Illinois basin, Midwest carbon dioxide EOR challenges may be surmountable

Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has several barriers to overcome before it can gain a sustained presence in the Midwest. Improved awareness of the EOR projects such as the Salt Creek CO₂ flood in Wyoming where drilling new wells was economically successful, will make operators and owners more open to projects in their fields. Workshops and seminars are possible methods of achieving these goals. The current lack of carbon dioxide source and distribution infrastructure for carbon dioxide EOR in the Midwest is linked to the lack of carbon dioxide demand. In order to raise carbon dioxide demand, operators and owners both in and outside the Midwest must be convinced of the feasibility of commercial-scale carbon dioxide EOR projects. Workshops, seminars, documentation of field practices, and other methods are a way to increase awareness of successful pilot projects conducted in the Midwest as well as change the perception of regional barriers.