Patent attributes
Oil wells at a certain stage of their production require Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) using a compatible and suitable saline fluid. To maintain production of such wells as they age further, IOR may advance to Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) using immiscible-CO2, miscible-CO2, and miscible CO2-based Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG). This invention provides innovative methods to satisfy the need for IOR and EOR fluids in oil-fields by effectively de-scaling saline streams, recovering waste heat from flue gas, and de-sulfurizing flue gas. The methods are also useful for any power plants or combined heat and power (CHP) co-generation plants (e.g., power-seawater desalination co-generation plants) at sea locations using seawater for cooling and/or for producing drinking water. The inventive methods obviate a variety of operating, economic and environmental problems not only in oil-fields but also in power plants and CHP co-generation plants.
