rigs to serve the emerging market for offshore CCS.
Planning for industry standard certification
As a participant in the Project Greensand consortium, Noble played a key role in the world’s first cross-border CO₂ value chain for offshore storage. Our Noble Resolve jackup rig was deployed for the first injection of CO₂, which was captured shoreside, transported across national borders, and injected offshore Denmark at the Nini platform. We have an exclusive first right to all drilling work involved in Project Greensand until the end of 2027.
Building on expertise gained through Project Greensand, Noble launched the industry’s first CO₂ rig technology qualification program in collaboration with DNV and BP. This initiative focuses on developing a CCS-enabled rig design for drilling and workover operations in CO₂-rich environments. The initial phase of the program, completed in 2023, included a full technology assessment, risk analysis, and equipment testing to address the unique challenges posed by CO₂ in well control events.
Through this work, Noble established key design enhancements, including:
These findings form the foundation of the CO₂-certified rig project, which continues to align operators, OEMs, and regulators around the technical solutions necessary to enable safe and efficient CO₂ drilling operations.
In June 2024, together with DNV and Endeavor Technologies, Noble conducted a CO₂ well drilling simulation to model the challenges of supercritical CO₂ downhole in various well control scenarios. The simulation was designed to help drillers, operators and others begin to plan for industry standard certification for CO₂-enabled drilling rigs.
Electrical CO₂ Enabler is a crucial system to enable an offshore drilling unit to safely handle and operate in high purity CO₂ charged reservoirs.
To continue building on our offshore CCS knowledge, Noble joined the Project Green Light R&D initiative developing the first well control software designed specifically for CO₂ drilling operations. Led by eDrilling, the project aims to enhance drilling safety by simulating dynamic well control scenarios and mitigating risks where CO₂ plumes may interfere with well construction. Noble contributes operational expertise to this effort, reinforcing its focus on enabling safe and scalable offshore carbon storage.
Additionally, in 2025 Noble will participate in drilling a research well at the Petroleum Engineering Research, Training and Testing Lab at the Louisiana State University (LSU). This well will be used to study how CO₂ behaves throughout the wellbore as it transitions between different phases, while also providing a controlled environment to test materials and equipment under high-CO₂ conditions.
As a participant in the Project Greensand consortium, the Noble Resolve jackup rig was deployed for the first injection of CO₂. The CO₂ was captured shoreside, transported across national borders, and injected offshore at Denmark’s Nini platform.
“Our dedication to innovation and safety in CO₂ drilling operations is unwavering. By developing and implementing advanced technologies, we are not only setting new industry standards but also paving the way for a sustainable future in offshore carbon storage.”
Jens Hedegaard Senior Manager Low Carbon Solutions, Noble
Looking ahead, Noble has identified several near-term North Sea CCS projects that align with its jackup fleet, requiring extensive CO₂ injection well drilling and legacy well workovers before 2030. Offshore CCS projects are also expanding in the U.S. Gulf Coast, South-east, and Mid-Atlantic regions, offering additional opportunities to apply Noble’s expertise.
By leveraging existing assets and experience, we believe Noble is well positioned to support the growth of the offshore CCS market, aligning with its decarbonization strategy and dedication to enabling a more Sustainable Energy Future.
Noble 2024 Sustainability Report
For a deeper dive, explore the full PDF report with more extensive insights and details.
