Total: North Sea activities will help deliver a 70% CO2 cut by 2030

English version below

Total: Nordsø-aktiviteterne vil bidrage til at nå 70% CO2 målet i 2030

Som operatør af DUCs olie- og gasaktiviteter i den danske del af Nordsøen har Total deltaget i arbejdet, som er pågået i klimapartnerskabet for energi og forsyning, et af 13 klimapartnerskaber nedsat af regeringen. Arbejdet er ledet af Henrik Poulsen, adm. direktør i Ørsted. Total har bidraget til de anbefalinger, som regeringen nu præsenteres for.

Konklusionen er klar: DUC og Total er en del af løsningen til at nå CO2 reduktionsmålet i 2030.

De scenarier, som tegner fremtidens energiefterspøgsel og samtidig indfrier Paris-aftalens mål, viser, at olie og gas vil blive ved med at udgøre en vigtig del af energimixet i kommende årtier. Når det kommer til olie- og gasproduktion, har produktionen i Nordsøen allerede et af verdens laveste CO2 aftryk. Derfor er det afgørende at fortsætte de danske Nordsøaktiviteter.

”Total har en klar ambition om at bekæmpe de globale klimaforandringer og om at fortsætte med at reducere vores CO2 aftryk. Vi arbejder kontinuerligt med at finde og gennemføre CO2 reduktioner og med at simplificere og sikre bedre udnyttelse af vores infrastruktur gennem en række initiativer som f.eks. energieffektivisering, optimerede processer, digitalisering, elektrificering og nye teknologier,” fortæller Patrick Gilly, adm. direktør for Totals aktiviteter i den danske Nordsø.

 

Et mix af flere reduktionstiltag

Med support fra vores DUC-partnere Noreco og Nordsøfonden arbejder Total målrettet for en ansvarlig udvikling af den danske Nordsø og med at accellerere skiftet til en mere bæredygtig lav-emissions drift i Nordsøen, der støtter op om markedets efterspørgsel efter olie og gas.

”Vi har integreret klima-initiativer i vores strategi, og vi ser Paris-aftalens mål som et afgørende skridt i kampen mod klimaforandringer. Virkeligheden er, at både grøn og konventionel energi vil være en del af energimixet i mange år endnu, fordi vindkraft ikke kan indfri energibehovet alene. Naturgas spiller en nøglerolle i den europæiske energitransition, fordi gas kan erstatte kul i Europas mange kulkraftværker,” forklarer Gilly og peger på, at naturgas har et meget lavere CO2 aftryk end kul. Europas gasefterspørgsel vil være betydelig, selv den dag Danmark er stoppet med at bruge naturgas.

”Verden vil gradvist skifte til grøn energi, og vi er en del af den omstilling. Frem mod 2030 vil vi gennemføre yderligere CO2 reduktioner gennem energieffektivisering, og når det er økonomisk muligt, også gennem løsninger for elektrificering samt CO2 opsamling og -lagring,” fortsætter Gilly.

 

Energieffektivitet

I de seneste 15 år har DUC i samarbejde med Energistyrelsen arbejdet for at reducere CO2 emissioner gennem målrettede energieffektiviseringstiltag og nye energy management systemer. Initiativer der har bidraget til at reducere CO2 emissionerne med 30%.

”Vi sigter mod at reducere DUC-udledningerne med yderligere 400-500 ktons CO2 om året frem mod 2030, og dette vil ske gennem centrale aktiviteter såsom optimering af brændstofforbruget,

reduceret flaring, forenkling af den eksisterende Nordsøinfrastruktur og optimeringer af vores forsyningskæde,” forklarer Gilly.

Ombygningen af ​​Tyra-feltet, en investering på 21 milliarder kr., sænker CO2 udledningen med 30% sammenlignet med de eksisterende installationer.

 

Elektrificering

Total undersøger i øjeblikket sammen med DUC-partnerne mulige elektrificeringsscenarier af DUC-installationerne. Elektrificering har potentiale til at reducere brugen af ​​naturgas som strømkilde. Det anslås, at den potentielle årlige reduktion fra elektrificering er 100-400 ktons CO2 inden 2030.

”Elektrificering af produktionsplatforme er en kompleks udfordring, både teknisk og økonomisk, og det vil kræve en infrastruktur, hvor platformene kan fungere både sikkert og operationsmæssigt pålideligt, mens de drives af vedvarende intermitterende energi, 250 km ude på havet. Et sådant scenarie kræver betydelige investeringer og stærke partnerskaber,” fortæller Gilly.

