Vallourec awarded tubular supply contract for Prinos CO2 carbon storage project in Greece
Vallourec just landed a contract with EnEarth — a subsidiary of Energean — to supply premium tubular solutions for the first phase of the Prinos CO2 Carbon Storage project in Greece. The scope covers roughly 3,000 metric tons of casing pipes and accessories for one of Europe’s most advanced carbon storage developments, sitting offshore Greece.
Vallourec selected for Prinos CO2 first phase
This is a meaningful milestone for Vallourec’s Carbon Capture and Storage business. EnEarth chose Vallourec to deliver a full tubular package for the project’s opening phase — those ~3,000 metric tons of casing pipes and accessories will support what’s widely considered one of Europe’s most technically advanced carbon storage developments.
Prinos CO2 sits offshore Greece and is designed to convert a depleted oil reservoir into a permanent CO2 storage site. Landing this contract gives Vallourec a real foothold in European CCS infrastructure, right as the energy transition pushes demand for exactly this kind of specialized engineering capability.
Together, these products form a tightly integrated technical response to the specific demands of CO2 injection wells, where the margin for error is essentially zero.
Why Prinos CO2 requires premium tubular solutions
Carbon storage isn’t a forgiving application. Once CO2 goes underground, the wells need to hold their integrity for decades — any leak undermines both the environmental goal and public confidence in the technology. That long-term reliability requirement is what makes the choice of tubular solutions so consequential.
Vallourec will supply seamless carbon steel and corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) casing pipes, both fitted with VAM® premium connections — recognized in the industry for superior sealing performance and reliability, qualities that matter enormously when the goal is permanent, leak-free storage.
The contract also includes CLEANWELL®, Vallourec’s dope-free connection solution. Traditional pipe dope — the thread compound used during assembly — introduces chemicals that can affect both workers and the surrounding environment. CLEANWELL® eliminates that compound entirely, improving operational efficiency on the rig while cutting the environmental footprint of the installation process itself.
Together, these products form a tightly integrated technical response to the specific demands of CO2 injection wells, where the margin for error is essentially zero.
Capacity and expected impact of the Prinos CO2 project
The numbers behind Prinos CO2 give you a sense of its ambition. The project targets an injection capacity of up to 2.8 million metric tons of CO2 per year, and its total proved plus probable storage capacity stands at 51.5 million metric tons, according to an independent Competent Person’s Report by NSAI (Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.).
Those figures put Prinos well beyond pilot-project territory. Converting a depleted oil reservoir into permanent storage is a proven concept — doing it at this scale in the Eastern Mediterranean is a different proposition entirely.
The expected beneficiaries extend well beyond Greece’s borders. The project aims to support decarbonization of industrial activities across Greece and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region — industries that currently have few practical pathways to deep emissions cuts. Large-scale geological storage could provide exactly that pathway.
EU recognition and funding support
Prinos CO2 carries a designation that matters in European energy policy: it’s recognized by the EU as a Project of Common Interest, signaling that Brussels views it as strategically significant for the continent’s energy and climate goals, not just for Greece. The project also benefits from European and Greek funding programs, which help de-risk the early development phases and signal institutional confidence in its viability.
Nikolas Rigas, Head of Carbon Storage at EnEarth, described Prinos as “one of the first large-scale Carbon Capture and Storage developments to be built in Europe and the first of its kind in the Eastern Mediterranean.” First-mover projects set technical and regulatory precedents that shape how future developments get designed and permitted across the region — that distinction carries real weight.
As Europe pushes harder on decarbonization, infrastructure like Prinos is increasingly viewed as critical. Not just for hitting climate targets, but for keeping energy-intensive industries competitive without forcing them to relocate to less regulated markets.
Strategic significance for Vallourec and future phases
For Vallourec, this contract is about more than one project. Winning the Prinos CO2 first phase builds the company’s credibility as a trusted partner for carbon storage developments across Europe — a market expected to grow substantially as more countries move to operationalize their CCS strategies. Being embedded in the first phase also puts Vallourec in a strong position to support subsequent phases as Prinos CO2 scales toward its full injection capacity.
Philippe Guillemot, Chairman of the Board and CEO, framed the award in strategic terms: “This award demonstrates the confidence placed in Vallourec’s ability to provide premium tubular solutions that meet the stringent integrity and reliability requirements of permanent CO2 storage. It also marks an important step in the development of our Carbon Capture and Storage business.”
Europe is pushing for CCS infrastructure
This contract brings together several converging forces: Europe’s push to build large-scale CCS infrastructure, the technical demands of permanent CO2 storage, and Vallourec’s bid to establish itself as a go-to supplier in that emerging market.
Prinos CO2 offers up to 2.8 million metric tons of annual injection capacity and 51.5 million metric tons of total proved plus probable storage, backed by EU recognition and public funding. Vallourec will supply seamless carbon steel and CRA casing pipes with VAM® connections and the CLEANWELL® dope-free solution — a package built specifically for the integrity requirements of long-term CO2 storage.
The first phase is underway. How it performs could shape the pace of CCS adoption across the Eastern Mediterranean for years to come.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
