UK grid electricity carbon intensity can be reduced by enhanced oil recovery with CO2 sequestration

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) using CO2 coupled with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can potentially accelerate CO2 storage investment through creation of a large commercial market for EOR . This article assesses how coupled a CCS-EOR scenario might contribute to decarbonization of UK grid electricity. Progressive introduction of 11 CCS-to-EOR gas-power plant projects from 2020 is estimated to store 52 Mt CO2 yr−1 from 2030. These 11 projects produce extra revenue of 1100 MM bbls of taxable EOR oil from 2020 to 2049. After each 20-year EOR project ceases, its infrastructure is paid for, and has many years of life. UK climate change targets would necessitate continued CO2 storage at low cost. Considering all greenhouse gas emissions – from power generation, CCS-EOR operations, and oil production and combustion – this project suite emits an estimated 940–1068 Mt CO2e from 2020 to 2049, while storing 1358 Mt CO2. The total average electricity grid factor in the UK reduces to 90–142 kg CO2e MWh−1, with gas generating 132 TWh yr-1. This life-cycle analysis (LCA) is unusual in linking oil production and combustion with CCS and gas-fueled electricity, yet provides a net carbon reduction, and progressively reduces net oil combustion emissions beyond 2040

The Role of CO2-EOR for the Development of a CCTS Infrastructure in the North Sea Region: A Techno-Economic Model and Application

Scenarios of future energy systems attribute an important role to Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage (CCTS) in achieving emission reductions. Using captured CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) can improve the economics of the technology. This paper examines the potential for CO2-EOR in the North Sea region. UK oil fields are found to account for 47% of the estimated additional recovery potential of 3739 Mbbl (1234 MtCO2 of storage potential). Danish and Norwegian fields add 28% and 25%, respectively. Based on a comprehensive dataset, the paper develops a unique techno-economic market equilibrium model of CO2 supply from emission sources and CO2 demand from CO2-EOR to assess implications for a future CCTS infrastructure. A detailed representation of decreasing demand for fresh CO2 for CO2-EOR operation is accomplished via an exponential storage cost function. In all scenarios of varying CO2 and crude oil price paths the assumed CO2-EOR potential is fully exploited. CO2-EOR does add value to CCTS operations but the potential is very limited and does not automatically induce long term CCTS activity. If CO2 prices stay low, little further use of CCTS can be expected after 2035

CO2 recycling accounting and EOR operation scheduling to assist in storage capacity assessment at a U.S. Gulf Coast depleted reservoir

Bureau of Economic Geolog