Vallourec announced that it has supplied advanced tubular solutions for the Carbon TerraVault I (CTV I) carbon capture and storage (CCS) project being developed by California Resources Corporation at the Elk Hills field in Kern County, California. The project represents California’s first CCS facility to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Class VI permits for CO2 injection and storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs.
As a technology partner, Vallourec delivered corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) pipes equipped with premium VAM 21 connections designed to maintain well integrity under demanding CO2 injection conditions. The company also deployed its CLEANWELL dope-free technology for the first time in an onshore CCS project, enabling cleaner and more sustainable running operations.
The scope of supply included multiple pipe string sizes and accessories tailored to the project, supported by on-site VAM Field Service to ensure proper installation and long-term well performance.
The first CO2 injection at the CTV I facility is expected in spring 2026. At full capacity, the project is designed to store up to 1.46 mln tons of CO2 per year in the 26R reservoir and contribute 38 mln tons of CO2 storage toward the broader Carbon TerraVault portfolio, which targets more than 350 mln tons of total storage capacity.
The project is expected to support California’s objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 while demonstrating the role of CCS technology in large-scale emissions reduction.
Vallourec said the project highlights the company’s capability to provide advanced tubular technologies for emerging energy transition applications, including carbon capture and storage.
Headquartered in Meudon, France, Vallourec operates in more than 20 countries, with key production hubs in the US and Brazil. The company is a global leader in premium seamless tubular solutions for the oil and gas industry, with annual production capacity of 2.1 mln tons. Vallourec operates through two main segments: Tubes, which accounts for around 90pct of revenue, and Mine & Forest, which includes an iron ore mine and eucalyptus plantations in Brazil supplying charcoal as a renewable reducing agent for its blast furnace operations.
