International press release
The Global CCS Institute sets out how the process works, its potential role in carbon capture deployment and the importance of verified storage
17 September 2026
The Global CCS Institute today published a new fact sheet explaining how carbon dioxide (CO₂) used to recover additional oil can also be permanently stored underground, and how this differs from storage projects that don’t produce oil.
CO₂-enhanced oil recovery with CCS: the basics provides an accessible introduction to the process, its economics and its potential contribution to wider carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment.
The publication distinguishes between traditional CO₂-enhanced oil recovery, which focuses on increasing oil production, and CO₂-enhanced oil recovery with CCS, which also measures, reports and verifies permanent CO₂ storage. It compares both with dedicated CO₂ storage, where permanent storage is the sole objective.
Richard Leese, Head of Europe at the Global CCS Institute, said:
“There’s an important distinction between CO₂-enhanced oil recovery and EOR combined with CCS that demonstrates permanent CO₂ storage. Our fact sheet explains that distinction and where this approach may support wider carbon capture and storage deployment.
“It also explains the commercial connection. Selling captured CO₂ for oil recovery can help counter capture costs and support the development of transport and storage infrastructure.”
The process uses CO₂ captured from sources such as industrial facilities and power plants. It is transported to suitable oil fields and injected underground, where it helps oil flow more easily towards production wells.
Some injected CO₂ remains trapped underground. CO₂ brought back to the surface with the oil is separated, treated and reinjected. Monitoring and accounting are used to quantify and verify permanent storage.
EOR with CCS can provide transitional benefit to dedicated CO₂ storage. Its role varies according to local geology, access to captured CO₂, transport infrastructure, operating requirements and regulatory conditions.
The fact sheet also highlights the importance of life cycle assessment. Demonstrating permanent CO₂ storage does not, on its own, establish the overall climate benefit of a project. Demonstrating permanent CO₂ storage does not, on its own, establish the overall climate benefit of a project. The climate benefits of each project are specific, so consistent project boundaries and common accounting rules should be applied.
“Although there can be transitional benefits for climate-focused CO2 storage, EOR with CCS is not a model for every location,” Leese said. “The opportunity needs to be assessed against local conditions, with transparent reporting of the CO₂ stored and a clear explanation of any claimed climate benefit.”
Read CO₂-enhanced oil recovery with CCS: the basics via CO₂-enhanced oil recovery with CCS: the basics | Global CCS Institute
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