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Topic: Energy Dept: CO2 storage technique in Cdn oil field proves a success
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Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795
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posted 16 November 2005 11:58 AM
quote: (Washington) An experimental project in Canada to inject carbon dioxide into oil fields has proven successful, removing 4.5 million tonnes of the heat-trapping "greenhouse" gas, while enhancing oil recovery, the US Energy Department said Tuesday.
If the methodology could be applied worldwide, from one-third to one-half of the carbon dioxide emissions that go into the atmosphere could be eliminated over the next century and billions of barrels of additional oil could be recovered, the department said.
The project is a joint effort by the Energy Department, the Canadian government and private industry.
Carbon dioxide is piped from the Great Plains Synfuels plant in Beulah, N.D., where it is a by-product from coal gasification, to the Weyburn oil field in Saskatchewan.
"The success of the Weyburn project could have incredible implications on reducing CO2 emissions and increasing America's oil production," said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.
Bodman, who is visiting the Middle East, said in a statement released by his office that if the process were used in all the oil fields of western Canada, "we would see billions of additional barrels of oil and a reduction of CO2 emissions equivalent to pulling more than 200 million cars off the road for a year."
From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003
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Bubbles
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3787
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posted 17 November 2005 09:54 PM
Just some quick estimate from the article. 200 million cars @ 20,000 km/year @ 12litres/100km @ 200 litre/barrel = about one billion barrels of oil that those cars would use. That is how much co2 production they claim to be able to sequester. As a side benefit they can produce billions of additional barrels of oil. Where is the co2 from that going to go when you use it in some co2 producing combustion process?Another way of looking at it. Oil is about 85% carbon. Burning one kilo of carbon produces about 3.6 kilo of CO2. How are you going to put 3.6 kilo of CO2 in the space that the one kilo of carbon took up under ground? Mind you there are other variables that could come in play. But a rough analysis suggests that the project manager is just trying to create a warm fuzzy feeling to lull us back to sleep.
From: somewhere | Registered: Feb 2003
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