Carbonated water injection revisited

Abstract

Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas, but also an effective agent for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Large scale CO2-EOR projects are being carried out in the USA and Canada. However, such projects are not common outside North America due to limited supply of CO2. Carbonated water injection (CWI) process is to inject water saturated with CO2. The CO2 in carbonated water diffuses into oil and results in oil swelling and viscosity reduction. CWI requires much less CO2 supply. Several successful CWI field pilots were conducted in 1960s. Oil fields with good EOR potential and limited CO2 supply should seriously consider CWI method.