System and Method for Permanent Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Shale Reservoirs

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system, method and apparatus for the removal of natural gas/methane from in situ loci within shale reservoirs to (i) provide fully de-carbonized surplus electricity, and (ii) power re-injection of the resulting carbon formed (CO 2 ) upon combustion in an electric generator along with large volumes of atmospheric CO 2 , such as for large scale removal of CO 2 from the Earth's surface/atmosphere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for storing carbon compounds in an underground reservoir, said method comprising:
 injecting proppant into an underground reservoir;   fracturing the underground reservoir;   removing hydrocarbons from in situ loci within the underground reservoir;   injecting the carbon compounds into the underground reservoir; and   dissolving the proppant after the carbon compounds have been injected into the underground reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the hydrocarbons being first removed from an underground reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , an underground reservoir being the underground reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of converting the hydrocarbons to electrical energy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising capturing a byproduct from the step of converting of the hydrocarbons to the electrical energy, the byproduct including the carbon compounds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the underground reservoir being a shale reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . A system for storing carbon compounds in an underground reservoir, said system comprising:
 a first supply subsystem adapted to provide a fluid to the underground reservoir;   a second supply subsystem adapted to provide a proppant to the underground reservoir;   a third supply subsystem adapted to provide a solvent for dissolving the proppant to the underground reservoir;   and   a pressure subsystem comprising a pump in communication with the fluid and the proppant for pressurizing at least one of the fluid and the proppant to a pressure sufficient to stimulate the underground reservoir.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , the pump in further communication with the solvent for pressurizing the solvent to a pressure sufficient to deliver the solvent to the underground reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a removal subsystem to remove the natural gas from the underground reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , the removed natural gas being a fuel source for production of electricity. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a power conversion unit to produce electricity and byproducts from the hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , the byproduct produced including the carbon compounds. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , the electricity providing a power source for injection of the carbon compounds into the underground reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , the underground reservoir being a shale reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . A method for storing carbon containing compounds in a formation associated with a pre-existing fracturing well formed by hydraulic fracturing, the method comprising:
 injecting a solution into the formation, the solution capable of at least partially degrading the structural integrity of proppant positioned within the formation;   and   injecting the carbon containing compounds into the formation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the proppant being a conventional proppant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , the formation being a shale. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , the solution being an alkaline solution. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , the solution being an acidic solution. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , the at least partially degrading comprising at least partially dissolving the structural integrity of the proppant. 
     
     
         21 . A method for storing carbon containing compounds in a formation associated with a fracturing well formed by hydraulic fracturing, the method comprising:
 injecting proppant into the formation;   fracturing the formation;   removing hydrocarbons from in situ loci within the formation;   injecting the carbon containing compounds into the formation;   injecting a solution into the formation, the solution capable of at least partially degrading the structural integrity of the proppant positioned within the formation;   and   wherein a volume of the carbon containing compounds is greater than a volume of the removed hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , the proppant being a conventional proppant. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , the formation being a shale reservoir. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , the solution being an alkaline solution. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , the solution being an acidic solution. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , the at least partially degrading comprising at least partially dissolving the structural integrity of the proppant. 
     
     
         27 . A method for producing electricity by combustion of hydrocarbons without releasing carbon containing compounds into the atmosphere, the method comprising:
 injecting proppant into the formation;   fracturing the formation;   removing hydrocarbons from in situ loci within the formation;   converting the hydrocarbons into electricity, wherein the converting produces the carbon containing compounds;   injecting the carbon containing compounds into the formation simultaneously with the converting;   and   injecting a solution into the formation, the solution capable of at least partially degrading the structural integrity of proppant positioned within the formation.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein a volume of the carbon containing compounds is greater than a volume of the removed hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , the proppant being a conventional proppant. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , the formation being a shale. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , the solution being an alkaline solution. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , the solution being an acidic solution. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , the at least partially degrading comprising at least partially dissolving the structural integrity of the proppant.