Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery Process

MICROBIAL
ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY
PROCESS (MEOR)
Detailed Documentation &

Appraisal Of:
BY
EZEANYA, CHINYERE CHARITY (BSc. Hons)
Miss Ezeanya, Chinyere Charity
(2010)
2
Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)
ABSTRACT
Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) refers to the recovery of oil that is left behind
after primary and secondary recovery methods have either been exhausted
or no longer economical.
Since 1946 more than 400 patents on MEOR have been issued, but none has
gained acceptance by the oil industry. Most of the literature on MEOR is
from laboratory experiments.
Primary recovery usually only accesses 30 to 35 per cent of the original oil
in place (OOIP).
Secondary and tertiary recovery methods may net a further 15 to 25 per

cent OOIP, leaving 30 to 55 per cent OOIP left behind as irrecoverable or
irreducible oil in the reservoir.
Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) technology targets the remaining

oil and aims at enabling production of 80 to 85 per cent of OOIP.
There are different modes of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods. These
are: Chemical methods, Gas flooding, Microbial processes, Thermal
processes, Novel methods and Computer simulation.
Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) method relies on microbes to

ferment hydrocarbons and produce a by-product that is useful in the
recovery of oil. MEOR functions by channeling oil through preferred
pathways in the reservoir rock. This is done by closing/plugging off small
channels and forcing the oil to migrate through the larger pore spaces. While
it is clear that biocatalysis performed by microbes may promote beneficial
3
chemical reactions such as the production of biosurfactants in a very specific

and energy-efficient manner, a sound understanding of the underlying
principles is important to predict site-specific effects of microbial activity on
fluid flow in porous media and hence on the efficiency of oil production.
Stimulating bacterial growth at an oil/water interface causes a substantial

reduction in interfacial tension (IFT), which in turn can help to achieve
improved oil recovery (IOR).
MEOR has two distinct advantages: microbes do not consume large

amounts of energy and the use of microbes is not dependent on the price of
crude oil, as compared with other EOR processes.
The Titan Process of MEOR is a dynamic, new and unique form of

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR). The Titan Process injects
special nutrients into a reservoir which change the skin characteristics of the
individual microbes living in the reservoir biofilm and induces the microbes
to become oleophilic [oil-loving] and attach themselves to oil droplets. The
microbes then dislodge and uniquely break down the trapped oil within the
pore spaces into smaller droplets. These smaller droplets can now more
easily pass through the pore spaces of the reservoir and become recoverable.
A gentle emulsion is also formed by a unique combination of oil, water and
energized microbes. This emulsion blocks thief zones, channelling and
fingering, thereby allowing for greatly improved sweep efficiency and a
substantial reduction to the water cut.
The prime consideration with MEOR is, therefore, how much additional oil
can be produced from reservoirs by stimulating the growth of indigenous or
injected bacteria.
4
TABLE OF CONTENT
PAGES
ABSTRACT 1
TABLE OF CONTENT 3
CHAPTER ONE
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Process 5
Modes of EOR 7
Chemical Methods 7
Gas Flooding 8
Thermal Process 9
Computer Simulation 10
Oil Recovery Factor 10
CHAPTER TWO
Description And History of MEOR 11
Description 11
History 12
Current Status of MEOR 14
CHAPTER THREE
The Science of MEOR 15
Biotechnology and MEOR 17
CHAPTER FOUR
Classification of MEOR 19
Ventures Working in MEOR 19
Microbial Flooding Recovery 21
CHAPTER FIVE
Mechanisms of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery 25
5
CHAPTER SIX
Types of MEOR 28
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Titan Process of MEOR 30
Avoiding Complexities 31
No Oxygen Required 32
CHAPTER EIGHT
Advantages of MEOR 35
CHAPTER NINE
Challenges 37
Environmental factors 37
Grounds of Failure 37
CHAPTER TEN 41
Conclusion
CHAPTER ELEVEN
References 44
Profile 48
6
CHAPTER ONE
ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY (EOR) PROCESS
Discoveries of new reservoirs, is a high-risk business that companies

undertake hoping to achieve a correspondingly high return. Sometimes they
are successful but more often they are not. In many cases, increasing the
recovery of oil from existing reservoirs can be less expensive than
exploration and less risky as well. The reservoir will have already been
partially developed therefore wells and surface production facilities are
already in place.
Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) refers to the recovery of oil that is left behind
after primary and secondary recovery methods are either exhausted or no
longer economical. EOR is a highly–individualized process that is specific
to each field’s characteristics.
7
Primary production is the first oil out, the “easy” oil. In primary recovery
process, when a well is been drilled and completed in a hydrocarbon–
bearing zone, the natural pressures at that depth will cause the oil to flow
through the rock or sand formation toward the lower pressure well bore,
where it is lifted to the surface. Primary recovery is the least expensive
method of extraction, since it uses natural forces to “move” the oil.
Secondary recovery methods are used when there is insufficient

