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Capturing Gas
Plant CO2 for EOR
Gas produced from Oakdale field is 22%
methane and 78% CO2. The gas is separated using
membrane modules. Blue Source LLC recently announced the
startup of a CO2 reduction, carbon offset project
at the Apple Tree LLC gas processing plant in Huerfano
County, Colo. Previously vented CO2 (about
400,000 tonnes/year) is now being captured from the vent
stack and transported via the Sheep Mountain CO2
pipeline for enhanced oil recovery in the Permian Basin. The
Apple Tree vent stack and an associated 16-mile pipeline
cost $8 million, according to Blue Source.
Excerpted from "Colorado Gas Plant
Catches CO2 for EOR,"
Oil & Gas Journal, Oct. 22,
2007, p. 9.
Oil Shales, and
The Companies
Investing Today
The U.S. has more than two trillion barrels of Oil
Shale resource, of which more than 1.2 trillion barrels is
concentrated in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. When early oil
shale |
efforts began to decline in 1982 and were finally curtailed
in 1991, numerous technologies approached readiness for
demonstration. Early technologies are still viable, but many
are being improved and adapted. New technologies are also
emerging. Several technologies are sufficiently developed
and field-tested to approach readiness to enter
demonstration at a commercially-representative scale.
Current efforts include both surface and in situ
technologies.
To get a good picture of what is happening, readers are
encouraged to review a recent report (June 2007) sponsored
by DOE's Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves,
prepared by AOC Petroleum Support Services, LLC. The report
documents the activity of 25 companies that are currently
investing private capital and expertise to prove the
viability of oil shale and tar sands resources and pilot
technologies at a commercially-representative scale. Links
and contacts are provided to find more information about
companies, projects, and emerging technologies and to
facilitate the sharing of information among industry
participants. Additional companies may be included in later
editions.
View the full report online at
www.nevtahoilsands.com/pdf/Oil-Shale-and-Tar-Sands-Company-Profiles.pdf. |
The Gasification Option
Interest is growing in technologies that
would cut the use of natural gas. A project by Nexen Inc./Opti
Canada, an integrated steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)
and bitumen upgrader venture, will use gasification of
liquid asphaltenes produced in the upgrader to make steam
for SAGD bitumen production and hydrogen for hydrocracking.
Suncor Energy Inc. is considering gasifying
20% of its petroleum coke production as part of its Voyageur
Phase Two expansion. Suncor recently invested in Great Point
Energy, Inc., whose gasification process could enable Suncor
to convert petroleum coke into clean natural gas, while also
sequestering CO2.
Northwest Upgrading Inc. will incorporate
gasification technology in a $4 billion oilsands upgrader to
be located northeast of Edmonton. The high purity CO2
will be captured and supplied to a CO2 flood in
the Clive Area.
Excerpted from "Gasification Beginning To
Gain A Foothold In Oilsands Operations," New Technology
Magazine, Nov. 2007, p. 10. |
Tech
Transfer Track