Co-generation, Ethanol Production and CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery
Model for Environmentally and Economically Sound Linked Energy Systems

Kansas Geological Survey
Open-file Report 2002-6

Russell Kansas project could be a model for Linked Energy Systems

When the Department of Energy funded miscible CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) demonstration project gets underway in 2002 it will mark the first time that CO2 from an ethanol plant has been used for EOR. If proven to be technically and economically feasible the project offers potential to add significant value to waste CO2 through enhanced oil recovery.

The majority of CO2 from ethanol plants is vented and the balance is sold as liquid CO2 and consumed in the food processing industry, eventually also being “vented” to the atmosphere. Little value is added. The electrical co-generation, ethanol production and enhanced oil recovery project is unique in that it brings together three distinctly separate industries in a way that improves the economics of each while also providing a mechanism for “value added” geologic sequestration of CO2.

The Russell linked energy systems, though modest in size, may be a scalable model that could be applied in many areas of the United States where conditions favorable for ethanol production overlap with areas with potential for CO2 EOR, particularly those areas that are distant to geologic sources of CO2.

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Last updated March 2002
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/Poster/2002/2002-6/P1-03a.html