CO2 Injection and Production Field Facilities Design Evaluation and Considerations

Abstract

Abstract Many technical papers have been published on CO2 flooding from a reservoir standpoint; but, few have ever discussed design considerations of field CO2 production and injection facilities. This paper will present initial design and installation considerations, design criteria, and initial installation problems associated with Amoco's four West Texas CO2 projects (Slaughter Estate Unit, Central Mallet Unit, Frazier Unit, Wasson ODC Unit). Additionally, design and operational considerations, based on the experience gained from operating the four CO2 floods during the last two years, will be discussed for use in future CO2 facility designs. Equipment problems which have been experienced during operation, modifications which have been made as a result of experience, and recommended changes for future designs will be discussed in this paper. Actual case histories of operations, equipment design, and equipment problems encountered will be presented. The specific areas to be discussed will include: The CO2 injection system material selection and layout, CO2 injection wellhead material selection and configuration, CO2 injection well downhole equipment, producing wellhead pressure and material requirements, flowline and fluid gathering systems, satellite and central tank battery layout and operation, and the gas collection system layout and material selections. Special considerations will be given to design details and material' specifications that are often overlooked, or not considered. The resulting potential problems and failures of these oversights will be discussed.