From Oil to Carbon Storage: How the North Sea Is Being Reused for Climate Action
Type: noun
Meaning: a large structure built at sea
Synonyms: offshore structure
Example: Workers landed on the platform by helicopter.
Type: noun
Meaning: a substance that forms carbon dioxide
Synonyms: CO₂
Example: Carbon can warm the climate.
Type: verb
Meaning: to keep something for future use
Synonyms: keep, hold
Example: The company plans to store carbon underground.
A helicopter lands on a large offshore platform far out in the North Sea, about 250 kilometers from Denmark’s west coast. The platform sits above an old oil field that no longer produces much oil. Instead of being removed, the site is being reused for a new purpose. The project plans to store large amounts of carbon dioxide underground. Carbon dioxide is a gas that warms the climate. Instead of releasing it into the air, companies will inject it deep below the seabed into rock layers that once held oil and gas. Workers on the platform say the process is similar to how oil was once pumped out of the ground, but now the carbon is pushed back in. The project hopes to help reduce emissions and give the old oil field a second life as part of the green transition.
Type: noun
Meaning: basic systems and structures needed for work
Synonyms: facilities
Example: The project uses existing infrastructure.
Task: Explain infrastructure in your own words.
Type: verb
Meaning: to push a substance into something
Synonyms: pump, insert
Example: CO₂ will be injected into the seabed.
Task: Use inject in a sentence.
Type: noun
Meaning: gases released into the air
Synonyms: pollution
Example: The goal is to reduce emissions.
Task: Why are emissions a problem?
An almost-depleted oil field in the North Sea is being transformed into a major carbon storage site. Helicopters now bring workers to offshore platforms that once produced oil and gas, but will soon be used to inject carbon dioxide deep underground. The project plans to use existing offshore infrastructure, including pipelines and wells, to store CO₂ safely below the seabed. Supporters say this approach helps cut emissions while avoiding the cost of dismantling old oil facilities. Companies behind the project claim it could store hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, with much higher amounts in the future. Climate experts say carbon capture and storage is one of several tools needed to reduce global warming, alongside renewable energy and lower emissions. However, some environmental groups question whether carbon storage should replace faster emission cuts. They argue that while the technology may help, it should only be used where emissions are hard to avoid.
Type: noun
Meaning: the study of rocks and the Earth
Synonyms: earth science
Example: Local geology is suitable for CO₂ storage.
Task: Explain geology in carbon storage.
Type: adjective
Meaning: lasting for a long time
Synonyms: long-term
Example: The storage is designed to be permanent.
Task: Use permanent in an environmental context.
Type: noun
Meaning: change from one state to another
Synonyms: shift, changeover
Example: The project supports the energy transition.
Task: Explain energy transition.
Example sentence: Oil production is being phased out.
Example sentence: The project builds on decades of experience.
Example sentence: CO₂ will be locked away underground.
A former oil field in the North Sea is entering a new phase as it becomes a large-scale carbon storage site. The project plans to permanently lock away carbon dioxide beneath the seabed, using geological formations that previously trapped oil and gas for millions of years. Experts say the local geology is well suited for this purpose. Porous rock layers can hold the injected CO₂, while thick clay layers above act as a natural seal. This makes the storage permanent, using the same mechanisms that kept hydrocarbons underground for geological timescales. The project also reflects a broader energy transition in the region. Decades of oil and gas activity have left behind skilled workers, offshore facilities, and technical knowledge. Instead of dismantling these systems, companies are building on existing expertise to support climate goals. While international agencies view carbon capture and storage as an important climate tool, critics warn it should not delay emissions reductions. The debate highlights the challenge of balancing technological solutions with long-term environmental responsibility.