 

CO2 opsamling og -lagring

Både det internationale energiagentur IEA, FNs klimapanel IPCC og det danske klimaråd mener, at CO2 opsamling og -lagring (CCS) er en nødvendig reduktionsteknologi for at nå klimamålene.

Total medvirker i en række CCS-projekter i Nordsøen, hvor vi anvender vores ekspertise og indgående viden om geologiske formationer, samtidig med at vi opnår værdifuld erfaring fra en række store pilotprojekter, såsom Northern Lights-projektet i Norge i partnerskab med Equinor og Shell.

”Vi kan hjælpe Danmarks største CO2 udledere med at reducere deres aftryk gennem store CCS-initiativer, men det er en dyr vej at vælge, som kræver både politiske incitamenter og offentlig-private partnerskaber for at få det til at ske,” forklarer Gilly og konkluderer:

”Verdenssamfundet er afhængigt af olie og gas på mange måder og vil fortsat være det i overgangsfasen til vedvarende energi. Samtidig med at vi udbygger vores portefølje af aktiviteter inden for lav-emissions og vedvarende energi, forpligtiger vi os til at levere olie og gas til markedet på en ansvarlig måde. Vi må alle tage del i den grønne omstilling og bidrage, hvor vi kan - det gør Total også.”

 

Presseinformation

I den aktuelle udfordrende situation, hvor verdenssamfundet er optaget af bekæmpelse af effekten af COVID-19 bør fokus og indsats rettes mod håndtering af denne situation. Total vil derfor ikke være tilgængelig for medieinterviews og yderligere kommentarer til klimapanelets rapport på dette tidspunkt.

 

Sådan reducerer Total CO2 mod 2030:

• Energieffektivisering kan reducere med 400-500 ktons CO2 pr. år: Reduktionen kommer fra at genopbygge Tyra-feltet, reducere brændstofforbrug og flaring, optimere installationer og produktion og ved at øge digitalisering af drift og vedligeholdelse. Energieffektiviseringstiltag omfatter også optimering af forsyningskæden som skibe, helikoptere, lagre og kontorer.
• Elektrificering har potentialet til at reducere med 100-400 ktons CO2 pr. år. Til sammenligning har en gennemsnitlig ny bil i Danmark et brændstofforbrug, der udleder cirka 3 tons CO2 [20.000 km / år]. En reduktion på 300 ktons svarer til at fjerne 100.000 nye biler med fossilt brændstof fra vejene.

 

Potentialet for CO2 opsamling og -lagring i den danske Nordsø:

• Total har infrastruktur, der kan bruges til CO2 opsamling og -lagring (CCS) i udtømte reservoirer, der er egnede til CO2 lagring - såvel som stor intern CCS-ekspertise.
• CO2 fylder 250 gange mindre, når det lagres i undergrunden end i atmosfæren, fordi det er komprimeret.
• Det er sikkert at opbevare CO2 i udtømte olie- og gaslagre, da den lagrede CO2 ikke kan lække på grund af reservoirernes naturlige forsegling.
• GEUS vurderer, at det er muligt at opbevare helt op til 22 milliarder tons CO2 i den danske undergrund - svarende til Danmarks samlede årlige CO2-emission i 500-1000 år.
• Beregninger viser, at det er muligt at opbevare helt op til 5 millioner tons CO2 pr. år i den danske del af Nordsøen allerede i 2030. En reduktion, der svarer til mere end en tiendedel af Danmarks nuværende årlige CO2 udledning. Opbevaringspotentialet vil stige i årene 2030-2050, når flere Nordsø-reservoirer udtømmes.
• De geologiske formationer i Nordsøen er særligt velegnede til CO2 lagring.

 

Andre mulige tiltag:

• Power-to-X: Total støtter et innovationsprojekt, der ser på udfordringerne ved at lagre vindenergi fra flydende vindmøller via elektrolyse, der omdanner elektricitet til brint. Dette kan løse en vigtig udfordring i at sikre pålidelig grøn energiforsyning til at køre offshore platformene på dage uden vind

 

Andre fakta:

• Siden den første olieproduktion i 1972 har Nordsøaktiviteterne bidraget med 415 milliarder DKK i statsindtæger og bidrager fortsat markant til det danske velfærdssystem og finansiering af den grønne omstilling.
• Det aktuelle årlige olie- og gas offshore CO2 aftryk fra DUC-aktiviteterne som følge af den energianvendelse, der er nødvendig for at drive selve udvindingen udgør 1.200 ktons CO2, svarende til 2,6% af Danmarks samlede CO2 udledning.
• Ifølge en undersøgelse fra Stanford universitet har Nordsøens olie- og gasproduktion et af verdens laveste CO2 aftryk.
• I Danmark ser Total i øjeblikket desuden på muligheder inden for offshore wind – i tillæg til eksisterende olie- og gasaktiviteter.

