Abstract

In this paper, the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) outlines a plan to advance clean coal technology, carbon dioxide (CO²) capture, enhanced oil recovery, and CO² sequestration in the Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming. This plan constitutes a new, integrated approach to energy production that reduces the energy expended in the production process, thereby reducing costs while providing for more complete and efficient use of available resources. Implementation would most likely involve industry or an industry/Wyoming state government scientific research collaboration. We explore two strategies for producing clean energy in the PRB: 1) building an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) coal-fueled power plant to produce electricity and/ or synfuels, and 2) using underground coal gasification (UCG) in conjunction with an IGCC plant and/or synfuels production. Produced CO₂ would be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in nearby oil fields, then sequestered in the same fields and in other depleted oil and gas fields nearby. The PRB is an ideal location for this type of integrated system because of its abundant coal reserves, industrial infrastructure, and aging oil and gas fields, all very near each other. Shorter pipeline distance requirements, shorter coal supply haul distances, and the ability to use existing well field infrastructure will reduce costs substantially. Use of established power lines and transportation corridors such as roads, highways, and railroads should reduce costs as well. The accompanying map illustrates the proximal locations of the proposed and existing facilities and infrastructure.

Nearby Permian-age Minnelusa Formation oil fields will be targeted for EOR, and nearby Cretaceous-age depleted oil and gas fields will be targeted for sequestration. Successful EOR should provide significant return on this integrated process and on the additional investment required to capture and sequester produced CO₂. At present, EOR using CO₂ has helped increase oil production in Wyoming by 10-15 percent. State production increased in 2006 after 21 years of decline, partly due to EOR projects using CO₂ at Salt Creek, Monell, and Wertz-Lost Soldier fields.