Carbon sequestration in depleted oil shale deposits

摘要

A method and apparatus are described for sequestering carbon dioxide underground by mineralizing the carbon dioxide with coinjected fluids and minerals remaining from the extraction shale oil. In one embodiment, the oil shale of an illite-rich oil shale is heated to pyrolyze the shale underground, and carbon dioxide is provided to the remaining depleted oil shale while at an elevated temperature. Conditions are sufficient to mineralize the carbon dioxide.

主权项

1. A method of sequestering carbon dioxide comprising:
removing hydrocarbons from an underground region containing an oil shale formation wherein removing the hydrocarbons generates the carbon dioxide, and wherein removing the hydrocarbons comprises heating the underground region; injecting the carbon dioxide into the underground region, where the underground region previously included a clay mineral-rich oil shale deposit, where the clay mineral-rich oil shale deposit includes clay-rich shale containing iron sulfides; containing the carbon dioxide for a sufficient time to mineralize the carbon dioxide; and heating the carbon dioxide and generating iron cations, while the carbon dioxide is in the underground region, by selectively oxidizing the iron sulfides at a temperature below 350° C.