Eni begins drilling the first Hewett carbon storage appraisal well, advancing UK鈥檚 Bacton CCS project and strengthening national net-zero ambitions.
Eni has initiated drilling of the first carbon storage appraisal well on the historic Hewett field in the Southern North Sea, marking a pivotal milestone for the Bacton Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project. The development underscores Eni鈥檚 growing role in advancing the UK鈥檚 low-carbon transition and strengthening the nation鈥檚 carbon storage infrastructure.
The well aims to evaluate the carbon storage potential of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), which is estimated to hold up to 78 gigatonnes of capacity in depleted reservoirs and saline aquifers. This vast storage potential could theoretically accommodate all of the UK鈥檚 CO2 emissions since the start of the industrial era. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) projects that around 100 storage sites will need to be appraised to pinpoint the most technically and commercially viable locations鈥攃ritical to meeting the UK鈥檚 2050 net-zero target.
Located approximately 18 miles off the Norfolk coast, the Hewett field has a rich industrial legacy. First brought online in 1969 by Phillips Petroleum, it was the third gas field to enter production in the North Sea, following West Sole and Leman. By the time production ceased in 2023, Hewett had yielded about 3.5 trillion cubic feet of gas. Now, under Eni鈥檚 stewardship, this once-prolific field is being reimagined as a carbon storage hub that could help transform emissions management in the region.
The redeveloped site could store up to 10 million tonnes of CO2 annually, offering decarbonisation solutions for emitters in the Bacton area and the broader Thames Estuary industrial corridor. Additionally, the project has the potential to support cross-border collaboration with European industries seeking secure CO2 storage solutions, reinforcing the UK鈥檚 leadership in carbon capture and storage innovation.
The broader UK CCS landscape is expanding rapidly. The NSTA has already approved major projects such as the Northern Endurance Partnership (December 2024) and Liverpool Bay CCS (April 2025), the latter also operated by Eni. Combined, these ventures could collectively store over 200 million tonnes of CO2鈥攅quivalent to removing 110 million vehicles from the roads for a year. Beyond environmental benefits, the projects are catalysing economic growth, unlocking 拢6 billion in supply chain contracts and creating around 4,000 construction jobs, while the long-term industry could support more than 50,000 skilled roles.
In May 2025, the NSTA invited nominations for additional carbon storage sites, focusing on mature geological areas to shorten project lead times. So far, 21 licences have been granted under the UK鈥檚 first carbon storage licensing round, completed in September 2023. Licence CS008, which covers the Hewett field, is held by Bacton CCS Limited, a subsidiary of Eni CCUS Holding. Notably, the Hewett appraisal well also represents the first consented carbon storage appraisal well under the NSTA鈥檚 Well Operations Notifications System (WONS), symbolising a key regulatory and technical achievement in the UK鈥檚 energy transition.
