Carbon dioxide life cycle analysis on EOR and geological storage through economic optimization and sensitivity analysis using the Weyburn unit as a case study

At the global, national, and sub-national levels, many policies have been created or are in the process of development to deal with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is an option available to governments and industry to help meet emission reduction levels. Carbon emission trading can create a value for CO2 and can modify the cost competitiveness of EOR or other forms of geological storage. This thesis evaluates the life cycle of CO2 storage from delivery to the oil field through the production, transportation, and refining of the oil and will identify opportunities for optimization. Information from the International Energy Agency (IEA) GHG Weyburn CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project is used to provide baseline information for evaluation of the storage life cycle. This will be combined with other sources of information to generate the life cycle economics and energy consumption for CO2 storage. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...