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Environmental and Operational Performance of CO 2 -EOR as a CCUS Technology: A Cranfield Example with Dynamic LCA Considerations

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  • Vanessa Núñez-López

    (Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78758, USA)

  • Ramón Gil-Egui

    (Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78758, USA)

  • Seyyed A. Hosseini

    (Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78758, USA)

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential of carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery (CO 2 -EOR) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without compromising oil production goals. A novel, dynamic carbon lifecycle analysis (d-LCA) was developed and used to understand the evolution of the environmental impact (CO 2 emissions) and mitigation (geologic CO 2 storage) associated with an expanded carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) system, from start to closure of operations. EOR operational performance was assessed through CO 2 utilization rates, which relate usage of CO 2 to oil production. Because field operational strategies have a significant impact on reservoir engineering parameters that affect both CO 2 storage and oil production (e.g., sweep efficiency, flood conformance, fluid saturation distribution), we conducted a scenario analysis that assessed the operational and environmental performance of four common and novel CO 2 -EOR field development strategies. Each scenario was evaluated with and without stacked saline carbon storage, an EOR/storage combination strategy where excess CO 2 from the recycling facility is injected into an underlying saline aquifer for long-term carbon storage. The dynamic interplay between operational and environmental performance formed the basis of our CCUS technology analysis. The results showed that all CO 2 -EOR evaluated scenarios start operating with a negative carbon footprint and, years into the project, transitioned into operating with a positive carbon footprint. The transition points were significantly different in each scenario. Water-alternating-gas (WAG) was identified as the CO 2 injection strategy with the highest potential to co-optimize EOR and carbon storage goals. The results provide an understanding of the evolution of the system’s net carbon balance in all four field development strategies studied. The environmental performance can be significantly improved with stacked storage, where a negative carbon footprint can be maintained throughout the life of the operation in most of the injection scenarios modelled. This information will be useful to CO 2 -EOR operators seeking value in storing more CO 2 through a carbon credit program (e.g., the 45Q carbon credit program in the USA). Most importantly, this study serves as confirmation that CO 2 -EOR can be operationally designed to both enhance oil production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanessa Núñez-López & Ramón Gil-Egui & Seyyed A. Hosseini, 2019. "Environmental and Operational Performance of CO 2 -EOR as a CCUS Technology: A Cranfield Example with Dynamic LCA Considerations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:3:p:448-:d:202328
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leach, Andrew & Mason, Charles F. & Veld, Klaas van ‘t, 2011. "Co-optimization of enhanced oil recovery and carbon sequestration," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 893-912.
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    3. Li, Shaohua & Wang, Xin & Wang, Sijia & Zhang, Yi & Chen, Cong & Jiang, Lanlan & Wang, Lei & Liang, Fei & Sun, Hongjun & Song, Yongchen, 2024. "Optimizing oil recovery with CO2 microbubbles: A study of gas composition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    4. Oghare Victor Ogidiama & Tariq Shamim, 2021. "Assessment of CO2 capture technologies for CO2 utilization in enhanced oil recovery," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 11(3), pages 432-444, June.
    5. Waxman, Andrew R. & Corcoran, Sean & Robison, Andrew & Leibowicz, Benjamin D. & Olmstead, Sheila, 2021. "Leveraging scale economies and policy incentives: Carbon capture, utilization & storage in Gulf clusters," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, 2019. "A Novel Approach to Stabilize Foam Using Fluorinated Surfactants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-12, March.

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