en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dutch survey company Fugro has been awarded a contract by Saipem to provide integrated marine survey and inspection services for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), the UK's first carbon dioxide transport and storage infrastructure project. NEP is a joint venture between BP, Equinor, and TotalEnergies, with Saipem responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of the offshore pipelines and related infrastructure.

The project, with a CO2 storage capacity of up to 1 billion tonnes beneath the North Sea, aims to help decarbonize some of the UK's carbon-intensive industrial regions. Fugro will conduct nearshore and offshore survey and inspection operations to support pipeline installation, ranging from the landfall point to connections with existing offshore infrastructure.

Nearshore work focuses on pre-lay surveys starting from the tunnel exit and extending several kilometers offshore, along with installation monitoring during pipeline tow-in to confirm the pipeline is laid as designed and to detect any unexpected seabed changes early. In the farther offshore areas, Fugro will provide survey, installation support, and verification along the pipeline route, including operations at third-party pipeline and cable crossings.

Fugro stated that this source-to-seabed approach provides Saipem with consistent and reliable geodata along the entire route, helping to reduce installation risks and support efficient project delivery. Mike Duncan, Fugro's Director of Marine Asset Integrity for Europe and Africa, noted that by working closely in both nearshore and offshore environments from early survey through installation phases, the technology supports informed decision-making, helping Saipem manage risks on a technically complex route.