Linde starts-up two CO2 plants to support well completions in the oil and gas industry

MURRAY HILL & NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Linde North America has upgraded its carbon dioxide (CO₂) plants in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Woodward, Oklahoma. These newly commissioned plants serve the Midcontinent and Eagle Ford shale regions, and are designed to support the oil and gas industry’s growing use of CO₂ to displace water and enhance well production in completion designs.

Linde North America, a member of The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company, is the largest CO₂ producer in North America and provides energized fluid systems for oil and gas customers in most major American basins. Linde has been supporting the oil and gas industry for over 30 years.

Lauren Porambo, strategic product manager, CO₂ for Linde North America, said, “Linde has brought these plants on stream to supply the surging demand for CO₂ in the oil and gas industry. The use of CO2 in fracturing completions displaces the use of water, reduces formational damage and enhances well production. Our Corpus Christi plant is strategically located to provide CO₂ in the Eagle Ford play and the Woodward plant is perfectly positioned to serve the Anardarko basin.”

CO2 is ideal for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons because it is injected in a liquid state and converts to a gaseous stage down-hole, mitigating formational damage and fluid on formation, while enhancing well-clean up and flow-back. Conventional liquid pumps are used, so the service companies require no specialized equipment. The viscosity of CO2 gives it high proppant (sand, ceramics, etc.) loading characteristics, and it is compatible with most gel systems.

The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 51,000 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2011 financial year, it generated revenue of EUR 13.787 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment– in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The Group is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com