 

Om Total Exploration & Production i Danmark

Total er den største olie- og gasoperatør i Danmark, som har en stolt olie- og gasindustri, der strækker sig mere end et halvt århundrede tilbage. Under Total’s ledelse er Danmarks upstream-industri klar til et nyt kapitel med fuld ombygning af Tyra feltet og den tilhørende gasinfrastruktur, som vil understøtte energisikkerhed og energiomstillingen i Danmark og Europa.

Olie blev opdaget for første gang i den danske del af Nordsøen i 1967, og kommerciel produktion begyndte i 1972. I 2018 var produktionsandelen i Danmark omkring 97.000 tønder olie og 334 millioner standard kubikmeter gas pr. dag.

Totals tilstedeværelse i Danmark blev understreget med købet af Maersk Oil og overtagelsen af operatørskabet af Dansk Undergrunds Consortium (DUC). DUC står for 85% af olieproduktionen og 97% af gasproduktionen i Danmark og yder dermed et vigtigt bidrag til Danmarks økonomi, energiforsyning og beskæftigelse. 

 

Om Total

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English version

Total: North Sea activities will help deliver a 70% CO2 cut by 2030

 

As operator of the Danish Underground Consortium (DUC) and the oil and gas activities in the Danish sector of the North Sea, Total in Denmark has participated in the work undertaken by the government-initiated Climate Partnership for Energy and Supply – headed by Henrik Poulsen, CEO in Ørsted. Total has contributed to the recommendations presented to the government.

The conclusion is clear. DUC and Total will contribute to the delivery of the 70% CO2 target in 2030.

Global energy demand scenarios meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement show that oil and gas will remain an important part of the energy mix for decades to come. When it comes to oil and gas production, the North Sea already has one of the world’s lowest CO2 footprints, therefore it is fundamental to continue operations in Denmark.

“In Total, we have a clear ambition to fight global climate change and to continue reducing our CO2 footprint. We work consistently to identify and deliver CO2 reductions and to simplify and ensure better utilization of our infrastructure through a range of initiatives such as energy efficiency, optimized processes, digitalization, electrification and new technologies,” says Patrick Gilly, Managing Director for Total’s activities in the Danish North Sea.

 

A mix of reduction initiatives

With the support of DUC partners Noreco and Nordsøfonden, Total is committed to responsible development of the Danish North Sea while accelerating the journey towards a more sustainable low carbon operation that supports ongoing market demand for oil and gas.

“Climate action is part of our strategy, and we see the Paris Agreement as a major advance in combatting climate change. Reality is that both green and conventional energy will make up the energy mix for years to come because wind power cannot meet the full demand. Natural gas plays a key role in the European energy transition and in the phase-out of coal in Europe’s power plants,” Gilly explains and points to the fact that natural gas has a much lower CO2 footprint than coal. Europe’s demand for natural gas will remain substantial, even after Denmark has stopped using natural gas. 

“The world will gradually transition to greener energy, and we are part of that journey. Towards 2030, Total will pursue further CO2 reductions through energy efficiency and, when economically feasible, electrification and Carbon Capture and Storage solutions,” Gilly continues.

 

Energy efficiency

In the past 15 years, DUC has worked to reduce CO2 emissions together with the Danish Energy Agency through improved energy efficiency measures and energy management systems. Initiatives that have helped cut CO2 emissions by 30%.

“We aim to reduce DUC emissions by an additional 400-500 kton towards 2030. This will happen through key activities such as optimizing the use of fuel, reducing flaring, simplifying the existing North Sea infrastructure and finally optimizing the supply chain,” Gilly explains.

Another example is the redevelopment of the Tyra field, a 21 billion DKK investment, which will deliver a 30% CO2 reduction compared to the existing installations.

 

Electrification

Total, along with its DUC partners, is currently reviewing possible electrification scenarios from DUC’s producing installations. Electrification has a potential to reduce the use of natural gas as a power source. It is estimated that the potential reduction from electrification is 100-400 ktons CO2 annually by 2030.

“Electrification of production platforms is a complex challenge, technically and economically, and would require an infrastructure where platforms can operate safely and reliably while being powered by renewable intermittent energy 250 km out in the sea. Such scenario would require significant investments and strong partnerships,” Gilly says.

