# DNV confirms feasibility of ship-based CO₂ injection concept for Atlas

- **Source:** https://pelavox.com/dnv-confirms-feasibility-of-ship-based-co%e2%82%82-injection-concept-for-atlas/
- **Publisher:** pelavox. (The voice of shipping)
- **Author:** Helena Pierce
- **Published:** 2026-10-30T07:00:00+00:00
- **Updated:** 2026-10-29T10:25:20+00:00
- **Section:** Shipping / Gas Shipping
- **Type:** News
- **Topics:** Aker BP, Atlas Project, Carbon Capture and Storage, CO₂ Shipping, DNV, Höegh Evi, Maritime Decarbonisation, Norwegian Continental Shelf, Offshore Injection, ORLEN

DNV has issued a Statement of Feasibility for a ship-based carbon dioxide transport and offshore injection concept being developed by Aker BP and Höegh Evi for the Atlas carbon storage project on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The concept involves transporting liquefied CO₂ aboard specialised shuttle carriers and injecting it directly into subsea storage wells. The proposed arrangement would eliminate the need for new onshore facilities, cross-border pipelines and permanent offshore structures along the transport and injection route, while retaining pipeline transportation as a possible future option.

DNV’s assessment examined the offshore infrastructure required to transfer CO₂ from the vessels and inject it into the reservoir. The classification and assurance organisation concluded that the concept is technically feasible within the scope assessed, with the principal technical challenges and uncertainties considered manageable at the current development stage.

## Direct injection from CO₂ carriers

Under the proposed system, captured CO₂ from European industrial facilities would be delivered to a floating terminal operated by Höegh Evi, where it would be aggregated, purified and liquefied before transportation to the offshore storage site.

The floating terminal is designed to provide intermediate storage capacity of between 40,000 and 80,000 cubic metres, while each shuttle carrier could transport up to 50,000 cubic metres of liquefied CO₂ per voyage.

At the Atlas storage site, offshore loading equipment and subsea pipelines would transfer the CO₂ directly from the vessels into injection wells. Onboard systems would prepare the cargo for injection and limit mixing between different CO₂ streams.

DNV’s Statement of Feasibility covers the shipping and offshore injection elements of the proposed system, rather than the upstream CO₂ aggregation and conditioning activities at the floating terminal.

The assessment was conducted using DNV’s technology qualification methodology, DNV-RP-A203, and its CCS-specific qualification framework, DNV-SE-0160. It follows earlier Approvals in Principle issued by DNV for Höegh Evi’s liquefied CO₂ carrier and floating CO₂ reception and conditioning terminal concepts.

Prajeev Rasiah, Senior Vice-President and Regional Director for Northern Europe, Energy Systems at DNV, said the assessment provides a technical basis for continued development, although further verification and design work will be required.

## Atlas development and storage plans

The Atlas project is designed to inject up to six million tonnes of CO₂ annually during its initial phase, with an estimated total storage capacity of 150 million tonnes. Aker BP is targeting the start of injection operations around 2031, subject to future investment decisions.

The EXL011 Atlas storage licence was awarded by the Norwegian Ministry of Energy in September 2024 and is operated by Aker BP with an 80% interest, alongside ORLEN, which holds the remaining 20%.

In October 2026, Aker BP and Höegh Evi were awarded €223 million from the EU Innovation Fund to support the proposed cross-border CO₂ transport and storage network. Implementation remains subject to a Final Investment Decision, currently planned for 2028.

The developers are also evaluating whether a similar marine-based direct-injection concept could be applied to the EXL005 Poseidon CO₂ storage licence, another project operated by Aker BP on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

DNV’s latest assessment represents a technical development milestone for Atlas, rather than final approval for construction or operation. Further engineering, verification and investment decisions will be required before the proposed transport and offshore injection system can proceed.

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Cite as: "DNV confirms feasibility of ship-based CO₂ injection concept for Atlas", pelavox., 30 October 2026, https://pelavox.com/dnv-confirms-feasibility-of-ship-based-co%e2%82%82-injection-concept-for-atlas/