CHC H175 for Northern Endurance Partnership CO₂ Operations in the North Sea

CHC secured 12-month contract to provide offshore crew transportation with Airbus H175 helicopters from Norwich for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) to support CO₂ storage operations in the Southern North Sea

The Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) is a joint venture developing carbon capture transportation and storage infrastructure for the UK’s East Coast Cluster, linking heavy industries in Teesside and the Humber with permanent CO₂ storage beneath the North Sea. Captured emissions will be transported to the Endurance saline aquifer, about 145 km offshore and 1,000 m below the seabed, which has an estimated capacity of up to 1 billion tonnes of CO₂. The initial phase is designed to handle around 4 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The project is led by bp (45%, operator), Equinor (45%), and TotalEnergies (10%), with construction expected to start in 2025 following financial close in December 2024. Commercial operations are targeted for 2028, and the infrastructure is expected to play a key role in decarbonizing UK industry while supporting major investments and thousands of jobs in the Teesside and Humber regions.

CHC Helicopter, a global leader in offshore crew transportation and search and rescue services, announced it has been awarded the crew change transportation contract for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP).

The Northern Endurance Partnership is developing pioneering offshore CO₂ transportation and storage infrastructure that will serve the East Coast Cluster – a group of industrial decarbonisation projects in Teesside and the Humber.

The Cluster, which has private and government support, is expected to capture and store nearly 50% of the UK’s total industrial cluster emissions, helping to decarbonise carbon‑intensive industrial regions. NEP will transport captured CO₂ offshore for permanent storage beneath the North Sea.

Under the contract, CHC will operate an H175 helicopter from its Norwich base. The 12-month agreement begins in March 2026 and will support routine offshore crew movements for NEP’s operations in the Southern North Sea.

This latest award marks CHC’s first contract to support the UK carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry. It applies CHC’s longstanding offshore aviation expertise to a new generation of UK decarbonisation projects. As customers broaden the types of projects they develop – including decarbonisation infrastructure – CHC continues to evolve its services to meet their changing operational needs.

Dave Grant, Senior Director – Commercial, Europe, CHC Helicopter, said: “As the North Sea market continues to evolve, we are proud to stand alongside our customers and deliver critical aviation services for offshore energy infrastructure. Supporting our first CCS project is an important milestone. This project is a significant investment in the future of Teesside and the Humber and we will play an important role in supporting these industrial heartlands’ resilience and long‑term sustainability.”

Rich Denny, Managing Director, Northern Endurance Partnership, said: “We’re moving ahead at pace with our offshore operations to deliver the UK’s first large-scale CO₂ transportation and storage network. This is critical to decarbonising Teesside and the Humber, creating jobs, strengthening supply chains and building skills. Thank you to CHC for partnering with us on this first CCS project and bringing their proven North Sea aviation capability to a new industry.”

By providing safe, reliable aviation support to NEP, CHC is strengthening its role as an essential logistics partner across the global energy sector. CHC’s operations in Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK and Brazil support major offshore oil and gas, offshore wind and decarbonization developments, helping customers deliver projects safely, efficiently and on time, wherever they operate.