Low-Carbon Fuel Production via CO2 Injection and Sequestration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of hydrocarbon fuels results in significant greenhouse gas emissions, and existing methods fail to effectively reduce the carbon intensity of these fuels throughout their lifecycle, from extraction to combustion.
Innovation Solution
Injecting captured carbon dioxide, either from atmospheric sources or industrial processes, into geologic formations during hydrocarbon production, allowing for the creation of low-carbon fuels with associated emissions credits, thereby reducing lifecycle emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is injected into geologic formations during hydrocarbon production, then carbon intensity of fuel is reduced and emissions credits are generated, but additional infrastructure and operational complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines carbon dioxide injection operations with existing hydrocarbon production operations by using the same wellbores for both extracting hydrocarbons and injecting CO2. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate infrastructure and lowers overall system complexity while achieving carbon intensity reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing wellbores that were originally designed for hydrocarbon extraction are repurposed to serve dual functions: continued hydrocarbon production and CO2 injection for carbon sequestration. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated CO2 injection wells, reducing infrastructure complexity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If captured carbon dioxide is used for fuel production, then lifecycle emissions are reduced, but additional capture and processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
Carbon dioxide is captured from industrial sources or the atmosphere before being injected into geologic formations. This preliminary capture action prevents CO2 from entering the atmosphere and creates a supply of sequestrable CO2 that can be linked to fuel production for emissions credit generation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding captured CO2 as waste, the system recovers and utilizes it for injection into geologic formations. This transforms a waste product into a valuable resource that generates emissions credits and reduces fuel carbon intensity.
3Quantity of substance
If carbon dioxide injection is implemented during hydrocarbon production, then emissions credits are generated, but operational procedures become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates emissions credits automatically through the carbon sequestration process itself. As CO2 is injected and stored in the geologic formation, the reduction in fuel carbon intensity is directly measured and credited, eliminating the need for complex external verification procedures.
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 significantly reduces the carbon intensity of hydrocarbon fuels by sequestering CO2 in geologic formations, generating emissions credits, and enabling fuel providers to comply with regulatory standards while minimizing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions.
Implementation Method 1
injecting a carbon dioxide fluid into a first wellbore; producing a hydrocarbon fluid from a second wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for reducing a carbon emissions intensity of a fuel includes injecting a carbon dioxide fluid into a first wellbore; producing a hydrocarbon fluid from a second wellbore to a terranean surface; and producing a fuel from the produced hydrocarbon fluid, the fuel including a low-carbon fuel and assigned an emissions credit based on a source of the carbon dioxide fluid.