A study conducted by the University of Edinburgh has estimated that re-purposing offshore oil and gas rigs could save money over the next 30 years. Through refitting the platforms to act as CO2 pumping stations, the study estimates a cost 10 times lower than the cost of decommissioning the sites.

The study proposed using the sites to store emissions generated by natural gas production as well as emissions from other sources, through post-combustion carbon capture technology. The study was conducted by way of a computer model of the Beatrice oilfield off the north east coast of Scotland. Through computer modelling, researchers concluded that natural gas and heat energy could still be extracted from the saltwater in decommissioned oil and gas fields. Mixing this saltwater with CO2 produced by combustion enables the emissions to be stored permanently underground.

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