MacGregor BTS System for LCO2 Transfer on Ships

MacGregor has developed a new bow liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) transfer system (BTS) to enable safe and reliable ship-to-well and ship-to-platform transfer across a wide range of operating conditions.

The system connects capture plants directly to offshore injection units, eliminating the need for expensive intermediate onshore storage and conditioning facilities typically required by current regulations.

The BTS system is based on MacGregor's bow loading system (BLS), which has provided reliable service to the oil and gas industry since the 1970s. Approximately 79% of the new system is based on field-proven technology, while the remainder comprises specific modifications and newly engineered components designed specifically to handle the highly volatile properties of LCO2.

The system's sealing materials have been tested by the Sintef research organization under rapid gas decompression and liquid CO2 conditions, maintaining their integrity through repeated pressure cycles and temperatures down to -57°C, the threshold below which CO2 can no longer exist in a liquid state.

The system is designed to allow safe and uninterrupted handling in harsh maritime conditions with waves five to six meters high, and to seal against water ingress at depths of up to 150 meters.

"Our robust new design solves the challenges of ensuring reliable and safe connection, transfer, and disconnection in all seasons, even in adverse weather conditions, without delays or interruptions. This ensures uninterrupted continuity throughout the value chain, directly supporting the economic viability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects," stated Øyvind Solli, MacGregor Development Programs Manager.

MacGregor's hardware is designed as the basis for four distinct system architectures, covering direct injection into low and medium-pressure (30-60 bar) and high-pressure (300 bar) reservoirs using rotating seabed heads or disconnectable turrets, offering operators the flexibility to adapt the system to their specific reservoir needs.

MacGregor joined the EU-funded COREu research and innovation consortium in early 2025 and is participating in a technology qualification process with DNV. The company has completed the planning phase of this process, which includes defining the qualification basis, technology assessment, threat assessment, and qualification plan. Prototype testing and demonstrations are expected to begin in mid-2027.

"At this stage, we have successfully identified all risks associated with our equipment and its application for LCO2 transfer. DNV has formally recognized these findings, and together, we have established a framework to manage and mitigate the identified risks, including the specific methods required to provide evidence for final verification," Solli also said.

MacGregor will present the LCO2 bow transfer system at ONS 2026 in Stavanger, from August 24 to 27.