RTFA!
First up is that the legislation aims to push the DOE toward providing support for implementation of a first-of-kind commercial scale Allam-Cycle power plant of 300 megawatt electric capacity. If the United States becomes the commercial level first-adopter rather than China, we will reap the rewards of directing the path of further development. There is always hesitation to be the first adopter of an advantageous yet radical new technology, rather than stay with a tried-and-true (but antiquated) legacy. Thus the DOE incentives to get past that initial set of mental reservations blocking early adoption.
The power-plant combines many technological problem solving approaches proven in other industrial venues, but not currently found connected with electrical generation. This is perceived as a risky investment, as it has no track record beyond the pilot plant currently in operation just outside of Houston, Texas. For an oil producing state, the carbon dioxide is seen as a panacea. You can double your proven reserves from a formation if you have a reliable source of CO2.
A problem with petroleum extraction from conventional porous rock formations is that over time, the inherent pressure from the included gas diminishes. Often, only as much as a third of the oil resources contained can be economically extracted. Rejuvenating a formation with an alternative source of pressure would allow removal of much more of the oil, some estimates suggesting a further one-third as a possible figure. Older resources could regain their youthful productivity, allowing a doubling of the total production relative to prior evaluations of extraction.
Pure carbon dioxide at great pressure is a remarkable solvent. It permeates materials and selectively extracts certain products, as applied for example to decaffeinate coffee beans. In rock, it can scour remaining hydrocarbons from pores, acting as a combined diluent and solvent. The pressure differential of injected CO2 allows effective collection of the residual resources in formation, thus the term enhanced-oil-recovery. What’s needed is a huge quantity of cheap but relatively pure carbon dioxide.
The Allam Cycle based plant will match the best efficiency of any combined-cycle gas turbine/ steam turbine system at a much lower cost, lower footprint, no air emissions, siting independent of water, and complete carbon capture at less cost than any currently available generating systems. For customers buying liquefied natural gas from the United States, such a power plant can use the cryogenic NG liquid as a coolant (reduce pumping losses) to gain additional percent efficiency to push the overall above 70%. A free-heat source to drive the LNG regasification process for pipeline injection.
Then let the oil industry pay for it.
This is the way they should sell the idea -as education-rather than promoting bs that encourages more silliness.