Comparing Life Cycle Emissions of CO2 and Water Flood EOR for Depleted Fields in India

Summary India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, necessitating large-scale deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies to balance economic growth and environmental sustainability. Among the various CCS pathways, CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR) in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs presents a viable strategy, offering both carbon sequestration potential and improved hydrocarbon recovery. However, India currently lacks operational CO2-EOR projects, with only pilot initiatives under consideration, such as in the Gandhar field, Cambay Basin. This study develops a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model tailored to India-specific technological and geological conditions to evaluate the environmental impact of CO2-EOR and waterflood EOR. The analysis focuses on key parameters such as CO2 utilization efficiency, crude recovery ratio, and associated emissions, incorporating methane leakage risks and long-term monitoring costs. Results indicate that CO2-EOR can significantly reduce emissions when utilizing anthropogenic CO2, whereas waterflooding poses water resource depletion challenges. The study underscores CO2-EOR’s dual role in India’s energy transition—extending the productivity of mature oil fields while serving as a testbed for CCS deployment. The findings emphasize the need for region-specific LCA models to accurately assess the net benefits of CCS implementation in India.