Carbon dioxide gas mixture processing with steam assisted oil recovery

Abstract

Methods and apparatus relate to processing flue gas from oxy-fuel combustion. Steam generated without contact of the steam with the flue gas combines with the flue gas for injection into a formation to facilitate oil recovery from the formation. Fluids produced include the oil and carbon dioxide with a lower concentration of oxygen than present in the flue gas that is injected.

1 . A method, comprising:
 forming a mixture of flue gas from oxy-fuel combustion and steam generated prior to being mixed with the flue gas, wherein the flue gas contains carbon dioxide with an initial concentration of oxygen that is at least 0.1 volume percent;   injecting the mixture into a subterranean formation for heating oil in the formation and reacting with the oil at least some of the oxygen that is from the flue gas and is dissolved in liquid condensate of the steam;   recovering fluids including the oil that is heated and the carbon dioxide from the flue gas;   separating the fluids recovered to isolate from a liquid phase the carbon dioxide containing less than the initial concentration of oxygen; and   transporting to a sequestration site the carbon dioxide that is separated from the liquid phase.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising heating a boiler for generating the steam using the oxy-fuel combustion. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxy-fuel combustion is part of a heating unit separate from a steam generator that makes the steam. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating the fluids removes the liquid phase from a vapor phase that is at least 95% carbon dioxide by volume. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating the fluids removes the liquid phase from a vapor phase that is at least 95% carbon dioxide by volume with oxygen content of less than 0.001% by volume. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reacting of the oil with at least some of the oxygen is at a temperature of at least 100° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reacting of the oil with at least some of the oxygen is at a temperature of at least 200° C. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 90% by volume of the flue gas is the carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding to the mixture a hydrocarbon-containing solvent for the oil being produced and having a lower viscosity than the oil being produced. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transporting includes passing the carbon dioxide through a pipeline. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the injecting is through a first wellbore spaced from a second wellbore located deeper in the formation than the first wellbore and through which the recovering occurs. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 producing flue gas from oxy-fuel combustion, wherein the flue gas contains carbon dioxide with quantities of oxygen greater than a transport specification;   generating steam without contact of the steam with the flue gas;   introducing the steam into the flue gas to form a mixture;   injecting the mixture into a formation for heating oil in the formation;   recovering fluids including the oil that is heated and the carbon dioxide from the flue gas;   separating the fluids into liquids and vapors, which are formed of the carbon dioxide and meet the transport specification due to removal of at least some of the oxygen by oxidation of the oil upon the oxygen being dissolved in condensate of the steam for liquid phase reactions at temperatures elevated by the steam; and   transporting to a sequestration site the carbon dioxide obtained by the separating.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the transportation specification is oxygen content of less than 0.001% by volume. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the separating the fluids removes the liquids from the vapors that are at least 95% carbon dioxide by volume. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the oxy-fuel combustion is used to heat a boiler for the generating of the steam. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein at least 90% by volume of the flue gas is the carbon dioxide and at least 0.1% by volume of the flue gas is the oxygen. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the transporting includes passing the carbon dioxide through a pipeline. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the elevated temperatures are above 150° C. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a supply of flue gas from an oxy-fuel combustion chamber;   a source of steam generated without contact of the steam with the flue gas;   an injection well disposed in a subterranean formation containing oil, wherein the injection well is coupled in fluid communication with the supply of the flue gas and the source of the steam; and   a vapor-liquid separator coupled to receive produced fluids heated by the steam and output carbon dioxide from the flue gas, wherein the carbon dioxide in the produced fluids is processed by liquid phase reactions between the oil heated by the steam and at least some oxygen that is from the flue gas and is dissolved in condensate of the steam.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the oxy-fuel combustion chamber is coupled to heat a boiler for generating the steam.