Supercritical carbon dioxide for fracking and hydrocarbon recovery

Abstract

A method of producing a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon deposit in a fracked well using CO 2 in supercritical form as a fracking fluid. The fracking fluid does not include any water or particulates introduced from a source external to the well. In some instances, CO 2 can be sequestered. In some cases, the hydrocarbon deposit is green shale or young shale.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon-bearing deposit, comprising the steps of:
 drilling a well into the hydrocarbon-bearing deposit;   fracking the hydrocarbon-bearing deposit using CO 2  in the form of supercritical CO 2  as the fracking fluid, said fracking fluid lacking any water or particulates added from a source external to said well; and   producing a hydrocarbon product from said well, said hydrocarbon product having a form selected from the group consisting of liquid form and gaseous form.   
     
     
         2 . The method of producing a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon-bearing deposit of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 sequestering at least some of said CO 2  in said well.   
     
     
         3 . The method of producing a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon-bearing deposit of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 sequestering at least some of said CO 2  in a different well.   
     
     
         4 . The method of producing a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon-bearing deposit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-bearing deposit is green shale. 
     
     
         5 . The method of producing a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon-bearing deposit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-bearing deposit is young shale. 
     
     
         6 . The method of producing a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon-bearing deposit of  claim 1 , wherein the fracking fluid is introduced using low pressure.