underground pressure to move the remaining oil. The most common
technique, water flooding, utilizes injector wells to introduce large volumes
of water under pressure into the hydrocarbon–bearing zone. As the water
flows through the formation toward the producing well bore, it sweeps some
of the oil it encounters along with it. Upon reaching the surface, the oil is
separated out for sale and the water is re-injected (Cano Petroleum).
Tertiary recovery method is implemented when water flooding for

secondary recovery reaches a point when production is no longer cost–
effective. This is the surfactant–polymer (SP) flooding. The chemical
components of the SP process, used alone or combined are mixed with water
which is injected into the formation as in a traditional water flood.
Surfactant cleans the oil off the rock – much like dish soap cuts the grease in
a frying pan; Polymer spreads the flow through more of the rock.
MODES OF ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY
Several methods are employed in Enhanced Oil Recovery process. These

are:
8
Chemical Methods
Chemical methods focus mainly on alkaline–surfactant–polymer (ASP)

processes that involve the injection of micellar–polymers into the reservoir.
Chemical flooding reduces the interfacial tension between the in–place
crude oil and the injected water, allowing the oil to be produced. Micellar
fluids are composed largely of surfactants mixed with water. Chemical
flooding technologies are subdivided into alkaline–surfactant–polymer
processes, polymer flooding, profile modification, and water shut off
methods.
Gas Flooding
Gas flooding technologies primarily use carbon dioxide flooding as a

method to produce more oil from the reservoir by channeling gas into
previously-bypassed areas. Carbon dioxide flooding technologies,
9
experiment with a number of foams, gels, and thickening agents to improve

sweep efficiency. In the past decade flooding with nitrogen gas, flue gas,
and enriched natural gas have also shown some beneficial results by
increasing recovery when used to re–pressure reservoirs. Nitrogen and flue
gas may be useful in areas where CO2 is not economically available for use
(Cano Petroleum).
Thermal Processes
Heavy oil is recovered by introducing heat into the reservoir through

thermally controlled processes. Steam flooding and in situ combustion or air
injection are the most frequently-used thermal recovery methods. Steam
flooding is used extensively in the heavy oil reservoirs in California. Steam
flooding is conducted by injecting steam into reservoirs that are relatively
shallow, permeable, and thick, and contain moderately viscous oil. The
dominant mechanism in thermal recovery by steam is the reduction in the
viscosity of the oil, allowing flow to the well bore. In situ combustion
introduces heat in the reservoir by a process of injection air and down hole
ignition to burn portions of the oil to displace additional oil. The combustion
front is sustained and propagated through continuous injection of air into the
reservoir. Premature breakthrough of the combustion front contributes to
operational problems. Both steam flooding and in situ combustion have high
surface facility costs and require special safety measures (Cano
Petroleum).
Novel Methods
Novel methods include down hole electric heating, microwave heating,
seismic wave stimulation, and wetting ability reversal. Of these, seismic
10
stimulation has met with success in Russia and is currently being tested in
the U.S. Wetting ability studies to influence oil-wet and water-wet
conditions and to design a brine to reverse wetting ability show promise for
future EOR recovery.
Computer Simulation
Reservoir simulation is advancing rapidly with improved computing

capabilities. Reservoir simulators are useful in the design and prediction of
performance in EOR projects. Improved hardware and software programs
are becoming available that include EOR applications. The development of
computer clusters allows high speed data processing at relatively low cost.
Current goals are to develop software and user guides that predict reservoir
properties suitable to independent operators. Reservoir simulation should be
considered as a tool in any enhanced oil recovery project.
Microbial Processes
Microbial enhanced oil recovery refers to the use of microorganisms to

retrieve additional oil from existing wells, thereby enhancing the petroleum
production of an oil reservoir. In this technique, microorganisms are
introduced into oil wells to produce harmless by-products, such as slippery
natural substances or gases, all of which help propel oil out of the well.
Because these processes help to mobilize the oil and facilitate oil flow, they
allow a greater amount to be recovered from the well. MEOR is used in the
third phase of oil recovery from a well, known as tertiary oil recovery.
11
Recovering oil usually requires two to three stages, which are briefly
described as follows:
Stage 1: Primary Recovery – 12% to 15% of the oil in the well is

recovered without the need to introduce other substances into the well.
Stage 2: Secondary Recovery – The oil well is flooded with water or other
substances to drive out an additional 15% to 20% more oil from the well.
Stage 3: Tertiary Recovery – This stage may be accomplished through

several different methods, including MEOR, to additionally recover up to
11% more oil from the well.
Oil Recovery Factor: This is also called overall hydrocarbon displacement

