SLB, Aramco and Linde tie up for CCS hub in Saudi Arabia

Recently, oilfield services firm SLB Solutions entered into an agreement with Saudi petchem firm Aramco and industrial gases firm Linde that paves the way for the development of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, that is expected to become one of the largest globally. Under the terms of the shareholders’ agreement Aramco will take a 60% equity interest in the CCS hub, with Linde and SLB each owning a 20% stake.

The first phase of the project is expected to capture and store up to 9 million tonnes/year of CO2, with construction completed by end of 2027. Later phases are expected to further expand its capacity.

The captured CO2 will be transported through a pipeline network and stored below ground in a saline aquifer sink, leveraging the Kingdom’s significant geological potential for CO2 storage.

The project supports Aramco’s ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned operated assets by 2050, and its interim target of reducing upstream carbon intensity by 15% by 2035.

“SLB is proud to be a part of ground-breaking efforts to enable abatement of millions of tons of CO2 annually through the Jubail CCS hub. Leveraging our proven portfolio of CCS technologies and extensive experience in complex CCS projects around the world, we are confident that SLB will play a critical role in advancing this important initiative,” said Gavin Rennick, president of SLB’s New Energy business. “This project aligns perfectly with our commitment to industrial decarbonisation, and we look forward to collaborating closely with Aramco and Linde to make it a success.”

“CCS plays a critical role in furthering our sustainability ambitions and our new energies business. This announcement represents a step forward in delivering on our strategy to contribute to global carbon management solutions and achieve our emission mitigation goals,” said Ashraf Al Ghazzawi, Aramco EVP of Strategy & Corporate Development. “Aramco’s collaboration with SLB and Linde demonstrates the importance of global partnerships in driving technological innovation, reducing emissions from conventional energy sources and enabling new, lower-carbon energy solutions. This CCS hub is among several programs that will enable us to meet rising demand for affordable, reliable, and more sustainable energy.”