Method of using carbon dioxide in recovery of formation deposits

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing a reliable, high purity source of CO 2 that is used in the recovery of formation deposits, such as fossil fuels. At least a portion of the fossil fuels recovered may be directly combusted or extracted using the same process used to provide the pure source of CO 2 without the need to first remove CO 2 , sulfur, other fossil fuels, or other impurities.

1 . A method for recovering a fuel material deposit from a formation, the method comprising:
 providing a combustion fuel and an oxidant into a combustor;   combusting the combustion fuel to provide a CO 2  containing stream comprising supercritical CO 2 ; and   injecting at least a portion of the CO 2  containing stream into the formation including the fuel material deposit for recovery such that at least a portion of the fuel material in the formation and at least a portion of the CO 2  stream flow from the formation and into a recovery well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion fuel and oxidant are provided into a combustor positioned above ground. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, after said combusting step and prior to said injecting step, expanding the CO 2  containing stream across a turbine for power generation to form an expanded CO 2  containing stream. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, prior to said injecting step, passing the expanded CO 2  containing stream sequentially through a heat exchanger that cools the CO 2  containing stream and through one or more separators that removes one or more secondary components present in the CO 2  containing stream. 
     
     
         5 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving from the recovery well a recovery stream comprising the fuel material and the CO 2 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising separating the recovery stream into a recovered gas stream and a recovered liquid stream. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the recovered gas stream comprises methane and CO 2 . 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the recovered gas stream further comprises one or more of C 2  hydrocarbons, C 3  hydrocarbons, and C 4  hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the recovered liquid stream comprises petroleum. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the petroleum comprises crude oil. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the recovered liquid stream comprises a fluidized solid fuel material. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising directing at least a portion of the recovered gas stream to the combustor as at least a portion of the combustion fuel. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said separating comprises directing the recovery stream through at least one pressure letdown stage at a defined pressure whereby one or more fuel material gas fractions are withdrawn and the remaining fraction of the recovery stream at the defined pressure comprises liquid fuel material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein one or more of the fuel material gas fractions comprises the CO 2 . 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising directing a fuel material gas fraction comprising the CO 2  to the combustor as at least a portion of the combustion fuel. 
     
     
         29 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . An apparatus for producing a CO 2  containing stream down-hole in a well, the apparatus comprising:
 a combustor;   a combustion fuel supply in fluid connection with the combustor;   an oxidant supply in fluid connection with the combustor;   a chamber within the combustor wherein combustion of the fuel occurs at a temperature of at least about 600° C. to produce the CO 2  containing stream; and   an outlet on the combustor that delivers the CO 2  containing stream from the combustor and into the well.   
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the outlet comprises a conically shaped nozzle that concentrates the CO 2  containing stream delivered therefrom. 
     
     
         53 . A system for generating CO 2  and recovering a fuel material deposit from a formation, the system comprising:
 a combustor;   a combustion fuel supply in fluid connection with the combustor;   an oxidant supply in fluid connection with the combustor;   a chamber within the combustor configured for receiving and combusting the combustion fuel to provide a CO 2  containing stream comprising supercritical CO 2;      an injection component that delivers the CO 2  containing stream into the formation including the fuel material deposit such that at least a portion of the fuel material in the formation and at least a portion of the CO 2  stream flow from the formation and into a recovery well as a recovery stream; and   one or more processing components for processing the recovered fuel material and CO 2  in the recovery stream   
     
     
         54 - 61 . (canceled)