The ONGC signed an MoU with IOCL for CO2 based Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) by injecting CO2 captured from IOCL’s Koyali refinery.

 The MoU is aimed at establishing a framework for mutually beneficial cooperation in the area of CO2-EOR as a mode of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).

The common objective is to address some of the biggest challenges facing the country in particular and the world at large, namely energy security and climate change.

According to ONGC officials, this is a landmark event in the history of Indian hydrocarbon industry, with two of its largest conglomerates agreeing to jointly work on CCUS.

 Known to be a very effective method of EOR globally, CCUS is playing an increasingly important role in achieving the mission of carbon neutrality.

The idea of the MoU is to replicate the global success story in India.

The collaboration under this MoU focuses on development of CO2 capture plant at IOCL’s Koyali Refinery with appropriate carbon capture technology, development of business model, increasing domestic oil production through CO2-EOR in Gandhar field and inclusion of this project as part of national emission curtailment measure aimed at supporting country’s low-carbon development goals.

In order to replicate global success story of CO2-EOR from anthropogenic sources in India, the Institute of Reservoir Studies (IRS), ONGC has carried out laboratory and numerical simulation studies for Gandhar field.

Technical feasibility of CO2-EOR has been established, and is indicative of incremental oil recovery of approximately 10 per cent.

The project will add up a new dimension towards national vision of CCUS and will infuse a new life to the depleted matured oil fields of ONGC.

The learning curve from this endeavour shall create a knowledge base to further expand deployment of CCUS in India.

The success of CCUS in India will not only increase domestic oil production, but also cater to address India’s Nationally Determined Contributions of reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 33-35 per cent by 2030 as per the Paris agreement.

The MoU was signed by ONGC director (Exploration) AK Dwivedi and IOCL director (Refinery) BV Ramgopal in the presence of senior officials of the two conglomerates.