Direct Contact Steam Generation (DCSG)

Direct Contact Steam Generation (DCSG) is an innovative, award-winning enhanced heavy oil recovery (EOR) technology developed by General Energy Recovery Inc. (GERI). The DCSG co-injector combusts pressurized air and natural gas in direct contact with water, resulting in a single product stream of steam (or hot produced water) and flue gases. This combined stream is then injected downhole to simultaneously heat and re-pressurize oil reservoirs, while also mitigating the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) to the atmosphere.

GERI's portable DCSG co-injector can generate two distinct products: 1) Steam combined with flue gas, with a heat rate of 10.5 GJ/hr, steam rate of 100 m³/d at 240°C and 80% steam quality, and non-condensable flue gas injection of 60 e³m³/d 2) Hot produced water with flue gas, with a heat rate of 5.2 GJ/hr, hot water rate of 430 m³/d at 85°C, and customizable flue gas injection rate. Both options can achieve wellhead injection pressures up to 6.1 MPa.

The technology offers several benefits over traditional EOR methods, including increased oil recovery with a Steam Oil Ratio as low as 0.6, up to 67% lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced freshwater usage, and lower costs due to its portable nature. DCSG can be applied in various scenarios such as cyclic injection, line-drive/spot pattern flooding, and late-stage SAGD operations. Additionally, GERI's patented CasingCoolerTM allows for steaming in non-thermally cased and cemented wellbores, further expanding its applicability.