Carbon dioxide pipeline

Abstract

Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere are reduced and activities requiring CO 2 , such as enhanced oil field recovery, are promoted, by collecting CO 2 in a pipeline from at least two different CO 2 production facilities and delivering the CO 2 through the pipeline to one or more CO 2 consumption facilities. Carbon dioxide emission reduction credit associated with the transfer of CO 2 through the pipeline is tracked.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of reducing CO 2  emissions to the atmosphere, the method comprising 
 collecting in a pipeline CO 2  from at least two CO 2  production facilities having different methods of CO 2  production; and    delivering the CO 2  through the pipeline to at least one CO 2  consumption facility, wherein    the pipeline extends between the at least two CO 2  production facilities and the at least one CO 2  consumption facility.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities are differently selected from the group consisting of 
 a natural underground CO 2  deposit,    a facility for gasifying coal,    a facility for combusting coal or hydrocarbons to generate power,    a facility for calcining a carbonate including at least one element selected from the group consisting of magnesium and calcium,    a facility for producing hydrogen,    a facility for reducing a metal-containing compound to form a metal,    a facility for synthesizing ammonia, and    a facility for fermenting sugar or starch.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities are differently selected from the group consisting of 
 a facility for gasifying coal,    a facility for combusting coal or hydrocarbons to generate power,    a facility for calcining a carbonate including at least one element selected from the group consisting of magnesium and calcium,    a facility for producing hydrogen,    a facility for reducing a metal-containing compound to form a metal, and    a facility for synthesizing ammonia.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the metal-containing compound is a metal-bearing ore.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the metal comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of transition metals.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the metal comprises iron.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities are at least three CO 2  production facilities.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one CO 2  consumption facility is at least two CO 2  consumption facilities.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one CO 2  consumption facility includes at least one oil field.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising injecting the CO 2  delivered through the pipeline into the at least one oil field.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising 
 pumping oil and CO 2  from the at least one oilfield; and    recycling the CO 2  pumped from the at least one oilfield back into the at least one oilfield.    
     
     
         12 . A method of reducing CO 2  emissions to the atmosphere, the method comprising 
 collecting in a pipeline CO 2  from at least two CO 2  production facilities each separated by 0.5 or more miles; and    delivering the CO 2  through the pipeline to at least one CO 2  consumption facility, wherein    the pipeline extends between the at least two CO 2  production facilities and the at least one CO 2  consumption facility.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities and the at least one CO 2  consumption facility are each separated by 0.5 or more miles.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the at least two CO 2  production facilities is separated by 5 or more miles from each of the at least one CO 2  consumption facility.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities are differently selected from the group consisting of 
 a facility for gasifying coal,    a facility for combusting coal or hydrocarbons to generate power,    a facility for calcining a carbonate including at least one element selected from the group consisting of magnesium and calcium,    a facility for producing hydrogen,    a facility for reducing a metal-containing compound to form a metal, and    a facility for synthesizing ammonia.    
     
     
         16 . A system for tracking CO 2  emission reduction credit, the system comprising 
 a processor having a communications interface; and    a memory configured to hold therein computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, implement 
 a message reception mechanism configured to receive a message from one or more of at least two CO 2  production facilities and a pipeline operation facility regarding an amount of CO 2  introduced by the at least two CO 2  production facilities into a pipeline operated by the pipeline operation facility,  
 an account recording mechanism configured to allocate a predetermined amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit to one or more of the at least two CO 2  production facilities and the pipeline operation facility for the CO 2  introduced into the pipeline,  
 a labeling mechanism configured to assign an identification to the amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit, and  
 an exchange mechanism configured to assign ownership of the amount of the CO 2  emission reduction credit to another entity in exchange for the another entity providing a predetermined asset to one or more of the at least two CO 2  production facilities and the pipeline operation facility.  
   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities have different methods of CO 2  production.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities are differently selected from the group consisting of 
 a facility for gasifying coal,    a facility for combusting coal or hydrocarbons to generate power,    a facility for calcining a carbonate including at least one element selected from the group consisting of magnesium and calcium,    a facility for producing hydrogen,    a facility for reducing a metal-containing compound to form a metal, and    a facility for synthesizing ammonia.    
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined asset is an amount of money.  
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the message reception mechanism is configured to receive another message from a CO 2  consumption facility regarding an amount of the CO 2  withdrawn from the pipeline by the CO 2  consumption facility; and    the account recording mechanism is configured to allocate another predetermined amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit to the CO 2  consumption facility for the amount of CO 2  withdrawn from the pipeline.    
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the exchange mechanism is configured to assign ownership of the another predetermined amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit to the another entity in exchange for the another entity providing another predetermined asset to the CO 2  consumption facility.  
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the another predetermined asset is an amount of money.  
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the CO 2  consumption facility includes at least one oil field.  
     
     
         24 . A computer implemented method for tracking emission reduction credits, the method comprising steps of 
 receiving a message at a controller from one or more of at least two CO 2  production facilities and a pipeline operation facility regarding an amount of CO 2  introduced by the at least two CO 2  production facilities into a pipeline operated by the pipeline operation facility;    allocating a predetermined amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit to one or more of the at least two CO 2  production facilities and the pipeline operation facility for the CO 2  introduced into the pipeline;    associating an identification to the amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit; and    assigning ownership of the amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit to another entity in exchange for the another entity providing a predetermined asset to one or more of the at least two CO 2  production facilities and the pipeline operation facility.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities have different methods of CO 2  production.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least two CO 2  production facilities are differently selected from the group consisting of 
 a facility for gasifying coal,    a facility for combusting coal or hydrocarbons to generate power,    a facility for calcining a carbonate including at least one element selected from the group consisting of magnesium and calcium,    a facility for producing hydrogen,    a facility for reducing a metal-containing compound to form a metal, and    a facility for synthesizing ammonia.    
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the predetermined asset is an amount of money.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising steps of 
 receiving another message from a CO 2  consumption facility regarding an amount of CO 2  withdrawn from the pipeline into the CO 2  consumption facility; and    allocating another predetermined amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit to the CO 2  consumption facility for the amount of CO 2  withdrawn from the pipeline.    
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising a step of assigning ownership of the another predetermined amount of CO 2  emission reduction credit to the another entity in exchange for the another entity providing another predetermined asset to the CO 2  consumption facility.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the another predetermined asset is an amount of money.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the CO 2  consumption facility includes at least one oil field.