IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,215,277
Granted Patent B2
US 12,215,277 · App. 18/508,885 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Sequestration of carbon dioxide in organic-rich geological formations

Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull (Houston, TX); Hasmukh A. Patel (Houston, TX); Younane N. Abousleiman (Houston, TX); David Jacobi (Houston, TX); Poorna Srinivasan (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
C09K8/594C09K8/72E21B41/0064
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,215,277
App. No.
18/508,885
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for subsurface sequestration of carbon dioxide includes placing into a subterranean zone an oxidizer having a redox potential of at least 0.5 volts. The subterranean zone has an average total organic content of at least three weight percent. Carbon dioxide is injected into the subterranean zone via one or a plurality of wells. A total volume of all fluids injected into the subterranean zone via the one or the plurality of wells includes, on average per well per month, at least sixty-five weight percent carbon dioxide and less than thirty weight percent water.

Claims (41)

1. A method for subsurface sequestration of carbon dioxide, the method comprising:

forming an oxidizer-carbon dioxide mixture by mixing, with carbon dioxide, an oxidizer having a redox potential of at least 0.5 volts;

injecting the oxidizer-carbon dioxide mixture into a subterranean zone having an average total organic content of at least three weight percent via one or a plurality of wells, wherein a total volume of the mixture injected into the subterranean zone via the one or the plurality of wells comprises, on average per well per month, at least sixty-five weight percent carbon dioxide and less than thirty weight percent water; and

sequestering at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the subterranean zone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a shale formation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a depleted hydrocarbon-producing reservoir formation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the coal seam has an average total organic content of at least sixty percent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizer comprises at least one of:

an oxychlorine;

an oxybromine;

oxyiodine;

chlorine;

bromine;

iodine;

ozone;

nitrous oxide;

nitric oxide;

nitrogen dioxide;

a persulfate;

a perborate;

a percarbonate; or

a peroxide.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a geological formation having an average formation temperature of less than 100 degrees centigrade, and wherein the oxidizer comprises at least one of chlorine, a hypochlorite, or chlorine dioxide.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a geological formation having an average formation temperature of greater than 100 degrees centigrade, and wherein the oxidizer comprises at least one of bromine, an oxybromine, a chlorate, or a perchlorate.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting the oxidizer-carbon dioxide mixture into the subterranean zone is a step of a carbon dioxide sequestration operation having a sequestration rate of at least 250,000 metric tons per year per well.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the oxidizer relative to the amount of carbon dioxide in the mixture is less than 10 weight percent.

11. A method for subsurface sequestration of carbon dioxide, the method comprising:

forming, in situ in a subterranean zone, an oxidizer having a redox potential of at least 0.5 volts by injecting a first precursor compound into the subterranean zone and then injecting a second precursor compound into the subterranean zone, the first precursor compound and the second precursor compound reactive to form the oxidizer, the subterranean zone having an average total organic content of at least three weight percent;

injecting carbon dioxide into the subterranean zone via one or a plurality of wells, wherein a total volume of all fluids injected into the subterranean zone via the one or the plurality of wells comprises, on average per well per month, at least sixty-five weight percent carbon dioxide and less than thirty weight percent water; and

sequestering at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the subterranean zone.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first precursor comprises a chlorite and the second precursor comprises an oxidizing agent.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first precursor comprises a chlorate and the second precursor comprises a reducing agent.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first precursor comprises an acid and the second precursor comprises and acid.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a shale formation.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a depleted hydrocarbon-producing reservoir formation.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the coal seam has an average total organic content of at least sixty percent.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a geological formation having an average formation temperature of less than 100 degrees centigrade.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subterranean zone comprises a geological formation having an average formation temperature of greater than 100 degrees centigrade.

21. The method of claim 11 , wherein a sequestration rate of the sequestering is at least 250,000 metric tons per year per well.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2023
From: HULL, KATHERINE LEIGH; PATEL, HASMUKH A.; ABOUSLEIMAN, YOUNANE N.; JACOBI, DAVID; SRINIVASAN, POORNA
To: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065884/0330 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2023
From: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065884/0350 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2023
From: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065884/0390 →
Continuity (2)
Division 17550302 · Dec 14, 2021
Related Publication 20240084189A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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