Accelerating Net Zero: CO2 Deployment for EOR - A Comprehensive Case Study on CCUS Encompassing Reservoir Selection, Facilities Design and Operational Strategies

ADNOC embarked on the landmark initiative to align with its ambitious net-zero targets and enhance oil recovery from its mature reservoirs. This paper provides a detailed examination of the implementation of the Simultaneous Water and Gas (SWAG) CO₂ injection pilot in major oil field. It explores the rationale behind adopting CO₂-EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) strategies, the technical and operational design of the pilot, key challenges, risk mitigation approaches, achieved results, and the far-reaching implications for both hydrocarbon recovery and climate objectives. The global energy industry is undergoing a transformative shift as it seeks to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. For major energy producers like ADNOC, this transition presents both a challenge and an opportunity: maintaining production from maturing assets while reducing the carbon intensity of operations. The adoption of CO₂-EOR reflects this dual imperative, promising significant gains in oil recovery alongside meaningful contributions to carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) goals. The pilot described herein targets a major carbonate reservoir characterized by moderate permeability contrasts between its upper and lower zones. The field, which has produced for decades under traditional waterflooding, was selected for its potential to benefit from advanced EOR techniques—specifically, the simultaneous injection of water and CO₂ (SWAG CO₂) to address bypassed oil in lower permeability intervals and improve sweep efficiency.