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Extraction of Oil from the Bakken Shales with Supercritical CO2
Lu Jin, Steven B. Hawthorne, James A. Sorensen, Bethany A. Kurz, Steven A. Smith, Loreal V. Heebink, Nicholas W. Bosshart, José A. Torres, Chantsalmaa Dalkhaa, Charles D. Gorecki, Edward N. Steadman, and John A. Harju
Jul 2017Results from 20 samples showed that supercritical CO2 enables extraction of a considerable portion (15%–65%) of the hydrocarbons from the Bakken shales within 24 hours. The results may be used to improve modeling and forecasting the effects of CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and suggest the possibility for increasing ultimate recovery, and possibly CO2 storage, in some areas of the Bakken Formation.
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CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery Life Cycle Analysis Model (Rev. 2)
Nicholas A. Azzolina, Wesley D. Peck, John A. Hamling, Charles D. Gorecki, Scott C. Ayash, Thomas E. Doll, David V. Nakles, and L. Stephen Melzer
Oct 2016In “How green is my oil?” by Azzolina et al., the authors presented an integrated life-cycle model for CO2-EOR where the CO2 is sourced from a coal-fired power plant. The model was developed entirely in Microsoft Excel® to improve transparency and provide a useful tool for other practitioners. This model is an updated version of the model from the article. The cells have been unlocked so they can be modified.
Azzolina, N.A., Peck, W.D., Hamling, J.A., Gorecki, C.D., Ayash, S.C., Doll, T.E., Nakles, D.V., and Melzer, L.S., 2016, How green is my oil? a detailed look at greenhouse gas accounting for CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) sites: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, v. 51, p. 369–379. DOI: /10.1016/j.ijggc.2016.06.008.
Acknowledgment: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory under Award Number DE-FC26-05NT42592.
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A Systematic Investigation of Gas-Based Improved Oil Recovery Technologies for the Bakken Tight Oil Formation
Lu Jin, Steven B. Hawthorne, James A. Sorensen, Bethany A. Kurz, Lawrence J. Pekot, Steven A. Smith, Nicholas W. Bosshart, Alexander Azenkeng, Charles D. Gorecki, and John A. Harju
Aug 2016In this work, we systematically studied the feasibility of various EOR options for the Bakken Formation based on detailed reservoir/rock characterization, fluid analysis, and gas extraction investigation.
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The Use of Advanced Analytical Techniques to Characterize Micro- and Nanoscale Pores and Fractures in the Bakken
James A. Sorensen, Bethany A. Kurz, Steven A. Smith, Joel Walls, Michael Foster, and Bob Aylsworth
Aug 2016Results provide previously unavailable insight on nanoscale fracture apertures, intensity and orientation; pore throat mineralogy and connectivity; rock matrix characteristics, mineralogy, and organic content; and calculated absolute permeability in the vertical and horizontal direction. These results are being integrated into laboratory and modeling research activities to determine the fundamental mechanisms controlling fluid transport in the Bakken, which will support EOR scheme design and estimation of CO2 storage potential in tight oil formations.
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Characterization and Evaluation of the Bakken Petroleum System for CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery
James A. Sorensen, Jason R. Braunberger, Guoxiang (Gavin) Liu, Steven A. Smith, Steven A. Hawthorne, Edward N. Steadman, and John A. Harju
Jul 2015Application of the findings to the U.S. Department of Energy methodology for estimating CO2 EOR and storage capacity suggests that 4 Bbbl (billion barrels) to 7 Bbbl of incremental oil could be produced from the Bakken, resulting in a net storage of 1.9 to 3.2 billion tons of CO2.
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Full-Scale Test Evaluation of a Multielement Sorbent Trap Sampling Method for Halogen and Trace Metal Emissions
John H. Pavlish and Jeffery S. Thompson
Aug 2012The Energy & Environmental Research Center’s (EERC’s) Center for Air Toxic Metals® (CATM®) has developed a multielement sorbent trap (ME-ST)-based method as an alternative to EPA Methods 29 and 26A that greatly simplifies on-site sampling and recovery and allows overnight shipping to a laboratory for analysis.
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The Interactions of SO2 and SO3 on a Carbon Sorbent and their Impact on Mercury Capture
Edwin S. Olson, Charlene R. Crocker, Jenny Sun, Katie Hill Brandt, Grant E. Dunham, and John H. Pavlish
Aug 2006Recent experiments with SO3 added to a synthetic flue gas exhibit unique and somewhat unexpected mercury capture behavior for various simulated flue gas compositions. As predicted by the EERC model, results showed that the more acidic SO3 component is able to increase the initial reactivity of the carbon surface, an effect similar to that shown for HCl.
