--> Abstract: Combining CO2 Sequestration With EOR Activities – A Synergistic Approach for the Future: An Example From the Michigan Basin

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Combining CO2 Sequestration With EOR Activities – A Synergistic Approach for the Future: An Example From the Michigan Basin

G. Michael Grammer1, David A. Barnes1, William B. Harrison III1, and Robert G. Mannes2

1Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education, Western Michigan University, Department of Geosciences, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

2 CORE Energy, LLC, 954 Business Park Drive, Suite 1, Traverse City, MI  49686

Increasing domestic oil production by maximizing recovery from known domestic oil fields is an economic and political imperative as U.S. imports of crude oil approach 60% of daily consumption. As part of this effort, CO2 flooding of reservoirs is a proven and effective means to increase the recovery of oil bypassed during primary production, although often at significant cost due to preparation and transportation of adequate CO2. At the same time, global and national interest in viable sequestration of anthropogenic CO2 is also increasing because of its role as a greenhouse gas. Here we report on an example from the Michigan Basin in which CO2 flood EOR operations and CO2 sequestration are economically positioned to be combined in a single operation.

Silurian pinnacle reefs in the Michigan Basin have produced over 450 MMBO since the late 1960’s. Due to the complex heterogeneity of reef reservoirs, however, primary production averages around 30% with secondary waterflood programs capturing an additional 12% on average. In the northern reef trend, a local source for subsequent CO2 flooding is readily available as a byproduct of nearby Antrim Shale production. In a single county alone, the annual production of CO2 separated from Antrim gas is about 20 BCF, a majority of which is vented directly into the atmosphere. The close proximity of high quality CO2 from several gas processing plants throughout the northern reef trend, a region with over 800 Niagaran reef fields, may provide an economically viable opportunity to combine CO2 flood EOR with geological carbon sequestration.

 

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90059©2006 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Buffalo, New York