ExxonMobil announced the completion of an expansion to the world’s largest carbon dioxide capture plant. Located near LaBarge, Wyoming, the expanded plant will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance oil production in the United States.
“This expansion will result in lower greenhouse gas emissions and help maximise the recovery of Wyoming’s oil resources,” said Randy Broiles, vice president, Americas, ExxonMobil Production Company. “ExxonMobil is a leader in the research, development and application of carbon capture technologies. These technologies could play a significant role in the future management of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.”
The US$86 million expansion includes the installation of compressors to capture 50% more carbon dioxide for potential use in enhanced oil recovery and other industrial uses. Enhanced oil recovery involves the injection of carbon dioxide into reservoirs to produce additional oil and gas. The carbon dioxide for this project is captured from the natural gas streams produced from fields in Wyoming. The gas streams contain significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other components that are removed at the LaBarge processing plant.
With the expansion, the plant has the capacity to capture approximately 365 million cubic feet per day of carbon dioxide from the gas streams – equivalent to the amount emitted by more than 1.5 million cars.
The captured carbon dioxide is sold to companies for enhanced oil recovery, helping to extend the productive lives of mature oil fields, the company said.