efficiency. This is the volume of hydrocarbon displaced divided by the
volume of hydrocarbon in place at the start of the process measured at the
same conditions of pressure and temperature.
Where,
Ev= macroscopic (volumetric) displacement efficiency; and
ED= microscopic (volumetric) hydrocarbon displacement efficiency.
12
CHAPTER TWO
DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF MEOR
DESCRIPTION
Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) is a biological based

technology that manipulates function or structure, or both, of microbial
environments existing in oil reservoirs. The ultimate aim of MEOR is to
improve the recovery of oil entrapped in porous media while increasing
economic profits. As stated earlier, MEOR is a tertiary oil extraction
technology allowing the partial recovery of the commonly residual two-
thirds of oil, thus increasing the life of mature oil reservoirs.
MEOR is a multidisciplinary field incorporating, among others: geology,

chemistry, microbiology, fluids mechanics, petroleum engineering,
environmental engineering and chemical engineering. The microbial
processes proceeding in MEOR can be classified according to the oil
production problem in the field:
• well bore clean up removes mud and other debris blocking the
channels where oil flows through;
• well stimulation improves the flow of oil from the drainage area into
the well bore; and
• enhanced water floods increase microbial activity by injecting

selected microbes and sometimes nutrients. From the engineering
point of view, MEOR is a system integrated by the reservoir,
microbes, nutrients and protocol of well injection.
13
The microbes in MEOR are typically hydrocarbon-utilizing, non-pathogenic

micro-organisms that are naturally found in petroleum reservoirs(in situ) or
are introduced (ex situ). Injected nutrients, together with indigenous or
added microbes, promote in situ microbial growth and generation of
products which mobilize additional oil and move it to producing wells
through reservoir depressurization, interfacial tension/oil viscosity
reduction, and selective plugging of the most permeable zones.
Alternatively, the oil-mobilizing microbial products may be produced by
fermentation and injected into the reservoir.
HISTORY
This technology depends on the physicochemical properties of the reservoir

in terms of salinity, pH, temperature, pressure and nutrient availability. Only
bacteria are considered promising candidates for microbial enhanced oil
recovery. Moulds, yeasts, algae, protozoa are not suitable due to their size or
inability to grow under the conditions present in the reservoirs. Many
petroleum reservoirs have high Nacl concentration and require the use of
bacteria which can tolerate these conditions (Jonathan et. al 2003).
The concept of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) was proposed

nearly 80 years ago. It has only received limited attention due to the
scepticism of potential users. The main concern of sceptics was the lack of
scientific proof that the purported results are caused by micro organisms.
The concept of using micro organisms to enhance oil recovery, MEOR, was
first proposed in 1926 by Beckman but, it was not until the 1940's that the
concept was actively researched by ZoBell and his colleagues. Since that
14
time, multiplicity of microbiological technologies has been developed to

enhance oil recovery.
The various stages of development of MEOR are outline below:
First Stage: Initial ( to 1975)
In 1895, Miyoshi first reported the growth of a mould culture on n-alkanes.

In 1926, Bastin did the first extensive microbiological study describing the
widespread presence of SRB in oil-producing wells. At the same year,
Beckman suggested that microorganisms could be used to release oil from
porous media7. Later in 1946, as the most important founder of MEOR,
ZoBell patented a process for the secondary recovery of petroleum, using
anaerobic, hydrocarbon-utilizing, sulfate-reducing bacteria such as
Desulfovibrio species in situ8. The first field test was carried out in the
Lisbon field, Union County, AR in 1954. Kuznetsov et al. found that
bacteria discovered in some oil reservoirs in the Soviet Union produced 2
gm of CO2 per day per ton of rock, in 1963.
Second Stage: Developmental (1975~1996)
From 1970s to late 1990s, MEOR research was boosted by the petroleum
crisis and later became a scientific substantiated EOR method. Many
international meetings were periodically organized on the MEOR topic and
proceedings volumes with the advances in the knowledge and practice of
MEOR have been publi
15
Third Stage: Rapid (1996~)
From late 1990s, modern biological methods began to be applied on the

MEOR research, such as Molecular Ecological Technique of Microbes,
Protoplast Fusant Technology, and Recombination DNA Technology11,1 2.
Current Status of MEOR
The research of MEOR has been done worldwide, and most of oil producing
countries have applied this technology into oil fields for pilot tests. Recently
this technology has been widely used in oilfields of China, such as Daqing,
Shengli, Jilin, Dagang, Liaohe, Henan, Changqing, Xinjiang, and Qinghai.
16
CHAPTER THREE
THE SCIENCE OF MEOR
The microorganisms used in MEOR can be applied to a single oil well or to

an entire oil reservoir. They need certain conditions to survive, so nutrients
and oxygen are often introduced into the well at the same time. MEOR also
requires that water be present. Microorganisms grow between the oil and the
well's rock surface to enhance oil recovery by the following methods:
Reduction of oil viscosity – Oil is a thick fluid that is quite viscous,

