CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery: Analyzing the effect of injection rate and bottom hole pressure

The goal of net-zero carbon emissions has led to widespread interest in lowering carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. At the same time, the oil and gas industry seeks to enhance oil recovery (EOR) techniques to meet growing demand. CO 2 flooding, a key EOR method, offers a dual benefit: reducing CO 2 emissions and enhancing oil recovery. This study investigates the impact of injection rate and bottom hole pressure (BHP) on CO 2 injection performance using the Nexus reservoir simulator, a novel application in CO 2 -EOR research. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no previous research published in which the researchers used the Nexus reservoir simulator for the study of CO 2 -EOR. Cases are thoroughly investigated with various injection rates and BHP limitations. Simulation results show that BHP has a minimal impact on oil production, whereas increased injection rates significantly enhance cumulative oil production (COP) by 33.39% and extend reservoir life from 20 to 37 years. Total oil production increased to 33150.7 MSTB, accompanied by reduced water production and maintained reservoir pressure. These findings align with previous research, underscoring the importance of optimized CO 2 injection strategies for maximizing oil recovery and reservoir performance. • CO 2 injection rate for EOR has prominent impact on reservoir performance. • BHP has a minimal effect on production rates and recovery factors. • CO 2 injection significantly enhances oil recovery and extends reservoir production life.