Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute to Host Annual CO2 Conference

May 30, 2013

For the seventh year, the Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI) at the University of Wyoming will host its annual CO2 Conference in Casper July 10-11 at the Casper Events Center.

More than 250 industry professionals from across the state and country will convene in Casper to learn about and discuss new and emerging research and technologies relevant to carbon dioxide flooding for enhanced oil recovery in existing Wyoming fields.

The EORI works to help the state of Wyoming and its energy producers recover large resources of stranded oil in depleted reservoirs as rapidly, responsibly and economically as possible. EORI is the only institution devoted entirely to enhanced oil recovery in Wyoming oil fields.

The institute primarily focuses on applying new technology through field demonstrations, and supports additional development work as necessary to support commercial-scale implementation. As part of this commitment, the institute has adopted a culture consistent with that of the state’s oil producers. EORI’s priorities and values align with the oil industry’s priorities and values; the institute talks industry language; and its projects meet industry standards.

CO2 enhanced oil recovery contributes about 7 million barrels of oil per year (13 percent of total oil production) in Wyoming. Contributions of EOR to total state production are increasing. UW economists have determined that the CO2 EOR industry supports 1,600 jobs and contributes $140 million to the state through taxes.

This year’s conference agenda has two themes: small CO2 EOR operators and sources of CO2 from hydrocarbon conversion.

The Wyoming oil industry is broadly characterized by small- to medium-sized operations. These typically have significant financial and resource challenges to overcome when considering CO2 floods. Two smaller CO2 EOR operators from outside Wyoming will present case studies and share their insights regarding these challenges.

In addition, presentations focused on hydrocarbon conversion (coal to liquids, IGCC, coal gasification, etc.), an energy technology with a big future in the United States and Wyoming, will be on the agenda. The majority of these hydrocarbon conversion projects are now being designed to include sale of CO2, which is produced by the various coal conversion processes.  A panel of current and future conversion operators and technical experts will discuss implications in Wyoming.

The annual CO2 Conference is a collaboration among large and small operators, local and federal government representatives, and industry stakeholders. The majority of the costs for the conference are covered by industry sponsors who support and invest in enhanced oil recovery.

The conference is open to the public and free of charge. For more information regarding the conference or to register, visit the EORI website at https://www.uwyo.edu/eori/conferences.

The EORI is one of several centers of excellence of the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER). SER is an interdisciplinary entity tasked with developing the fundamental knowledge, technologies and human resources necessary to solve the critical energy challenges society faces today. Each SER center of excellence serves as a hub to unite academia, government and industry in cooperation to advance its focus area.

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