15-11-05
An experimental project in Canada to inject
carbon dioxide into oil fields has proven successful, removing 5 mm tons of the
heat-trapping "greenhouse" gas, while enhancing oil recovery, the Energy
Department said.
If the methodology could be applied worldwide, from one-third to one-half of the
carbon dioxide emissions that go into the atmosphere could be eliminated over
the next century and billions of barrels of additional oil could be recovered,
the department said.
The project is a joint effort by the Energy Department, the Canadian
government and private industry. Carbon dioxide is piped from the Great Plains
Synfuels plant in Beulah, ND, where it is a by-product from coal gasification,
to the Weyburn oil field in Saskatchewan, Canada.
"The success of the Weyburn Project could have incredible implications on
reducing CO2 emissions and increasing America's oil production," said Energy
Secretary Samuel Bodman. Bodman, who visited the Middle East, said that if the
process were used in all the oil fields of western Canada, "we would see
billions of additional barrels of oil and a reduction of CO2 emissions
equivalent to pulling more than 200 mm cars off the road for a year."
The completion of the first phase of the experimental project gives
government officials and industry an indication of how carbon sequestration can
both reduce the risk of climate change and allow enhanced oil recovery,
extending the oil field's life.
Carbon dioxide, produced from the burning of fossil fuels, is the leading
so-called "greenhouse" gas because when released into the atmosphere it creates
a heat-trapping blanket. Many scientists believe the growth of manmade sources
of these gases will lead to a warming of the earth if the trend is not reversed.
In the Weyburn project, the carbon dioxide when pumped into the oil reservoir
increased the pressure and brought more oil to the surface. It increased the
field's production by 10,000 bpd and "demonstrated the technical and economic
feasibility of permanent carbon sequestration," the DOE said.
Such a process can enhance oil recovery up to 60 %, extend the life of aging oil
fields by decades, and provide a permanent repository for the carbon dioxide in
geologic formations, the DOE said.
Now that the first phase of the Weyburn project is completed, researchers are
developing a manual on the findings for industry.
They also will expand the carbon injection process to an adjacent field where
the plan to develop try to improve injection efficiencies and refine the
process, according to the DOE.
Source: The Associated Press