The Feasibility of Using CO2 EOR Techniques in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming

Abstract

Abstract The feasibility of tertiary oil recovery by CO2 injection in fields located in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming was studied. The objectives were 1) to estimate the amount of tertiary oil that could be recovered by CO2 injection in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming; 2) to locate sources of CO2 for this basin; 3) to measure the potential demand for CO2 in this basin; ad 4) to find the economic rage of feasibility for CO2 utilization in the basin. The work was not intended to be a detailed analysis of the reservoirs in the Powder River Basin ad their compatibility with CO2 injection, but rather, a attempt to get a rough estimate of the usefulness of CO2 in the Powder River basin. Introduction A reservoir survey was sent to the operator of each field in the Powder River basin to gather information about each field's producing formations. The data was then compiled ad the fields were evaluated according to their compatibility with the buff ad puff and/or full scale flooding using CO2. By applying utilization ad recovery factors, rough estimates of CO2 demand ad tertiary oil recovery were obtained. Detailed data on reservoirs that represent 64.6% of the 1988 oil production from the basin is presented in: MS thesis. In terms of CO2 supply, a variety of sources were considered, both natural ad man-made. These included existing liquefaction plants with truck delivery to the site, extension of Exxon's CO2 line from Bairoil, Wyoming through the Powder River basin, power plat flue gas, coal gasification plan, ammonia plants and cement plants. The economics were intended to give a rough estimate of the rage of feasibility ad were based on the present prices of CO2 and/or a estimated future price of oil. POWDER RIVER BASIN DATA BASE The first major step in this project was to obtain information on a significant number of reservoirs in the Powder River Basin. There were several options available that would have generated the kind of data base required for this type of endeavor. After comparing all the alternatives, it was concluded that a direct survey would give the most accurate ad up-to-date information. The fields in the basin were identified by cross-referencing the boundaries as defined by the P. 271^