meaning that it does not flow easily. Microorganisms help break down the
molecular structure of crude oil, making it more fluid and easier to recover
from the well.
Production of carbon dioxide gas – As a by-product of metabolism,

microorganisms produce carbon dioxide gas. Over time, this gas
17
accumulates and displaces the oil in the well, driving it up and out of the
ground.
Production of biomass – When microorganisms metabolize the nutrients

they need for survival, they produce organic biomass as a by-product. This
biomass accumulates between the oil and the rock surface of the well,
physically displacing the oil and making it easier to recover from the well.
Selective plugging – Some microorganisms secrete slimy substances called

exopolysaccharides to protect themselves from drying out or falling prey to
other organisms. This substance helps bacteria plug the pores found in the
rocks of the well so that oil may move past rock surfaces more easily.
Blocking rock pores to facilitate the movement of oil is known as selective
plugging.
Production of biosurfactants – Microorganisms produce slippery

substances called surfactants as they breakdown oil. Because they are
naturally produced by biological microorganisms, they are referred to as
biosurfactants. Biosurfactants act like slippery detergents, helping the oil
move more freely away from rocks and crevices so that it may travel more
easily out of the well.
Case Study: An Exopolysaccharide Called Xanthan
The Xanthomans campestris bacteria produces a gummy substance called

Xanthan. Because Xanthan is molecularly composed of many different
sugars and is externally secreted, it is known as an exopolysaccharide.
Xanthan may be used in MEOR to lubricate oil drills, to help remove rocks
from the drill site, and to compensate for decreased pressure in depleted oil
wells, thereby facilitating the movement of oil up and out of the well.
18
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MEOR
MEOR is a direct application of biotechnology. It uses biological materials,

such as bacteria, microorganisms, and their products of metabolism to
facilitate the movement of oil out of a well, thereby enhancing oil recovery.
Other applications of biotechnology in MEOR include genetic engineering
techniques and recombinant DNA technology, which are used to develop
strains of bacteria with improved oil recovery traits.
By inserting genes from one type of bacteria into another, scientists may
combine two desirable genetic traits into one microorganism. For example,
the temperature within an oil well is often too high for most microorganisms
to survive. By inserting a gene that codes for a bacteria's ability to aid oil
recovery into the genome of an existing bacteria that can survive under high
temperatures, scientists may produce microorganisms that can both survive
the heat of an oil well and also help retrieve oil. On their own, each bacteria
lacks a trait necessary for oil recovery operations, but when combined
through genetic engineering, the bacteria become integral to MEOR.
Current Research Areas
The environmental conditions in an oil well make it very difficult for

bacteria to survive, and those that do often have a decreased ability to carry
out the chemical processes needed to enhance oil recovery. Researchers are
working to create strains of bacteria that are better able to survive such harsh
conditions but still retain the ability to carry out the chemistry needed for
MEOR. Genetic engineering is being used to develop microorganisms that
can not only live in the high temperatures of an oil well, but can also subsist
on inexpensive nutrients, remain chemically active, and produce substantial
19
amounts of biosurfactants. Some researchers are developing bacteria that

can be grown on inexpensive agricultural waste material, which is abundant
in supply and is environmentally friendly.
Sustainable Development and MEOR
As MEOR reduces or eliminates the need to use harsh chemicals during oil
drilling, it is an environmentally compatible method of carrying out tertiary
oil recovery. MEOR will become increasingly economically feasible as
genetic engineering develops more effective microbial bacteria that may
subsist on inexpensive and abundant nutrients. Methods for developing and
growing MEOR bacteria are improving, thereby lowering production costs
and making it a more attractive alternative to traditional chemical methods
of tertiary oil recovery.
20
CHAPTER FOUR
CLASSIFICATION OF MEOR
MODELS
Developing mathematical models for MEOR is very challenging since
physical, chemical and biological factors need to be considered.
Published MEOR models are composed of transport properties, local

equilibrium, breakdown of filtration theory and physical straining. Such
models are so far simplistic and they were developed based on:
(A) Fundamental conservation laws, cellular growth, retention kinetics of

biomass, and biomass in oil and aqueous phases. The main aim was to
predict porosity retention as a function of distance and time.
(B) Filtration model to express bacterial transport as a function of pore size;

and relate permeability with the rate of microbial penetration by applying
Darcy’s law.
VENTURES WORKING IN MEOR
21
Mainly, MEOR is classified as surface MEOR and underground MEOR

based on the place where microorganisms work. For surface MEOR,
biosurfactand (Rhamnolipid), biopolymer (xanthan gum), and enzyme are
produced in the surface facilities. These biological products are injected into
the target place in the reservoirs as chemical EOR methods. While, for
22
underground MEOR, microorganisms, nutrients and/or other addictives are

injected into the reservoir and let them sustain, grow, metabolize, and
ferment underground.
Based on the source of microorganisms, underground MEOR is categorized

into in-situ MEOR and indigenous MEOR. While according to procedures
of processes, underground MEOR is sorted as:
• Cyclic Microbial Recovery (Huff and Puff, Single Well Stimulation)

