Vallourec supplies tubular solutions for the first CCS facility in California

French pipe manufacturer Vallourec has announced that it has delivered advanced tubular solutions to the American energy and carbon management company California Resources Corporation (CRC) Carbon TerraVault I (CTV I) carbon capture and Storage (CCS) at the Elk Hills field in Kern County, California.

The first carbon plant in California with EPA Class VI approval

According to Vallurek, Carbon TerraVault I is the first carbon capture and storage facility in California to receive Class VI permits from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to inject and store carbon in depleted reservoirs. The first carbon injection at the facility is scheduled for spring 2026.

At full capacity, CTV I is expected to store up to 1.46 million metric tons of carbon per year. The project is projected to contribute 38 million tons of carbon storage to the broader Carbon TerraVault portfolio, which has a planned capacity exceeding 350 million tons.

According to Vallurek, the project's long-term storage capability is intended to support California's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.

Tubular technology supplied by Vallourec

According to Vallourec, its tubular technologies play a central role in maintaining well integrity and long-term carbon sequestration in the project. The company stated that it had supplied premium VAM® 21 connections mounted on a corrosion-resistant alloy pipe that were qualified