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Determination of Organomercury Compounds from Microbiologically Mediated Mercury Release Experiments Using Gas Chromatography with SPME Sample Introduction After Borethylation, Boropropylation, or Borophenylation
David J. Hassett, Loreal V. Heebink, and Erick J. Zacher
Aug 2004The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has developed a method of sampling gas streams and headspace gas for determination of dimethyl mercury and methyl mercuric chloride.
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Pilot-Scale Testing of Sorbent Injection and Fuel Additives for Mercury Control
John H. Pavlish, Michael J. Holmes, Ye Zhuang, Kevin C. Galbreath, Steven A. Benson, and Brandon M. Pavlish
Aug 2004Pilot-scale tests were performed to evaluate potential sorbents (DARCO® FGD, HCl-treated FGD and EERC-treated FGD) and fuel additives (NaCl, CaCl2, and sorbent enhancement additive [SEA] 2) for removing Hg from North Dakota lignite (Freedom Mine) combustion flue gas.
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Process for Regenerating a Spent Sorbent
Brandon M. Pavlish, Michael J. Holmes, John H. Pavlish, and Edwin S. Olson
Jun 2004This paper focuses on development and results of sorbent regeneration technology that are intended to reduce the costs associated with using sorbents for mercury control.
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Surface Compositions of Carbon Sorbents Exposed to Simulated Low-Rank Coal Flue Gases
Charlene R. Crocker, Steven A. Benson, Edwin S. Olson, John H. Pavlish, and Michael J. Holmes
Jun 2003Bench-scale testing of elemental mercury sorption on selected activated carbon sorbents was conducted to develop a better understanding of the interaction between the sorbent, flue gas constituents, and elemental mercury.
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An Improved Model for Flue Gas-Mercury Interactions on Activated Carbons
Edwin S. Olson, Jason D. Laumb, Steven A. Benson, Grant E. Dunham, Ramesh K. Sharma, Blaise A.F. Mibeck, Stanley J. Miller, Michael J. Holmes, and John H. Pavlish
May 2003Part of our work has focused on elucidating the nature of the interactions between the mercury and the flue gas components on activated carbon surfaces, particularly the activated carbons derived from Texas (Norit FGD) and from Fort Union lignites (prepared at the EERC). This understanding is crucial to developing a model for mercury chemisorption and subsequent design of carbons with faster kinetics and greater capacities.
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Pilot-Scale Investigation of Mercury Control Technologies for Utilities Burning Lignite Coal (03-A-65-AWMA)
John H. Pavlish, Michael J. Holmes, Kevin C. Galbreath, Ye Zhuang, and Brandon M. Pavlish
May 2003The EERC recently completed the first phase of a 3-year, two-phase consortium project to develop and demonstrate mercury control technologies for utilities burning lignite coal.
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Sorbent Development for Control of Mercury Emissions from Utility Power Plants
Michael J. Holmes, John H. Pavlish, Stanley J. Miller, and Grant E. Dunham
Jun 2002This paper describes the most recent equipment and techniques used by the EERC in sorbent evaluations and summarizes sorbent performance results for carbon-and non-carbon-based sorbents as well as the interactions with flue gas constituents.
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Release of Mercury Vapor from Coal Combustion Ash
Loreal V. Heebink and David J. Hassett
Aug 2001The long-term stability of mercury in coal combustion by-products (CCBs) was evaluated at ambient and near-ambient temperatures.
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Effects of NOx and α-FE2O3 on Mercury Transformations in a 7-kW Coal Combustion System
Kevin C. Galbreath, Christopher J. Zygarlicke, Donald L. Toman, and Richard L. Schulz
Jun 2001In this investigation, the effects of NO2 and α-Fe2O3 on Hg speciation were evaluated by injecting them into coal combustion flue gases produced from burning bituminous, subbituminous, and lignitic coals in a 7-kW combustion system.
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Novel Catalytic Carbons for Mercury Sorption in Air
Edwin S. Olson and Ramesh K. Sharma
Jun 2000This paper reports further studies that evaluate the performance of granular catalytic carbon sorbent beds for capture of mercury under the conditions of very high mercury concentrations in air and as they are applied in the MRS technology. Evaluation of the regeneration capabilities was also performed.
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Controlling Mechanisms that Determine Mercury Sorbent Effectiveness
Stanley J. Miller, Grant E. Dunham, Edwin S. Olson, and Thomas D. Brown
Jun 1999This paper presents additional data on concentration effects of NO2 and SO2 that may help to explain the mechanisms by which these gases affect sorbent performance.