Milad Ghafoori
Petroleum Engineer
National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC), Ahwaz, Iran
Mr. Milad Ghafoori, Ph.D. candidate in Petroleum Engineering at PUT, Ahwaz, holds dual M.Sc. degrees in Reservoir Engineering & Industrial Management and a B.Sc. in Reservoir Engineering. With over 8 years in the oil & gas industry, he currently works at the National Iranian South Oil Company. His roles have included petroleum engineer, technical expert, supervisor, and senior operator. His research focuses on EOR, CCUS, reservoir management, flow assurance, and energy decision-making.
Participates in
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Energy Technologies
GHG Emissions (Scope 1&2) Abatement (CO2, Methane) - Detection; CO2 Capture; CCUS; DAC; Carbon Products
Forum 20 | Digital Poster Plaza 4
28
April
12:30
14:30
UTC+3
CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) integrated with enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a strategic approach for large-scale carbon mitigation while optimizing hydrocarbon recovery. This study presents a comprehensive technical and economic assessment of CCUS-EOR potential in Iran, focusing on reservoir evaluation to identify sites suitable for industrial-scale deployment.
A detailed technical framework was developed to assess reservoir engineering parameters, including depth, thickness, dip angle, porosity, permeability, saturation, heterogeneity and lithology. Fluid properties, such as pressure, temperature, viscosity, API gravity, composition, compositional miscibility with CO2, and water cut, were considered to evaluate EOR potential. Finally, the framework incorporated storage capacity to ensure sustainable and efficient CCUS-EOR implementation.
In parallel, a comprehensive economic assessment framework was established, integrating operational feasibility and CO2 supply from industrial and power-generation sources, including both available volumes and the distance of these sources from the reservoirs. The analysis accounts for the costs of CO₂ injection and storage while emphasizing that the primary financial benefit arises from enhanced oil recovery, with additional potential value from carbon credits or emission trading where applicable. This framework allows a realistic evaluation of both the investment requirements and the expected returns of CCUS-EOR projects.
A structured Simultaneous Evaluation of Criteria and Alternatives (SECA)–Additive Ratio Assessment System (ARAS) methodology was applied to combine technical and economic indicators, generating a prioritized ranking of candidate reservoirs. This approach allows systematic identification of sites with maximum carbon mitigation potential while maintaining economic viability. The methodology also accommodates sensitivity analyses to evaluate the impact of key parameters, such as fluid & reservoir properties, CO2 supply fluctuations, and operational cost variations, enhancing the robustness of site selection and prioritization. Application of this framework highlights several Iranian basins, as particularly suitable for CCUS-EOR projects due to favorable geological and operational characteristics.
By integrating engineering, geological, and economic criteria within a unified evaluation framework, this study provides a practical tool for policymakers and industry stakeholders. The proposed approach supports sustainable development of Iran’s oil and gas sector, enabling large-scale carbon reduction initiatives while maximizing hydrocarbon recovery, and establishes a rigorous foundation for informed decision-making in future CCUS-EOR planning and implementation.
Keywords: CO2 Capture and Storage, Enhance Oil Recovery, Technical Assessment, Economic Analysis, SECA, ARAS.
Co-author/s:
Dr. Shahin Kord, Associate Professor, Petroleum University of Technology Ahwaz.
Dr. Nasser Faraz, Head of Process Projects, National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC).
A detailed technical framework was developed to assess reservoir engineering parameters, including depth, thickness, dip angle, porosity, permeability, saturation, heterogeneity and lithology. Fluid properties, such as pressure, temperature, viscosity, API gravity, composition, compositional miscibility with CO2, and water cut, were considered to evaluate EOR potential. Finally, the framework incorporated storage capacity to ensure sustainable and efficient CCUS-EOR implementation.
In parallel, a comprehensive economic assessment framework was established, integrating operational feasibility and CO2 supply from industrial and power-generation sources, including both available volumes and the distance of these sources from the reservoirs. The analysis accounts for the costs of CO₂ injection and storage while emphasizing that the primary financial benefit arises from enhanced oil recovery, with additional potential value from carbon credits or emission trading where applicable. This framework allows a realistic evaluation of both the investment requirements and the expected returns of CCUS-EOR projects.
A structured Simultaneous Evaluation of Criteria and Alternatives (SECA)–Additive Ratio Assessment System (ARAS) methodology was applied to combine technical and economic indicators, generating a prioritized ranking of candidate reservoirs. This approach allows systematic identification of sites with maximum carbon mitigation potential while maintaining economic viability. The methodology also accommodates sensitivity analyses to evaluate the impact of key parameters, such as fluid & reservoir properties, CO2 supply fluctuations, and operational cost variations, enhancing the robustness of site selection and prioritization. Application of this framework highlights several Iranian basins, as particularly suitable for CCUS-EOR projects due to favorable geological and operational characteristics.
By integrating engineering, geological, and economic criteria within a unified evaluation framework, this study provides a practical tool for policymakers and industry stakeholders. The proposed approach supports sustainable development of Iran’s oil and gas sector, enabling large-scale carbon reduction initiatives while maximizing hydrocarbon recovery, and establishes a rigorous foundation for informed decision-making in future CCUS-EOR planning and implementation.
Keywords: CO2 Capture and Storage, Enhance Oil Recovery, Technical Assessment, Economic Analysis, SECA, ARAS.
Co-author/s:
Dr. Shahin Kord, Associate Professor, Petroleum University of Technology Ahwaz.
Dr. Nasser Faraz, Head of Process Projects, National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC).
