Application and enlightenment of carbon dioxide flooding in the United States of America

Abstract

The application and characteristics of CO2 flooding in the USA were analyzed and summarized. Supporting techniques of CO2 flooding were generalized, and then the enlightenment was expounded for CO2 flooding in China. The development process and forming reasons of CO2 flooding technology were analyzed and summarized based on systematic tracking of EOR survey data all over the world and sufficient investigation of CO2-EOR technology application. With the number of CO2 flooding projects, scale and annual production as indicators, the current situation of American CO2-EOR technology was evaluated. The characteristics of the projects and development-driving force of CO2 flooding in America were also summed up. The characteristics of formation properties, crude oil properties and project timings of American CO2 miscible flooding projects were outlined emphatically. Meanwhile, the application scale and reservoir adaptability differences between American CO2 miscible and immiscible flooding were comparatively analyzed. A series of supporting techniques were illuminated with the SACROC CO2 flooding project as an example. The challenges, technical bottlenecks and suggestions were analyzed and proposed for the promotion of CO2 miscible flooding technology in China. Key words: CO2 flooding, miscible flooding, immiscible flooding, gas driving, enhanced oil recovery