Denbury Announces CO2 Transport and Storage Agreement for Planned World-Scale Clean Hydrogen-Ammonia Complex

Rhea-AI Summary

Denbury Inc. (NYSE: DEN) has signed a definitive CO₂ Services Agreement with Clean Hydrogen Works to transport and sequester up to 12 million metric tons of CO₂ per year from the Ascension Clean Energy project in Louisiana. The agreement grants Denbury exclusive rights for 12 years, with potential extensions. Denbury has already invested $10 million in the project and will invest an additional $10 million as milestones are met. This partnership strengthens Denbury's cumulative CO₂ service agreements to 20 million metric tons per year.

Positive

• Exclusive rights to transport and sequester CO₂ for 12 years post-startup with extension options.
• Initial investment of $10 million with potential for an additional $10 million based on project milestones.
• Cumulative CO₂ service agreements increased to 20 million metric tons per year, surpassing previous goals.

Negative

• Final investment decision for the ACE project is anticipated in 2024, indicating delays in execution.
• Potential risks associated with achieving planned CO₂ sequestration volumes and project timelines.

Agreement covers 12 million metric tons per year of CO₂

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Denbury Inc. (NYSE: DEN) (“Denbury” or the “Company”) today announced that its subsidiary, Denbury Carbon Solutions, LLC. has executed a CO₂ Services Agreement with Clean Hydrogen Works (“Clean Hydrogen”). Under the definitive agreement, Denbury will transport and sequester CO₂ captured from Clean Hydrogen’s planned hydrogen-ammonia complex in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, which is anticipated to be built less than two miles from Denbury’s existing CO₂ pipeline network.

The planned clean hydrogen-ammonia complex, Ascension Clean Energy (“ACE”), is expected to include two world-scale ammonia blocks with estimated ammonia production totaling 7.2 million tons of ammonia per year. Approximately 75% of the planned ammonia production volume is supported by letters of intent offtake agreements with high-quality purchasers.

The proposed facilities are to be constructed on a 1,700-acre site on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, an ideal location for exports. The two ammonia blocks are currently projected to start up in a staged approach, with Block 1 production anticipated to commence in 2027. A final investment decision on the project is anticipated in 2024.

Key highlights of Denbury’s agreement with Clean Hydrogen include:

• Denbury has the exclusive right to transport and sequester all of the CO₂ captured at ACE for a period of 12 years following startup, with multiple extension options.
• Captured CO₂ volumes are estimated to be approximately 12 million metric tons per year (“mmtpa”), comprised of 6 mmtpa from each of the two ammonia blocks.
• Permanent, secure underground storage of the CO₂ is anticipated in one or more of Denbury’s sequestration sites located in close proximity to Denbury’s CO₂ pipeline infrastructure.
• Denbury has invested $10 million into the ACE project through an investment in Clean Hydrogen and has committed to invest another $10 million when certain project milestones are achieved.

With this agreement, the cumulative volumes of CO₂ transportation and storage services agreements entered into by Denbury total 20 mmtpa, double the Company’s cumulative goal to reach 10 mmtpa by the end of 2022.

Chris Kendall, Denbury President and CEO, commented, “We are excited to work with Clean Hydrogen Works and the State of Louisiana on this important clean energy project that aligns with our mission to sustainably deliver energy that the world needs. Our existing CO₂ pipeline infrastructure along the Gulf Coast, part of the largest owned and operated CO₂ network in the United States, is perfectly situated to handle the CO₂ emissions from this massive project and to ensure that the carbon captured is safely transported and secured in underground storage. We look forward to creating significant value with our partners, for our shareholders, and for the local and state economies of Louisiana.”

Mitch Silver, SVP and COO of Clean Hydrogen Works, stated, “We look forward to working with industry leader Denbury to develop the ACE Project, using innovation to meet global demand for clean and affordable energy. Denbury’s track record for safely and efficiently transporting and storing CO₂ makes them an ideal partner in this exciting endeavor to provide a cost-effective and scalable pathway to decarbonize our use of energy.”

