In the heart of China’s Shandong province, a groundbreaking project is reshaping the future of carbon management and oil recovery. Shengli Oilfield, one of the country’s oldest and most productive oil fields, has become a testing ground for cutting-edge carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. The results, published in the journal ‘Youqicang pingjia yu kaifa’ (translated as ‘Oilfield Evaluation and Development’), promise to revolutionize the energy sector’s approach to carbon emissions and enhanced oil recovery.
At the helm of this innovation is SHU Huawen, a leading engineer from Sinopec Shengli Petroleum Engineering Co., Ltd. Under his guidance, the Shengli Oilfield has developed and implemented a suite of engineering technologies that address the complex challenges of large-scale CCUS projects. The goal? To achieve efficient, safe, and cost-effective transportation, injection, and extraction of CO2, all while enhancing oil recovery and reducing carbon emissions.
One of the key innovations is a safety transportation technology for long-distance CO2 pipelines. This technology, based on phase state control, ensures that CO2 is transported efficiently and safely, even over vast distances. “The phase changes of CO2 and the risks of long-distance leakage due to pressure loss and temperature variations are significant challenges,” explains SHU. “Our technology addresses these issues head-on, ensuring safe and efficient transportation.”
The project has also seen the development of China’s first casing pipeline transport pump and the construction of the country’s longest long-distance supercritical pressure CO2 pipeline. These advancements are set to fill critical gaps in China’s CCUS infrastructure, paving the way for more ambitious projects in the future.
But the innovations don’t stop at transportation. The project has also developed a high-pressure dense-phase injection pump, capable of injecting CO2 at pressures up to 40 MPa. This technology is crucial for the high-pressure injection of large-displacement CO2, a key aspect of the demonstration project.
Moreover, the project has tackled the challenges of high injection pressure, high gas-to-liquid ratio, low pumping efficiency, and CO2 corrosion. The result is an engineering process technology that ensures high-efficiency, safe injection and extraction, and long-lasting corrosion protection.
The culmination of these efforts is China’s first multi-field, multi-node, one-million-ton CCUS demonstration project. This project, which integrates pipeline transport engineering, injection equipment, flooding and sequestration, injection-extraction process, and gathering-transmission and re-injection, has been operating smoothly and safely. It’s a testament to the potential of CCUS technologies in the energy sector.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and the energy transition, CCUS technologies offer a promising solution. They allow for the continued use of fossil fuels while significantly reducing carbon emissions. Moreover, they enhance oil recovery, making existing reserves more productive and extending the lifespan of oil fields.
The success of the Shengli Oilfield project could serve as a blueprint for future CCUS projects, both in China and around the world. It demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of large-scale CCUS projects, paving the way for more ambitious endeavors in the future. As the energy sector continues to evolve, technologies like those developed in Shengli Oilfield will play a crucial role in shaping its future.