Carbon dioxide from flue gases for enhanced oil recovery

This report summarizes research to design and develop a new method for recovering carbon dioxide from flue gases. The carbon dioxide could be used to enhance oil recovery from domestic oil fields. The method would also recover oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, avoiding the emission of these compounds to the atmosphere. The method is now ready to be scaled up for commercial use. When economic incentives are provided for gas recovery either through higher oil prices or the passage of national legislation on acid rain or the greenhouse effect, the research summarized here will make possible the widespread availability of highly concentrated carbon dioxide. In the near term, small ventures may use the method wherever additional carbon dioxide is needed and scarce (e.g., in the Northeast) and a combustor is suitably located. 110 refs., 26 figs., 20 tabs.