The ACE project is expected to generate up to 350 permanent and 1,500 peak construction jobs, benefitting the Louisiana economy. As part of the planning process for the project, Denbury and Clean Hydrogen have been meeting with local and state regulatory officials and community stakeholders to provide an overview of the economic and environmental benefits of the proposed facilities and carbon capture and storage operations.

“Blue” ammonia results when the CO₂ emissions that otherwise would have been vented into the atmosphere during the process of making ammonia are instead captured, transported and permanently stored underground in secure geologic formations. Demand for “blue” ammonia is anticipated to grow significantly as a decarbonized energy source for hard-to-abate industries, both for its hydrogen content and as a fuel itself, as it does not emit carbon when combusted.

ABOUT DENBURY

Denbury is an independent energy company with operations and assets focused on Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in the Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain regions. For over two decades, the Company has maintained a unique strategic focus on utilizing CO₂ in its EOR operations and since 2012 has also been active in CCUS through the injection of captured industrial-sourced CO₂. The Company currently injects over four million tons of captured industrial-sourced CO₂ annually, with an objective to fully offset its Scope 1, 2, and 3 CO₂ emissions by 2030, primarily through increasing the amount of captured industrial-sourced CO₂ used in its operations. For more information about Denbury, visit www.denbury.com.

The Denbury Carbon Solutions team was formed in January 2020 to advance Denbury’s leadership in the anticipated high-growth CCUS industry, leveraging Denbury’s unique capabilities and assets that were developed over the last 20-plus years through its focus on CO₂ EOR.

Follow Denbury on Twitter and LinkedIn.

ABOUT CLEAN HYDROGEN WORKS

Project majority shareholder, Clean Hydrogen Works (CHW), is a sustainability-focused, commercially oriented project developer with extensive experience in developing integrated energy value chains. Established in early 2021, CHW is led by an experienced team of project executives from leading global energy companies. Developing integrated clean hydrogen-ammonia value chains optimized for low-cost and low carbon, CHW is helping to meet the world’s growing energy needs with a secure, affordable, and sustainable energy supply at scale. Clean hydrogen and ammonia as a hydrogen carrier will play critical roles in the global energy transition by complementing renewables to decarbonize critical sectors including marine, power, industrial, and heavy transport. For more information, visit www.cleanhydrogenworks.com.

This press release contains forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the commitment of equity and debt financing sufficient to construct one or both blocks of the proposed facility, the facilities being constructed and becoming operational; the nature and extent of the future market for “blue” ammonia; the availability of anticipated quantities of CO₂ to be sequestered and the timing of same; Denbury’s successful preparation and testing of storage sites for permanent CO₂ sequestration; and obtaining Class VI permits required for permanent CO₂ sequestration. These statements are based on engineering, geological, financial and operating assumptions that Denbury believes are reasonable based on currently available information; however, their achievement are subject to a wide range of business risks, and there is no assurance that these goals and projections can or will be met. Actual results may vary materially. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Denbury’s estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its estimates as of any future date. Denbury assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221031005765/en/

DENBURY IR CONTACTS:

Brad Whitmarsh, 972.673.2020, brad.whitmarsh@denbury.com

Beth Bierhaus, 972.673.2554, beth.bierhaus@denbury.com

Source: Denbury Inc.

FAQ

What is Denbury's recent agreement about CO2 services?

Denbury has a CO₂ Services Agreement with Clean Hydrogen Works to transport and sequester 12 million metric tons of CO₂ per year from a hydrogen-ammonia complex in Louisiana.

How much CO2 will Denbury transport and sequester annually?

Denbury will transport and sequester approximately 12 million metric tons of CO₂ per year under the new agreement.

What is the financial commitment Denbury has made to the ACE project?

Denbury has committed an initial investment of $10 million and will invest an additional $10 million upon meeting certain project milestones.

What is the expected start date for ammonia production at the ACE project?

Block 1 production of ammonia at the ACE project is anticipated to commence in 2027.

How does the agreement affect Denbury's overall CO2 service agreements?

With this agreement, Denbury's cumulative CO₂ service agreements total 20 million metric tons per year, double its original goal.