INJECTION OF DISSOLVED CARBON DIOXIDE INTO AN UNDERGROUND FORMATION

Claims

1. A method for sequestering carbon in a target zone of an underground formation, comprising compressing a gas mixture consisting of a mixture of components including carbon dioxide and at least one other second gas; mixing a compressed gas component with a liquid under pressure; dissolving at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the liquid to form a carbonated liquid; separating at least a portion of the second gas from the water, wherein the separated second gas has a pressure greater than atmospheric; pumping the separated second gas into the pressure recovery system; using a separated second gas to increase the pressure of the gas mixture in order to mix it with water under pressure; introducing carbonated liquid into the underground target area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture of compressed liquid and gas mixture is at a pressure selected for dissolving carbon dioxide in water.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one second gas of the gas mixture includes at least one of the following gases: nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure recovery system includes a turbocharger or a pressure-operated heat exchanger.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: compressing the carbonated fluid prior to introducing it into the underground target zone.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein mixing the gas mixture with the liquid under pressure further comprises mixing the gas mixture with an aqueous liquid.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein mixing the gas mixture with liquid under pressure further comprises mixing the gas mixture with wastewater from a hydrocarbon well.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein compressing the gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide and at least a second gas further comprises compressing carbon dioxide from waste from an industrial source.