CO/sub 2/ line design needs

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Pipeline Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5921126

Recht, D L

Large volumes of carbon dioxide are required for tertiary oil recovery projects that utilize the carbon dioxide miscible flooding method. Carbon dioxide can be successfully transported as a supercritical fluid through a pipeline designed and operated similar to a natural gas pipeline, with careful consideration given to specific differences in design and materials of construction. Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless, nonflammable, non-toxic substance that may exist as a gas, as a liquid, as a solid, or in all three forms at its triple point. The critical pressure and temperature of CO/sub 2/ are 1,070 psia and 88/sup 0/F, respectively. It is present in the normal atmosphere in a concentration of approximately 330 ppm, and somewhat higher concentrations may occur in occupied buildings. Air in lungs contains approximately 5.5% (55,000 ppm) of CO/sub 2/. Although it is non-toxic, air containing 10% to 20% CO/sub 2/ concentrations by volume is immediately hazardous to life by causing unconsciousness, failure of respiratory muscles, and a change in the pH of the blood stream. Carbon dioxide is commonly used for carbonated beverages, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishers, enrichment of air in greenhouses, fracturing and acidizing of oil wells, as a shielding gas for welding, and as dry ice for refrigeration. In tertiary recovery projects of suitable oil reservoirs, CO/sub 2/ is injected into the formation where it dissolves in the oil, swells the oil, reduces the oil's viscosity, exerts an acidic effect on the reservoir rock (in some cases), and vaporizes some of the oil. As a rough rule of thumb, approximately 6 to 10 mcf of CO/sub 2/ are required to be injected for recovery of 1 bbl of oil. Carbon dioxide miscible flooding will recover approximately 10% to 15% of the oil remaining in place after a waterflood program.

• Research Organization: Eagleton Eng. Co., Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 5921126
• Journal Information: Pipeline Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 213:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CARBON DIOXIDE
TRANSPORT
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
REAGENTS
PIPELINES
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
ARIZONA
ENHANCED RECOVERY
JOINT VENTURES
NEW MEXICO
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
TEXAS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
USA
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production