Passive Seismic Monitoring Added to UK’s First Carbon Storage Project

Sonardyne, an underwater technology company, will provide passive seismic monitoring services for the UK’s first Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) site as an addition to an existing contract with the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP).

This new scope of work will form part of a wider monitoring program at the Endurance CO₂ storage site, which is located beneath the North Sea, approximately 75 km off the coast of Yorkshire. Sonardyne will adapt, deploy, and operate advanced Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs), manufactured by German technology company KUM GmbH, on the seabed directly above the Endurance storage reservoir.

NEP is responsible for enabling carbon captured by emitters in Teesside and the Humber, collectively known as the East Coast Cluster, to be transported and safely stored within the Endurance aquifer and neighboring sites. The initial phase of this crucial project is expected to see up to 100 million tonnes of CO2 stored over a 25-year period, which is intended to support net zero goals in one of the UK’s most carbon-intensive industrial regions.

This additional work further endorses Sonardyne’s capabilities in support of CCS operations, building on their existing contract to provide environmental monitoring services using their technologies across the Endurance site.

The passive seismic monitoring services will generate baseline data ahead of NEP operations, with the potential for continuation into the injection phase to provide longer-term surveillance of the subsurface. This will characterize any naturally occurring seismic activity in the region. The Endurance site is expected to begin storage operations in 2028, making it the first operational CCS project in the UK.

Regarding the project, Michael McGhie, Technical Manager at NEP, said, “NEP is continuing to lead the UK’s journey to net zero through its development of carbon capture and storage at the Endurance site. Our collaboration with Sonardyne plays a critical role in ensuring carbon is stored safely and securely.”

Stephen Auld, Business Development Manager for Custom Projects at Sonardyne, commented, “Being trusted to deliver passive seismic monitoring, in addition to environmental monitoring, for the UK’s first CCS project is an honour and highlights Sonardyne’s technical leadership in subsea environmental monitoring.” He added, “We are committed to supporting NEP’s work to deliver safe, long-term containment of CO₂ offshore and are very proud to contribute our expertise to this landmark project.”

The OBS monitoring scope is slated to begin in the summer of 2026, with the first seismic data delivered to NEP one year later.