Vallourec Supplies Tubing for California's First Long-Term Carbon Storage Project
French-based Vallourec is providing the tubing for California’s first long-term carbon capture and storage (CCS) project injecting environmentally harmful carbon dioxide into depleted oil and gas formations.
California Resources Corp. selected Vallourec as an infrastructure partner for the Carbon TerraVault 1 (CV1) carbon injection and sequestration site at the Elk Hills Field in Kern County. CV1 is the first project to secure U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits for carbon dioxide (CO2) injection and storage in the played-out oil and gas reservoirs in that region.
Historically, some oil and gas firms have used pressurized CO2 for enhanced oil and gas recovery in older wells, but this project is solely focused on geologic sequestration.
The first injection is planned to begin this spring. At its maximum capacity, CV1 could store up to 1.46 million metric tons of CO2 annually in the reservoir, eventually totaling 38 million metric tons of CO2, according to reports
“This project represents a critical step toward advancing the CCS industry to a meaningful scale and toward meeting California’s climate goals,” CTV Managing Director Chris Gould said in a statement. “Partnering with companies like Vallourec, who bring advanced tubular technology and material expertise, helps us deliver safe and reliable carbon storage solutions that benefit both the environment and the local economy.”
Vallourec deployed its VAM 21 connections on corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) pipe for the CTV-1 project. The company also used its CLEANWELL dope-free technology for the first time in an onshore carbon capture and storage site.
“We are proud to support CRC on California’s first permitted Class VI carbon storage project, the first of its kind to advance toward injection in the United States,” said Jacky Massaglia, Vallourec North America senior vice president. “This milestone demonstrates the strength of our North America teams in delivering complex projects through technical expertise, field service support, and close customer collaboration.”
California Resources Corp. (CRC) gained EPA Class IV approval for the CTV project in early 2025. Those well permits represent the first carbon storage projects in the state.
Carbon TerraVault is a joint venture of CRC and private investment firm Brookfield.
The EPA deems Class IV wells as those in which CO2 is injected into deep rock formations in a process called geologic sequestration for permanent storage. CO2 captured and stored could come from point source emissions such as industrial manufacturing or energy production.
Global tubing firm Vallourec has contributed its products to multiple carbon capture and storage projects globally as part of its New Energies division. The company also delivers tubing for oil and gas, refinery, hydrogen, construction, automotive parts and geothermal industries.
XGS Energy announced recently it was contracting Vallourec to supply tubing needed for its 3-GW pipeline of upcoming geothermal energy projects across the western U.S. The geothermal project developer is starting its work this year with a 150-MW project in New Mexico in partnership with tech giant Meta.
About the Author
Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor
Managing Editor
For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].
Rod Walton has spent 17 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.
Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World.
EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023
Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.