The present invention is an in-situ apparatus for generating carbon dioxide gas at an oil site for use in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The apparatus includes a steam generator adapted to boil and superheat water to generate a source of superheated steam, as well as a source of essentially pure oxygen. The apparatus also includes a steam reformer adapted to react a carbonaceous material with the superheated steam and the pure oxygen, in an absence of air, to generate a driver gas comprising primarily carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas. A separator is adapted to separate at least a portion of the carbon dioxide gas from the rest of the driver gas to generate a carbon dioxide-rich driver gas and a hydrogen-rich fuel gas. A compressor is used for compressing the carbon dioxide-rich driver gas for use in enhanced oil recovery, and the compressed carbon dioxide-rich driver gas, with substantially no oxygen, is injected to a predetermined depth in order to enhance oil recovery at the oil site. Unlike traditional CO2-EOR, which requires large power plants stationed near metropolitan areas and expensive pipeline networks, the in-situ apparatus can be placed or constructed at the site of the oil field, while a portion of the carbonaceous material may be obtained from a site outside the oil field.

Systems and methods for generating in-situ carbon dioxide driver gas for use in enhanced oil recovery

A low temperature copper/zinc/aluminum water gas shift catalyst is described. The catalyst is formed from a precursor, wherein the precursor includes aluminum in the form of hydrotalcite and aluminum separate from the hydrotalcite. A method of making the catalyst and a process for using the catalyst are also described.

Water gas shift catalyst

A catalyst for the conversion of carbon oxide comprising 30 to 70% CuO, 20 to 90% ZnO, 0.1 to 20% of an element of Group IV-B in the form of an oxide, preferably titanium and/or zirconium, most preferably titanium, about 5 to about 40 percent Al 2 O 3 and preferably 50 to 1000 ppm of a Group 1-A element in the form of an oxide.

Promoted and stabilized copper oxide and zinc oxide catalyst and preparation

Methods and apparatus for removing oil or natural gas from the ground. In one example, the method may include reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate driver gas, and injecting the driver gas into the oil well. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming reaction fuel and water sources, with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into driver gas. In one example, the amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction to proceed. The driver gas may be used to help extract oil from the ground and especially oil from depleted oil wells. It may also be used to drive natural gas trapped underground or in coal beds to the surface.

Apparatus and Method for Extracting Petroleum from Underground Sites Using Reformed Gases

A catalyst for producing dimethyl ether which comprises alumina particles having an average size of 200 μm or less and a methanol synthesis catalyst layer formed around the alumina particles. The methanol synthesis catalyst is in an amount of 0.05 to 5 parts by weight to 1 part by weight of the alumina particles. Dimethyl ether is produced by the method of forming a slurry by introducing the catalyst into a solvent and introducing a mixed gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen into the slurry.

Catalyst for producing dimethyl ether, method for producing catalyst and method for producing dimethyl ether

Copper-containing catalysts for low temperature shift conversion at from 150° to 300° C. and under from 10 to 40 bar, which additionally contain aluminum and zinc, if necessary in the form of the compounds or oxides and are prepared by coprecipitation, the copper-containing catalysts containing potassium and having a BET surface area adapted to the potassium content, and the potassium content being brought to 0.1-3.0% by weight at a BET surface of from 30 to 160 m 2 /g, are used for the preparation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from carbon monoxide and water.

Copper-containing catalyst for low temperature shift conversion

Copper-containing catalysts for low-temperature conversion at temperatures of from 150 to 300 DEG C and at from 10 to 40 bar which additionally contain aluminium, and zinc, if desired in the form of the compounds or oxides, and are prepared by joint precipitation, the copper-containing catalysts containing potassium and having a BET surface area matched to the potassium content, the potassium content being set to from 0.1 to 3.0% by weight at a BET surface area of from 30 to 160 m /g, and their use for the production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from carbon monoxide and water.

Herbert Dr. Wanjek

Papers

Copper-containing catalyst for low temperature shift conversion

Copper-containing catalyst for low-temperature carbon oxide conversion