Dehydration of supercritical CO/sub 2/

Conference · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984 · Proc. Gas Cond. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5838769

Wallace, C B

The number of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects utilizing carbon dioxide has increased dramatically in recent years. A 1984 survey by the Oil and Gas Journal reported 58 active CO/sub 2/ projects versus 17 in 1980 and only one in 1971. Numerous other projects have been announced and are under development. Sources of CO/sub 2/ for current and planned EOR projects have been quite diverse. Several large CO/sub 2/ floods are based on supplies from gas wells having very high natural CO/sub 2/ contents. CO/sub 2/ produced from the acid gas streams of natural gas treatment plants is another large source. Recovery of CO/sub 2/ from ammonia and hydrogen plants, and from power plant stack gas streams and coal gaisfication processes represent other available supplies. Usually, the CO/sub 2/ supply source is located some distance from the producing oil field where it is utilized. Thus, transportation is required. The most economic method of transporting large volumes of CO/sub 2/ cross-country is by pipeline. The critical pressure of pure CO/sub 2/ is about 1070 psi, and these lines typically operate at supercritical pressures ranging from around 1200 psi to over 2000 psi. Problems associated with two phase flow are thus avoided. CO/sub 2/ purity specifications vary from project to project. CO/sub 2/ quality must satisfy several possibly differing requirements. It must be suitable for pipeline transportation and handling by surface equipment and downhole tubulars. Reservoir compatibility at the producing oil field is another consideration. Treating is often required at both the source location and producing field to meet these requirements. Treatment may be necessary to permit reinjection of contaminated gas after CO/sub 2/ breakthrough occurs. CO/sub 2/ treating processes include dehydration, removal of sulfur compounds, hydrocarbon separation, nitrogen rejection, etc. The remainder of this paper, addresses the topic of CO/sub 2/ dehydration.

• Research Organization: Shell Oil Co., Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 5838769
• Report Number(s): CONF-8503199-
• Journal Information: Proc. Gas Cond. Conf.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Gas Cond. Conf.; (United States); ISSN PGCCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
AMMONIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEHYDRATION
DESULFURIZATION
ELEMENTS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMPURITIES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PIPELINES
PURIFICATION
REAGENTS
RECOVERY
TRANSPORT
TWO-PHASE FLOW
WELLS