Offshore Oxy-Firing Power Generation with CO2 Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore oil and gas production facilities emit significant CO2 from gas turbine exhausts, which is not captured, and existing power generation methods are inefficient and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for capturing CO2 at offshore sites using oxy-firing gas turbine generators, air separation units, gas compression, and dehydration units to produce electricity and capture CO2, which can be reused for enhanced oil recovery or safely disposed, reducing atmospheric emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional gas turbine generators are used for power generation, then electricity is produced, but CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere without capture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful CO2 exhaust from gas turbine combustion into a beneficial product by injecting it into subterranean formations for enhanced oil recovery. The CO2 that would otherwise be emitted harmfully is now utilized to improve oil production while being sequestered underground, transforming a waste stream into a valuable resource.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of injection wells and subterranean formations that mediate between the CO2 exhaust and the atmosphere. Instead of direct atmospheric emission, CO2 is transported through injection infrastructure into geological formations, where it serves as a medium for enhanced oil recovery while preventing direct atmospheric release.
2Productivity
If CO2 is captured and used for enhanced oil recovery, then oil production is enhanced and emissions are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the CO2 capture system to serve multiple purposes: generating power through gas turbines, capturing CO2 from exhaust, transporting it via compression, and utilizing it for enhanced oil recovery. This integrated approach allows a single system to address energy production, emissions reduction, and oil recovery simultaneously, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges previously separate operations into an integrated system where power generation and carbon utilization are combined. The gas turbine power generation system is merged with CO2 capture, compression, and injection operations, creating a unified infrastructure that achieves multiple objectives through coordinated operation of interconnected components.
3Quantity of substance
If CO2 is compressed and dehydrated for enhanced oil recovery, then CO2 quality is improved for injection, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous operation of compression and dehydration units that process CO2 exhaust continuously as it is generated from the gas turbines. This continuous processing eliminates the need for batch operations, startup/shutdown cycles, and associated energy losses, maintaining steady-state operation that optimizes energy efficiency while ensuring consistent CO2 quality for injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by compressing and dehydrating CO2 before injection into subterranean formations. The CO2 is pre-conditioned to the appropriate pressure and purity levels in advance of injection, ensuring it meets the requirements for enhanced oil recovery operations. This preliminary preparation prevents the need for additional processing during injection operations.
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
The system effectively captures CO2, reducing emissions and enhancing oil recovery, while also providing excess power for transmission to other facilities, thus minimizing overall greenhouse gas emissions and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one or more oxy-firing gas turbine generator units, the oxy-firing unit is configured to receive as a fuel input the gas fraction separated by the one or more separator units
Implementation Method 2
one or more air separation units configured to separate an air into nitrogen and oxygen
Implementation Method 3
one or more gas compression units configured to compress an exhaust gas from the one or more oxy-firing gas turbine generator units to produce a compressed exhaust gas
Implementation Method 4
one or more dehydration units configured to dehydrate the compressed exhaust gas from the one or more gas compression units to produce a dehydrated compressed exhaust gas
Implementation Method 5
one or more oxy-firing gas turbine generator units configured to generate electricity with the oxygen, the gas, and the portion of the dehydrated compressed exhaust gas
Data Source
AI summary
In a system for producing power and capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) at an offshore site, separator units separate a fluid produced from an offshore vessel in fluid communication with a reservoir into water, oil, and gas. The gas is sent to oxy-firing gas turbine generator units. Air separation units separate an air into nitrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is sent to the oxy-firing gas turbine generator units. Gas compression units compress an exhaust gas from the oxy-firing gas turbine generator units. Dehydration units dehydrate the compressed exhaust gas, and a portion of the dehydrated compressed exhaust gas is recycled back to the oxy-firing gas turbine generator units. Gas pumps inject a remaining portion of the dehydrated compressed exhaust gas into the reservoir. Additionally, the oxy-firing gas turbine generator units generates electricity with the oxygen, the gas, and the portion of the dehydrated compressed exhaust gas.