• Wax Removal and Paraffin Inhibition (Wellbore Cleanup)
• Microbial Flooding Recovery
• Selective Plugging Recovery
• Acidizing/Fracturing
Cyclic Microbial Recovery
A solution of microorganisms and nutrients is introduced into an oil

reservoir during injection. The injector is then shut in for an incubation
period allowing the microorganisms to produce carbon dioxide gas and
surfactants that help to mobilize the oil. The well is then opened and oil and
products resulting from the treatment are produced. This process may be
repeated. The figure here illustrates this technology.
23
Illustration of Cyclic Microbial Recovery
MICROBIAL FLOODING RECOVERY
Recovery by this method utilizes the effect of microbial solutions on a

reservoir. The reservoir is usually conditioned by a water preflush, then a
solution of microorganisms and nutrients is injected. As this solution is
pushed through the reservoir by drive water, it forms gases and surfactants
that help to mobilize the oil. The resulting oil and product solution is then
pumped out through production wells. The figure below diagrammatizes this
technology.
Illustration of Microbial Flooding Recovery
24
Microbial growth can be either within the oil reservoir (in situ) or on the
surface where the byproducts from microbes grown in vats, are selectively
removed from the nutrient media, and then injected into the reservoir.
The prime consideration with MEOR is how much additional oil can be
produced from reservoirs by stimulating the growth of indigenous or
injected bacteria. This is accomplished by adding nutrients to injection
water.
When certain types of microbes are stimulated in core samples of reservoir

sandstone in the laboratory, they improve oil production by mobilising
residual oil trapped in the pore space.
This is probably because the bacteria induce changes in the interfacial

tension (IFT) between the oil and the water, and possibly also because they
cause a change in wetting properties.
Researchers at Statoil and Norway’s Sintef foundation have made a

significant advance by quantitatively monitoring changes in IFT at a simple
oil/water interface using an advanced laser-light scattering technique.
Microbially induced reduction in interfacial tension with time.
The graph of IFT versus time shows that the bacteria induced a 6,000-fold
exponential reduction in the IFT.
Displacement of Oil by Metabolites of Inoculated Bacteria Grown In Situ
25
Injection of bacterial suspensions followed by nutrients to produce

biopolymer and microbial itself, which may plug the high permeability zone
in the reservoir. The reduction of permeability would change the inject
profile and achieve conformance control.
This development is thought to occur because the bacterial growth requires

both carbon from the oil and nutrients from the formation water. Since they
occur in the water, the bacteria need to penetrate the oil/water interface to
access the carbon.
They achieve this by producing a biosurfactant (tenside), which reduces the

IFT and thus lowers the energy needed for breakthrough.
Statoil is thought to be the only company in the world using MEOR on an

offshore field, in this case Norne in the Norwegian Sea.
26
CHAPTER FIVE
MECHANISMS OF MICROBIAL ENHANCED OIL RECOVER

(MEOR)
An approach to apply MEOR technology considers primarily:
a. microbiological studies to select the appropriate microorganisms and
b. mobilization of oil in laboratory experiments before oil field
application. Ten bacterial strains identified as Pseudomonas

aeruginosa, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus
polymyxa, Micrococcus varians, Micrococcus sp. and two Vibrio
species demonstrated potential to be used in oil recovery. Strains of
B. licheniformis and B. polymyxa produced the most active
surfactants and proved to be the most anaerobic and thermo tolerant
among the selected bacteria. Micrococcus and B. brevis were the most
salt-tolerant and polymer producing bacteria, respectively, whereas
Vibrio sp. and B. polymyxa strains were the most gas-producing
bacteria.
The mechanisms by which the bacteria can improve the oil recovery are as
follows:
(a) Biodegradation of Crude Oil: A proposed mechanism of MEOR is

utilization of bacteria that can degrade crude oil and consume its heavy
fractions. As a result of this process, oil becomes a lighter and more
27
valuable product as a result of a decrease in viscosity (Bryant and Burch.

