Case Study Sites

Map of North Sea, showing large-scale geological structures and Northern Lights (Norway), Greensand (Denmark) and Porthos (The Netherlands) case study sites

SAFE-C tests and validates monitoring technologies, data-analysis methods and monitoring strategies at selected CO₂ storage sites across the North Sea.

Published:10/6-2026

Overview

SAFE-C combines regional monitoring of natural seismicity across the North Sea with detailed investigations at selected CO₂ storage sites. These case studies represent different geological settings, monitoring challenges and stages of project development, providing a comprehensive basis for advancing seismic monitoring and risk assessment.
By integrating observations at both basin and site scale, SAFE-C improves understanding of background seismicity and supports the detection and interpretation of potential injection-induced events. This combined approach is essential for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of offshore CO₂ storage.

Why These Sites Matter

The selected case studies cover a range of geological conditions, monitoring configurations and operational scenarios. Together, they allow SAFE-C to:

Evaluate monitoring technologies across different offshore environments
Test and validate data processing and interpretation workflows
Improve detection capability and reduce uncertainties in event locations
Support the development of harmonised monitoring strategies across the North Sea

By combining results from multiple sites, SAFE-C ensures that its methods are robust and transferable to other CO₂ storage projects.

Study areas

SAFE-C focuses on three key case study sites in the North Sea:

Greensand (Denmark)

A depleted oil field in the Danish North Sea, where CO₂ storage operations are being prepared. The site provides an opportunity to develop and test monitoring workflows under controlled conditions, including the use of ocean-bottom sensors and fibre-optic technologies.

Horda Platform / Northern Lights (Norway)

A key region for CO₂ storage on the Norwegian continental shelf, including the Northern Lights project. This case study focuses on operational monitoring, integration of regional and local seismic data, and the assessment of seismic hazard in an active storage environment.

Porthos (Netherlands)

The first large-scale offshore CO₂ storage project in the Netherlands, using a depleted offshore gas field about 20 kilometres from Rotterdam. SAFE-C supports the development of monitoring solutions for operational conditions, including the integration of new offshore sensor technologies and real-time data analysis.