The CO2-EOR sequestration equation: recovery, dynamic monitoring, and co-optimization

Abstract

Industry has recognized the usefulness of injecting CO2 in geological formations for the past fifty years. The aim of this injection has not been for sequestration/storage, but to displace/dissolve oil, enhancing oil production (EOR). Though a lot of the injected CO2 remains trapped in an oil reservoir, the majority of the floods cannot be considered sequestration/storage projects since the CO2 source is another geological formation. The CO2-EOR operation aims at recovering the maximum amount of oil while consuming the minimum amount of CO2. The sequestration goal is to store the maximum amount of CO2 and to guarantee that it is safely stored.