Oxy to use solar for EOR work in Permian basin

Occidental Petroleum Corp. has started a solar facility to power an enhanced oil recovery operation in the Permian basin’s Goldsmith field in Ector County, Tex.

Through its Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV) subsidiary, Oxy also announced it signed a long-term power purchase agreement for 109 Mw of solar energy beginning in 2021 for Permian operations.

The solar facility expands on Oxy’s commitment to lower its carbon footprint by using emissions-free power for operations. Oxy said the 120-acre field is the first large-scale solar facility of its kind to directly power oil and gas operations in Texas.

It features 174,000 photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 16 Mw. First Solar manufactured the photovoltaic panels and is under contract with OLCV to operate the facility.

OLCV also recently signed a 12-year solar power purchase agreement with a joint venture between Macquarie’s Green Investment Group and Core Solar LLC, whose solar project in West Texas will be operational in 2021.

Oxy of Oman has signed a memorandum of understanding with GlassPoint Solar, Fremont, Calif., for the possible use of steam raised with solar energy for injection in Mukhaizna heavy oil field in south-central Oman (OGJ, Nov. 14, 2018).

Previously, Chevron Corp. generated steam from its solar-to-steam project for EOR at Coalinga heavy oil field in Kern County, Calif. (OGJ Online Nov. 7, 2011).