The Tarim Oilfield’s Supercritical Carbon Re-injection Project Has “Stored” Over 20,000 Metric Tons of Carbon

China National Petroleum Corporation News (Correspondents Yang Haoyuan and Hou Fengyang) As of May 15, Xinjiang’s first supercritical carbon dioxide reinjection project—the Akemomu Gas Field Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Reinjection Project in the Tarim Oilfield—has been steadily increasing its output and improving efficiency. To date, more than 20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide have been injected and sequestered, providing a practical case study for the green and low-carbon transformation of oil and gas fields.
The project innovatively applies supercritical CO₂ reinjection technology, which involves separating and capturing CO₂ from oil and gas, pressurizing it, compressing it to a supercritical state, and then injecting it underground for storage, thereby significantly improving injection efficiency and storage stability.
Since its commissioning, the Ak Oil and Gas Operations and Maintenance Center under the Zepu Oil and Gas Management Area has continuously monitored CO₂ injection pressure, temperature, flow rate, and formation response data. At the same time, it dynamically monitors and adjusts process parameters, promptly optimizing injection parameters and process plans to ensure the stable, efficient, and environmentally friendly operation of the injection system. Additionally, it tracks and monitors equipment operating status and energy consumption indicators, providing solid data support and technical assurance for the sustainable development of the gas field.
Chen Song, a Level 2 Gas Production Engineer at the Ake Oil and Gas Operations and Maintenance Center of the Zepu Oil and Gas Management Area, stated that the project currently has an annual sequestration capacity of 45,000 metric tons, with a maximum daily CO₂ reinjection rate of 220 metric tons. Based on an average annual carbon sequestration of 20 kilograms per tree, this is equivalent to planting 2.25 million new trees each year.