CO2-Enhanced oil recovery with CO2 utilization and storage: Progress and practical applications in China

CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is a strategic emerging technology that has undergone rapid development in recent years. CO2-Enhanced oil recovery with CO2 utilization and storage (CCUS-EOR) is currently the most practicable large-scale carbon reduction technology and has become a key tool for large-scale applications of CCUS. In the inceptive period, CCUS-EOR was targeted towards flooding, but has since been extensively adopted for industrialization. At present, CCUS-EOR is being developed for synergistic flooding and storage, and is expected to gradually transition to utilization in geological storage for supporting large-scale carbon reduction to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. The primary mechanisms controlling CCUS-EOR differ for high-permeability, high-water-cut oil reservoirs; low-permeability oil reservoirs; extra-low permeability oil reservoirs; and tight and shale oil reservoirs. Therefore, identifying the main constraints in the CO2 flooding process and formulating effective development strategies are necessary for maximizing both oil recovery and storage. In the geological storage of CO2, attention must be paid to key factors such as the storage capacity, injectivity, and safety. The storage performance can be enhanced through methods such as synergistic CO2-enhanced water recovery and CO2 storage (CCS-EWR), as well as rapid carbon mineralization in basalt. Globally, CCUS projects have undergone rapid growth, with more than 90% of operational projects led by or involving oil and gas companies. In China, CCUS-EOR is currently in the early stage of industrial application. The first million-ton CCUS project has recently been completed. China has great potential for CCUS-EOR. An advantage of CCUS-EOR is the early adoption to large-scale applications, while CO2 storage in saline aquifers provides a foundation for promoting large-scale development. In the future, multiple CCUS-EOR clusters are expected to be established in the Bohai Bay Basin, Songliao Basin, Ordos Basin, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta regions, which will drive high-quality development of CCUS applications in China.