Method and apparatus for using frozen carbon dioxide blocks or cylinders to recover oil from abandoned oil wells

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhanced oil recovery comprising separating COgas from coal or flue emissions of a power plant, and flash freezing the COgas with super chilled air, to form frozen COice blocks or cylinders, wherein the COblocks or cylinders can then be inserted into an abandoned oil well, and the COcan be allowed to warm up and change phase to a gas, which enables the COgas to mix with the oil, and helps reduce the viscosity of the oil and allows it to flow more freely, so that it can be pumped out using conventional equipment. A first application comprises having top and bottom valves and the COblocks or cylinders being allowed to change phase to a gas while inside the injection pipe, to increase the pressure therein, such that, by opening the bottom valve, pressurized jets of COgas can be released into the oil, causing the oil to mix vigorously with the carbon dioxide gas, and reduce the viscosity thereof. A second application comprises allowing the COcylinders or blocks to drop into the oil itself, wherein the relatively warm oil causes the frozen COto change phase to a gas, which causes violent gas bubbles to form that vigorously mix with the oil, which helps reduce the viscosity of the oil so it flows more freely through the reservoir.