Improved oil recovery techniques and their role in energy efficiency and reducing CO2 footprint of oil production

Production of mature oil fields emits significant amount CO2 related to circulation and handling large volumes gas water. This can be reduced either by (1) using a low-carbon energy source and/or (2) reducing the non-hydrocarbon produced/injected fluids. paper describes how improved recovery techniques designed reduce intensity (kgCO2/bbl oil) production efficient use injectants. It is shown that emissions associated with injection chemicals strongly influenced water cut at start project, extent reduction, chemical utilization factor defined as volume produced per mass or injectant. As an example, for field considered in this study, 3–8% reduction result 50–80% its intensity. In addition incremental lower intensity, earlier implementation enhanced methods extend lifetime if carbon emission cut-offs are applied. case (EOR), storage potential significantly overall oil, albeit energetic cost. For EOR captured from power plants, improving 2 bbl/tCO2 4 120 kgCO2/bbl 80 (33% reduction).