What are the best practices for optimizing CO2 injection in EOR?

CO2-EOR is not a proper EOR method in all reservoirs. Poor sweep efficiency seriously limits field applications of CO2-EOR, especially in fractured reservoirs. Gravity override of CO2 and channeling within the high-permeability layer are the main issues.

Optimizing carbon dioxide (CO2) injection entails multi face process which involves the following: Detailed reservoir Characterization to understand geological and structural reservoir properties. Simulation Studies to develop an optimized injection strategy. Optimize well design and placement for maximum CO2 sweep efficiency and effective reservoir contact. Conduct economic feasibility assessments, adhere to regulations, engage stakeholders, and implement risk management. Embrace innovation, considering advancements like machine learning for performance predictions and a broader range of injection strategies. These practices enhance CO2 injection success, addressing efficiency, compliance, and technological advancements.

Our thinking about CO2 production has to change. There are many solutions for CO2 capture. Sudbury Vale uses Water absorption/membrane/filter. Capture CO2 to treat sewage and strengthen cement. The CO2-EOR processes can create magnesium carbonate or pressurize old oil fields and trap CO2. An example of using CO2 as a resource by creating an artificial environment that is not suitable for humans but has an environment where plants can take advantage of extra CO2. Let's use current knowledge to identify possible CO2-EOR sites. Link CO2-EOR sites to a source of CO2. Plus Identify CO2 processes that can be used to create a product. If you store CO2 via CO2-EOR then you have a resource to make products to make money and reduce emissions.

Optimizing CO2 injection in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) involves key practices: accurate reservoir characterization for targeted injection, implementing a well-designed injection strategy to maintain reservoir pressure, optimizing injection rates for efficient displacement of oil, monitoring and controlling injection parameters, and utilizing advanced modeling techniques. Employing site-specific reservoir simulations, ensuring proper wellbore integrity, and conducting regular performance assessments enhance overall CO2 utilization and oil recovery. Collaborative research, data-driven decision-making, and ongoing adjustments based on real-time feedback further contribute to the success of CO2 EOR operations.

not only in CO2-EOR projects, but in any other EOR projects beside the resrvoir condition another parameter that affects the chosen method - here injection mode - is the economy of the project that must be addressed. although it is proved that using foam injection is more effective for pushing the oil to the production wells, surfactants are usually expensive that make it impossible to use surfactant-based methods, at least at the current price of oil. comparing WAG and continues injection, in the terms of mobility control should be mentioned that WAG has a better ability to move piston-like and has a better control on the movement of both CO2 and oil phase.

Introducing Mechanically drilled injection/production channels (mechanical radial drilling) accurately into the target intervals will increase injection volumes and reduce injection pressures. Perforations are no longer required and you can acheive injection radii of up to 50m (+/- 25m). This method not only improves injectivity significantly, it can also be applied to the production wells. -4 skin reductions are typical, and production/injection conduits that are 2-3/4" in diameter can bypass any formation damage and avoid any restrictions at the perforations and allow unrestricted flow in or out of your target zones. This has been proven in heavy oil steam cycling stimulation projects with 3X production improvements compared to previous.

one of the side values of CO2-EOR in hydrocarbon reservoirs is the CO2 storage, due to the fact that during production of oil in this method CO2 is injected to the subsurface formation, the oil produced using CO2-EOR has a much lower carbon footprint compared to the oil that is produced from other methods, hence when comparing this method to the other EOR methods it should be considered that it is more environmental friendly, also the role of storing CO2 in the reduction of carbon emission taxes could be driving force for the stakeholders to be tended to use this method to go in the way of sustainability.

Injection of CO2 into mature oil reservoirs is a proven effective method for improving oil production. Retention of the injected carbon dioxide within the reservoir is an intrinsic part of the CO2 EOR process, and effectively all CO2 captured or purchased for injection will ultimately remain stored within the oil field at the end of EOR operations. This storage aspect has driven interest in CO2 EOR as a potential method of catbon capture storage (CCS)

First of all please let me share my experience in CO2 recovery plant. The manufacture was constructed by Veba-Chieme where is located in Germany and stablished around 1970. The team decided to remove the CO2 plant recovery to Iran also near Tehran Refinery. The H2 plant can produce the combination of CO, CO2 gas, H2,... The pressure shall 6 or 7 bara. The compressor can compress the CO2 gas up to 14.5 bara.after that NH3 can chill the CO2 gas close to -37 deg.C At this time we have CO2 liquid which is very useful. Also Ice blast can be pruduced in next step. All commissioning, programming, start up and EPC phases shall be done by me during 5 years.