CO2 Capture and Injection for Low-Carbon Fuel Production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing hydrocarbon fuels result in high life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, which are not effectively reduced, posing challenges for regulatory compliance and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A system that captures carbon dioxide from hydrocarbon production and injects it into subterranean zones to enhance hydrocarbon recovery, thereby reducing emissions intensity by creating a low-carbon intensity fuel pathway, including carbon sequestration and using the captured CO2 to produce hydrogen-rich fuel gases for steam generation and enhanced oil recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional hydrocarbon fuel production methods are used, then fuel production is maintained, but greenhouse gas emissions intensity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures CO2 emissions from hydrocarbon production and redirects them into enhanced oil recovery processes, converting the harmful greenhouse gas into a useful substance that enhances hydrocarbon recovery while achieving carbon sequestration. This transforms the waste product (CO2 emissions) into a beneficial resource that simultaneously addresses emissions reduction and fuel production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the production process by injecting CO2 into subterranean zones to alter rock pore pressures and enhance hydrocarbon release. This parameter change enables both reduced emissions intensity through CO2 utilization and maintained or enhanced fuel production through improved recovery efficiency.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If CO2 is captured and injected into subterranean zones to enhance hydrocarbon recovery, then emissions intensity is reduced, but additional process complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the carbon capture process with the enhanced oil recovery process into a single integrated system. The CO2 capture unit is combined with the hydrocarbon production infrastructure, and the injection system serves dual purposes: sequestering emissions and enhancing recovery. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to separate carbon capture and recovery systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The subterranean injection system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it sequesters CO2 emissions, enhances hydrocarbon recovery, and maintains reservoir pressure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving emissions reduction goals.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If captured CO2 is used to produce hydrogen-rich fuel gases for steam generation, then emissions are reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the CO2 that would otherwise be emitted as a fuel source for steam generation through hydrogen-rich fuel gas production. The CO2 serves dual purposes: it is both the waste product being managed and the raw material for generating energy. This self-service approach reduces net emissions while the energy consumed in steam generation is offset by the heat recovered from the process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions, enables compliance with low-carbon fuel standards, and generates emissions credits, allowing fuel providers to meet regulatory requirements while minimizing the chemical composition alteration of transportation fuels.
Implementation Method 1
injecting the captured carbon dioxide into a subterranean zone from one or more wellbores to enhance a production of a second hydrocarbon fluid from the zone
Implementation Method 2
capturing a carbon dioxide (CO2) fluid from the first hydrocarbon fluid production
Implementation Method 3
using the captured CO2 to produce hydrogen-rich fuel gases for steam generation
Implementation Method 4
combusting a fuel to heat a treatment fluid
Implementation Method 5
combusting a fuel to heat a treatment fluid; and injecting the heated treatment fluid from one or more wellbores to enhance the production of the first hydrocarbon fluid from the zone
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reducing a carbon emissions intensity of a fuel includes producing a first hydrocarbon fluid; capturing a carbon dioxide (CO2) fluid from the first hydrocarbon fluid production; and injecting the captured carbon dioxide into a subterranean zone from one or more wellbores to enhance a production of a second hydrocarbon fluid from the zone, at least one of the first or the second hydrocarbon fluids processable into a hydrocarbon fuel that includes a low carbon intensity fuel based, at least in part, on the captured and injected CO2 fluid.