CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery: Analyzing the effect of injection rate and bottom hole pressure

Abstract

The goal of net-zero carbon emissions has led to widespread interest in lowering carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. At the same time, the oil and gas industry seeks to enhance oil recovery (EOR) techniques to meet growing demand. CO₂ flooding, a key EOR method, offers a dual benefit: reducing CO₂ emissions and enhancing oil recovery. This study investigates the impact of injection rate and bottom hole pressure (BHP) on CO₂ injection performance using the Nexus reservoir simulator, a novel application in CO₂-EOR research. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no previous research published in which the researchers used the Nexus reservoir simulator for the study of CO₂-EOR. Cases are thoroughly investigated with various injection rates and BHP limitations. Simulation results show that BHP has a minimal impact on oil production, whereas increased injection rates significantly enhance cumulative oil production (COP) by 33.39% and extend reservoir life from 20 to 37 years. Total oil production increased to 33150.7 MSTB, accompanied by reduced water production and maintained reservoir pressure. These findings align with previous research, underscoring the importance of optimized CO₂ injection strategies for maximizing oil recovery and reservoir performance.