CO2 enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) offers the potential for storing significant volumes of carbon dioxide emissions while increasing domestic oil production. This paper, based on a recently updated report for DOE/NETL, examines the effect that "Next Generation" technologies will have on the CO2 storage and oil production potential of CO2-EOR. The paper examines the causes of sub-optimal CO2 storage and oil recovery efficiencies by current CO2-EOR practices and how a group of advanced or "Next-Generation" CO2-EOR technology could increase both CO2 storage volumes and oil recovery. Technologies investigated include: using increased volumes of injected and permanently sequestered CO2, optimizing well placement and pattern alignment, and using reservoir miscibility and viscosity enhancers.

Keywords:
reservoir, viscosity, society of petroleum engineers, efficiency, best practice, enhanced recovery, modeling & simulation, injection, technology option, storage
Subjects:
Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Chemical flooding methods
Copyright 2010, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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