Environmentally friendly method for generating energy from natural gas
AssigneeDropscone Corporation N.V.
InventorWouter Willem Van De Waal
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Abstract
The invention relates to an environmentally friendly method for generating energy from natural gas. Through the combustion of the natural gas with a mixture comprising substantially oxygen and CO2, a number of advantages are achieved with regard to the emission of CO2 and NOx. According to the invention, the CO2-rich product gas is injected into a natural gas reservoir from which natural gas has been extracted. By the underground replacement of natural gas by CO2, a pressure drop in the natural gas reservoir can be controlled, so that subsidence is prevented. Additionally, in this manner, the emission of CO2 is reduced or even wholly prevented.
Claims10
A method for producing energy from natural gas, comprising the steps of:
- a) admixing an oxygen containing gas with natural gas and converting said oxygen containing gas and said natural gas in the presence of CO2, into a flow comprising CO2 and water, whereby energy is generated;
- b) removing at least a part of the water from the flow comprising CO2 and water, so that a product flow is obtained;
- and
- c) injecting at least a part of said product flow into a reservoir from which natural gas has been extracted characterized in that, said oxygen containing gas has a nitrogen content substantially lower than air, said natural gas in step a) originates from a natural gas reservoir, and said reservoir in step c) is a natural gas reservoir.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy in step a) is generated in the form of heat and electricity.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the generated energy is at least partly used for obtaining a flow of oxygen-rich gas.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product flow is at least partly used as source of CO2 in step a).
A method according to any one of the preceding clams, wherein in step a) approximately 18 vol. % of oxygen is present.
Use of CO2 from combustion gases as injection medium for preventing pressure drop in natural gas reservoirs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.