eld, 1989). Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, and other aerobic bacteria are
especially effective in the degradation of crude oil (Bushnell and Haas,
1941; Bryant, 1990). However, this degradation is confined to lighter
portions of petroleum—especially paraffins—and bacterial treatment is
beneficial for removal of paraffins from the wellbore, which can restrict the
flow seriously (Pelger, 1992).
(b) Gas Production: The bacterially produced gases (such as CO2, N2, H2,
and CH4) improve the oil recovery in 2 ways:
• Dissolves in the crude oil and thus reduces its viscosity
• Increases the pressure in the reservoir (Donaldson and Clark, 1982).
The source of this produced gas is in-situ fermentation of carbon sources

such as glucose by usually anaerobic bacteria (Jack, 1983). The most
important gas-producing bacteria are Clostridium, Desulfovibrio,
Pseudomonas, and certain methanogenes (Bryant and Burch. eld, 1989).
(c) Production of Chemicals: Chemicals that can be useful in the

improvement of oil recovery such as organic acids, alcohols, solvents,
surfactants, and polymers are produced by a wide array of microorganisms
(Bryant and Lockhart, 2001).
(d) Selective Plugging: Apart from these techniques, bacteria can be used in
selective plugging (permeability modification) operations. In this method,
polymers or bacteria themselves are used to reduce the permeability of
highly permeable zones or of water channels that form in heterogeneous
reservoirs. Thus the unswept formations are invaded by the water and sweep
28
efficiency increases (Production Operations, 1997). Bacillus, Xanthamonas,

and Leuconostoc strainsare reported to be effective in such processes
(Yakimov et al., 1997; Jennemanet al., 1994).
(e) Other Techniques: Other uses of bacteria in the petroleum industry

include the control of unwanted bacteria (such as sulfate-reducing bacteria)
in oil fields (Hitzman and Sperl, 1994) and biodegradation of hazardous
wastes caused by petroleum-related activities for the controlling and
removal of environmental pollution (Ronchel et al., 1995).
29
CHAPTER SIX
TYPES OF MICROBIAL PROCESSES IN MEOR
MEOR processes continue to be evaluated for the following different

applications:
Microbial Well Stimulation: This process uses microbes that produce

gases in the oil reservoir.
Microbial Enhanced Water flooding: This process requires the

transportation of nutrients over a long distance within the reservoir; is still in
the developmental phase.
Profile Control and Sweep Improvement: This process uses microbes that
produce polymers, biomass, and slimes that selectively plug the more
permeable zones (Mclnerney and Sublette 1997).
CONTRIBUTION OF MICROBIAL PRODUCTS
Microbial enhanced oil recovery – participating micro organisms produce a

variety of products and they are applied in enhanced oil recovery
Product Micro organism Application in oil

recovery
Biomass Bacillus licheniformis Selective biomass
Leuconostoc plugging
mesenteroides
Xanthomonas Viscosity reduction
campestris Oil degradation, wet
ability alteration
Bio surfactants Arthrobacter Emulsification,

(emulsan, paraffineus decrease of interfacial
30
sophorolipids, Bacillus licheniformis tension, viscosity

peptidolipid, Clostridium reduction
rhamnolipid) pasteurianum
Corynebacterium
fascines
Pseudomonas
rubescens
Biopolymers Bacillus polymyxa Injectivity profile
(alginate, xanthan, Brevibacterium modification, mobility
dextran, pullulan) viscogenes control
Leuconostoc
mesenteroides
Xanthomonas
campestris
Solvents (n- Clostridium Oil dissolution,
butanol, acetone, acetobutylicum viscosity reduction
ethanol)
Clostridium
pasteurianum
Zymomonas mobilis
Acids (acetate, Clostridium spp. Permeability increase,

butyrate) Enterobacter emulsification
aerogenes
Gases (CO2, CH4, Clostridium Increased pressure, oil
H2) acetobutylicum swelling, decrease of
interfacial tension,
SOURCE: Jonathan et.al, 2003.
31
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE TITAN PROCESS OF MEOR
The Titan Process is a Totally Different Form of Microbial Enhanced Oil

Recovery (MEOR) method.
Other MEOR technologies past and present are very different from the Titan
Process. These technologies almost all either inject microbes into existing
oil fields or inject a glucose food source (eg. molasses) to feed resident
microbes. The goal is to have the microbes excrete a by-product referred to
as a biometabolite. These microbial produced by-products are gas,
polymers, acids and surfactants.
32
Inherent in the disadvantages of some of the other known MEOR

technologies is that in order to produce 100 pounds of bio-products in a
reservoir, one would have to inject 100-200 pounds of food. There will be a
constant need to feed the microbes many times, usually on a weekly basis.
The Titan Process, by contrast, changes the microbes’ “activity,” and the
feeding process is much less frequent, usually once every three to six
months.
The Titan Process is radically different and only uses resident microbes and
injects a non-glucose nutrient formula which induces the microbes to
become “active” in the reservoir by changing the characteristics of their
skin. The microbes then seek and surround oil droplets in the sandstones and
carbonate strata. This activity dislodges and breaks up oil droplets, which
significantly increases oil recovery.
AVOIDING COMPLEXITIES
Other MEOR processes injecting non-indigenous microbes into a reservoir

will have disadvantages. All species from the plant and animal kingdoms
have very specific habitats and living patterns and naturally over thousands
and millions of years have adapted to their environment. For example, to
adapt penguins to swim in warm tropical waters would require complex and
unnatural biological, chemical or physical adaptations to be implemented.
Microbes are no different.
All oil reservoirs have varying characteristics that make non-indigenous