 

Carbon Capture and Storage

According to IEA, the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as well as the Danish Climate Council, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a necessary mitigation technology to reach climate targets.

Total is involved in a number of CCS projects across the North Sea where we apply our expertise and detailed understanding of geological formations while gaining valuable experience from a number of large-scale pilot projects, such as the Northern Lights project in Norway, a partnership with Equinor and Shell.

“We can help heavy CO2 emitters to reduce their footprint through large-scale CCS initiatives, but it is an expensive path to choose and it will require both political incentives and public-private partnerships to make it happen,” Gilly explains and concludes:

“Societies depend on oil and gas in so many ways and will continue to do so during the transition phase. While growing our low-carbon and renewable portfolio we are committed to deliver oil and gas to the market in a responsible manner. The transition calls for all of us to contribute where we can and so will Total as part of the DUC partnership”.

 

Press information:

In the current challenging situation for the global societies to combat COVID-19, focus and efforts should be directed to dealing with this situation. On that note, Total will not be available for media interviews and further commenting on the climate panel report at this stage.

 

How Total reduces CO2 towards 2030:

• Energy efficiency reduces emissions by 400-500 kton per year: The cut comes from redeveloping Tyra, reducing fuel consumption and flaring, optimizing assets and the production as well as integrating digital solutions, data driven operations and maintenance. Energy efficiency measures also include optimization of the supply chain such as vessels, helicopters, warehouses and offices.
• Electrification has the potential to reduce 100-400 kton per year. For comparison, an average new car in Denmark has a fuel consumption that emits around about 3 tons of CO2 [20,000 km/year]. A 300 kton reduction corresponds to removing 100,000 new fossil fuel cars from the roads. 

 

Carbon capture and storage potential in the Danish North Sea:

• Total has infrastructure that can be used for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and depleted reservoirs suitable for CO2 storage – as well as built up in-house CCS expertise.
• As it is compressed, CO2 stored in the underground takes up 250 times less space than in the atmosphere.
• It is safe to store CO2 in depleted oil and gas reservoirs because the reservoirs have a tight seal preventing the stored CO2 from migrating.
• GEUS estimates that it is possible to store as much as 22 billion tons of CO2 in the Danish underground – corresponding to 500-1,000 years of Denmark’s total annual CO2 emission.
• Calculations show that it is possible to store as much as 5 million tons/year of CO2 in Denmark already by 2030. A reduction that corresponds to more than one tenth of Denmark’s current annual CO2 emissions. The storage potential will increase between 2030-2050 as more North Sea reservoirs are depleted. The North Sea’s geological formation is particularly suitable for CO2 storage.

 

Other possible initiatives:

• Power to X: Total supports an innovation study that looks at the challenges related to storing wind energy from floating wind turbines via electrolysis, which converts electricity to hydrogen. This could solve a key challenge to ensure reliable green energy supply to run the platforms on days with no wind.

 

Other facts:

• Since first oil in 1972, the North Sea activities have generated 415 billion DKK in state revenue and continues to contribute significantly to the Danish welfare system and the green transition.
• The current annual oil and gas offshore carbon footprint from DUC activities – originating from the energy used for the production process - is 1,200 kton CO2, corresponding to 2.6% of Denmark’s total CO2 footprint.
• According to a Stanford Study, the North Sea oil and gas production has one of the lowest CO2 footprints in the world.
• In Denmark, Total is currently looking at offshore wind opportunities alongside its oil and gas activities.

 

About Total Exploration & Production in Denmark

Total is the largest oil and gas operator in Denmark. The country boasts a proud oil and gas industry that extends back more than half a century. Today Denmark’s upstream industry is gearing up for a new chapter with the Total-led full redevelopment of the Tyra field and its associated gas infrastructure which will support energy security and the energy transition in Denmark and Europe.

Oil was first discovered in the Danish sector of the North Sea in 1967, with commercial production beginning in 1972. In 2018 operated production in Denmark was around 97,000 barrels of oil and 334 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

Total’s presence in Denmark was cemented with the acquisition of Maersk Oil and takeover of the operatorship of the Danish Underground Consortium (DUC). This consortium is responsible for 85% of the oil and 97% of the gas production in Denmark, making an important contribution to Denmark’s economy, energy supply and employment.

 

About Total

Total is a major energy player that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, more affordable, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, our ambition is to become the responsible energy major.

 

Cautionary note

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This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A. nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement,objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.