Method for the integrated production and utilization of synthesis gas for production of mixed alcohols, for hydrocarbon recovery, and for gasoline/diesel refinery

Abstract

A method for the integrated production and utilization of synthesis gas for production of mixed alcohols, for hydrocarbon recovery, and for gasoline/diesel refinery, has the following steps: forming a hydrocarbon fuel including coal and/or gas oil; gasifying the hydrocarbon fuel to form synthesis gas that includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide; directing the carbon monoxide and a stoichiometric amount of the hydrogen to an alcohol synthesis unit for the synthesis of mixed alcohols; combusting the remaining hydrogen with oxygen via a downhole gas combustion unit; and adding the water to the combustion to produce high-pressure steam for the recovery of crude oil from the hydrocarbon bearing formation.

1 . A method for the integrated production and utilization of synthesis gas for production of mixed alcohols, for hydrocarbon recovery, and for gasoline/diesel refinery, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a hydrocarbon fuel including coal and/or gas oil;   gasifying the hydrocarbon fuel to form synthesis gas that includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide;   synthesizing mixed alcohols from the carbon monoxide and a stoichiometric amount of the hydrogen;   directing remaining hydrogen to a downhole gas combustion unit positioned underground within a hydrocarbon bearing formation;   directing sufficient oxygen to the downhole gas combustion unit for combustion with the hydrogen;   combusting the remaining hydrogen with the oxygen via the downhole gas combustion unit; and   adding water to the combustion to produce high-pressure steam for the recovery of crude oil from the hydrocarbon bearing formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the a hydrocarbon fuel includes lignite coal and gas oil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol synthesis unit includes a fixed bed copper catalyst to produce the mixed alcohols, the catalyst including as an oxide precursor, copper oxide and zinc oxide, which is transformed into a catalytically active state by reduction with the hydrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixed alcohols produced include C1-C8 alcohols. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixed alcohols produced include C1-C8 alcohols, and wherein there is a greater amount of methanol than ethanol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 separating carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas; and   sequestering the carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 separating sulfur from the synthesis gas; and   converting the sulfur to sulfuric acid.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of increasing the relative amount of hydrogen in the synthesis gas using a water-gas shift. 
     
     
         9 . A method for the integrated production and utilization of synthesis gas for production of mixed alcohols, for hydrocarbon recovery, and for gasoline/diesel refinery, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a hydrocarbon fuel including coal and gas oil;   gasifying the hydrocarbon fuel to form synthesis gas that includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide;   synthesizing mixed alcohols from the carbon monoxide and a stoichiometric amount of the hydrogen;   positioning a downhole gas combustion unit underground within a hydrocarbon bearing formation;   directing remaining hydrogen to the downhole gas combustion unit;   directing sufficient oxygen to the downhole gas combustion unit for combustion with the hydrogen;   combusting the remaining hydrogen with the oxygen via the downhole gas combustion unit;   adding water to the combustion to produce high-pressure steam for the recovery of crude oil from the hydrocarbon bearing formation;   recovering the crude oil from the hydrocarbon bearing formation;   separating the crude oil into gasoline and gas oil;   adding the gas oil to the hydrocarbon fuel being gasified; and   mixing the gasoline with the mixed alcohols to form high octane gasoline.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the alcohol synthesis unit includes a fixed bed copper catalyst to produce the mixed alcohols, the catalyst including as an oxide precursor, copper oxide and zinc oxide, which is transformed into a catalytically active state by reduction with the hydrogen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the crude oil is separated into gasoline and gas oil using steam distillation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of increasing the relative amount of hydrogen in the synthesis gas using a water-gas shift. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: removing unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the mixed alcohols; and returning the unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide to the alcohol synthesis unit. 
     
     
         14 . A method for the integrated production and utilization of synthesis gas for production of mixed alcohols, for hydrocarbon recovery, and for gasoline/diesel refinery, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a hydrocarbon fuel including lignite coal and gas oil;   gasifying the hydrocarbon fuel to form synthesis gas that includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide;   increasing the relative amount of hydrogen in the synthesis gas using a water-gas shift;   separating the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide from the synthesis gas;   directing the carbon monoxide and a stoichiometric amount of the hydrogen to an alcohol synthesis unit;   synthesizing mixed alcohols within the alcohol synthesis unit from the carbon monoxide and the hydrogen;   removing unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the mixed alcohols;   returning the unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide to the alcohol synthesis unit;   positioning a downhole gas combustion unit underground within a hydrocarbon bearing formation;   directing remaining hydrogen to the downhole gas combustion unit;   directing oxygen to the downhole gas combustion unit;   directing water to the downhole gas combustion unit;   combusting the remaining hydrogen with the oxygen via the downhole gas combustion unit;   adding the water to the combustion to produce high-pressure steam for the recovery of crude oil from the hydrocarbon bearing formation;   recovering the crude oil from the hydrocarbon bearing formation;   separating the crude oil into gasoline and gas oil;   adding the gas oil to the hydrocarbon fuel being gasified; and   mixing the gasoline with the mixed alcohols to form high octane gasoline.