microbes either die or not function efficiently if introduced. Some of these
33
characteristics are temperature, salinity (salt concentrations), pressure and

pH level. The Titan Process only uses indigenous microbes, avoiding all
complexities of adaptation. Therefore a majority of oil reservoirs are eligible
for the Titan Process. The important prerequisite is that there are microbes
in the reservoir and this scientifically always has been the case.
Titan avoids the engineering of newly injected microbes that require

extensive biotechnical hurdles to be overcome, all of which must take place
for success. For example: 1) making sure the microbes can survive; 2)
making sure they can reproduce sufficiently; and 3) making sure they can
excrete the desired biometabolites efficiently in the new environment.
NO OXYGEN REQUIRED
The Titan Process works on either aerobic or anaerobic microbes (those not
requiring oxygen to survive). The Titan Process induces the microbes to
become oleophilic (to seek and attach themselves to oil droplets) and
induces the microbes to perform an activity and “do” something within the
oil reservoir as opposed to “excreting” something (bio-gas, bio-surfactant or
bio-polymers). This oleophilic (oil-loving) activity is an entirely new
direction in the field of MEOR. This process is simple, efficient,
inexpensive and 100% environmentally friendly.
Because the Titan Process does not inject new microbes into oil fields and
only uses resident microbes, problems and complex solutions dealing with
reservoir pressure, saline content and temperature are not encountered, since
the microbes have already adapted to their environment. Also the Titan
Process does not require an extensive feeding and excretion cycle. It relies
34
on the microbes' skin characteristic changes to induce superior oil recovery

activity.
The Titan Process boosts and enhances water flood performance
1. Original Oil Field: Primary 2. Oil Field After Several

production is caused by Years: The pressure of the
internal reservoir pressures reservoir abates and recovery
that have built up over now has to be aided by forcing
millions of years. This water under very high pressure
pressure forces a flow of into the reservoir that will push
liquids towards the well bore oil towards the production well.
This is called a “water flood”
which acts like a release
and is the most common
valve. Years of oil production
secondary oil recovery method.
takes place and The water, pushing through the
approximately 20% of the porous carbonate or sandstone,
original oil in place is recovers another 10-15% of the
recovered. original oil in place.
35
3. Before Drilling: 4. After Primary Production:

Microscopic view of oil and A great deal of oil still
sand compacted under remains in the reservoir but is
pressure in the oil reservoir. increasingly difficult to
recover.
36
CHAPTER EIGHT
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MEOR
ADVANTAGES OF MEOR
MEOR has two distinct advantages: microbes do not consume large

amounts of energy and the use of microbes is not dependent on the price of
crude oil, as compared with other EOR processes. Another means of using
microbes in the oil industry involves the use of bacteria to prevent sulfide
production. Sulfides can plug wells thus reducing oil production; they can
also generate hydrogen sulfide, a deadly gas. Microbial enzymes have also
been used in upgrading oil.
Advantages of MEOR
• The injected bacteria and nutrient are inexpensive and easy to obtain
and handle in the field.
• Economically attractive for marginally producing oil fields; a suitable

alternative before the abandonment of marginal wells.
• According to a statistical evaluation (1995 in U.S.), 81% of all MEOR

projects demonstrated a positive incremental increase in oil
production and no decrease in oil production as a result of MEOR
processes.
• The implementation of the process needs only minor modifications of

the existing field facilities.
37
• The costs of the injected fluids are not dependent on oil prices
• MEOR processes are particularly suited for carbonate oil reservoirs

where some EOR technologies cannot be applied with good
efficiency
• The effects of bacterial activity within the reservoir are magnified by

their growth whole, while in EOR technologies the effects of the
additives tend to decrease with time and distance.
• MEOR products are all biodegradable and will not be accumulated in

the environment, so environmentally friendly.
b. Disadvantages of MEOR
• Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE).
• A better understanding of the mechanisms of MEOR.
• The abilibity of bacteria to plug reservoirs.
• Numerical simulations should be developed to guide the application

of MEOR in fields.
• Lack of talents.
38
CHAPTER NINE
CHALLENGES
Nigeria as an oil producing nation has paid no attention to this mode of oil
recovery. The reason is that the players in the field believe that efforts on the
conventional excavation methods have not been fully exploited to give room
for any other processing method for now.
ENVIROMENTAL FACTORS
There are some environmental factors that affect the performance of MEOR
operations. These are temperature, permeability, pH, salinity of the medium,
and oxygen content (Donaldson and Clark, 1982). As all oil reservoirs are
essentially devoid of oxygen, anaerobic bacteria are generally preferred in
field applications.
GROUNDS OF FAILURE
• Lack of holistic approach allowing for a critical evaluation of

economics, applicability and performance of MEOR is missing.
• No published study includes reservoir characteristics; biochemical

and physiological characteristics of microbiota; controlling
mechanisms and process economics.
39
• The ecophysiology of microbial communities thriving in oil reservoirs

is largely unexplored. Consequently, there is a poor critical evaluation
of the physical and biochemical mechanisms controlling microbial
response to the hydrocarbon substrates and their mobility.
• Absence of quantitative understanding of microbial activity and poor

understanding of the synergistic interactions between living and none
living elements. Experiments based on pure cultures or enrichments
are questionable because microbial communities interact
synergistically with minerals, extracellular polymeric substances and
other physicochemical and biological factors in the environment.
• Lack of cooperation between microbiologists, reservoir engineers,

geologists, economists and owner operators, incomplete pertinent
reservoir data, in published sources: lithology, depth, net thickness,
porosity, permeability, temperature, pressure, reserves, reservoir fluid
properties (oil gravity, water salinity, oil viscosity, bubble point
pressure, and oil-formation-volume factor), specific EOR data
(number of production and injection wells, incremental recovery
potential as mentioned by the operator, injection rate, calculated daily
and total enhanced production), calculated incremental recovery
potential over the reported time.
• Limited understanding of MEOR process economics and improper

assessment of technical, logistical, cost, and oil recovery potential.
• Unknowns life cycle assessments. Unknown environmental impact
• Lack of demonstrable quantitative relationships between microbial
performance, reservoir characteristics and operating conditions
40
• Inconsistency in in situ performance; low ultimate oil recovery factor;

uncertainty about meeting engineering design criteria by microbial
process; and a general apprehension about process involving live
bacteria.
• Lack of rigorous controlled experiments, which are far from
mimicking oil reservoir conditions that may have an effect over gene
expression and protein formation.
• Kinetic characterization of bacteria of interest is unknown. Monod
equation has been broadly misused.
• Lack of structured mathematical models to better describe MEOR.
• Lack of understanding of microbial oil recovery mechanism and
deficient mathematical models to predict microbial behaviour in
different reservoirs.
• Surfactants: biodegradable, effectiveness affected by temperature, pH
and salt concentration; adsorption on to rock surfaces.
• Unfeasible economic solutions such as the utilization of enzymes and
cultured microorganism.
• Difficult isolation or engineering of good candidate strains able to
survive the extreme environment of oil reservoirs (up to 85 °C, up to
17.23 MPa).
Clostridium acetobutylicum causes a reduction in oil viscosity due to its

vigorous CO2 production. This gas also causes extensive pressurization.
Clostridium acetobutylicum is also effective in recovering oil from depleted
41
reservoirs. The oil recovery increase due to microbial activity is more than
twofold compared to other methods of enhanced oil recovery
Other challenges are :
1. Manipulation of the environmental conditions to promote growth and
product formation by participating micro organisms.
2. Reservoir heterogeneity; a situation where there is variation in
reservoir conditions. That is; when conditions vary from one

reservoir to another (Jonathan et. al 2003).
42
CHAPTER TEN
CONCLUSION
Microbial consortia activity within an oil and gas reservoir is a potentially

powerful biological system that can profoundly affect the entire reservoir.
Certain species of microorganisms can be manipulated and controlled to
release trapped oil in significant and economic quantities. Some microbial
methods aid inn paraffin removal while others are designed to modify heavy
oil. Still other micro-organisms produce chemicals, such as surfactants,
polymers, or solvents that are useful in oil recovery processes, either in
above ground facilities or in situ. Most of the methods are designed to treat
single wells and not the entire fields. Several factors make microorganisms
attractive for improved oil recovery. They are self-replicating and relatively
inexpensive to produce. The nutrients required to sustain their growth are
economically priced. Microorganisms produce many of the chemicals, such
as gases, surfactants, acids, solvents and polymers involved in improving oil
recovery. The general criteria for microbes to exist in the reservoir
environment are:
1. Salinity should be less than 15% NaCl.
2. Temperature less than 1800F.
3. Depth less than 8000 ft.
4. Trace elements (As, Se, Ni, Hg) less than 10-15 ppm
5. Permeability greater than 50 md.
6. Oil gravity greater than 150 API.
7. Residual oil saturation greater than 25%.

43
Primary recovery usually only accesses 30 to 35 per cent of the original oil
in place (OOIP).
Secondary and tertiary recovery methods may net a further 15 to 25 per

cent OOIP, leaving 30 to 55 per cent OOIP left behind as irrecoverable or
irreducible oil in the reservoir.
MEOR technology targets this remaining oil and aims to enable production
of 80 to 85 per cent of OOIP.
While it is clear that biocatalysis performed by microbes may promote

beneficial chemical reactions such as the production of biosurfactants in a
very specific and energy-efficient manner, a sound understanding of the
underlying principles is important to predict site-specific effects of
microbial activity on fluid flow in porous media and hence on the efficiency
of oil production. Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) has several
unique advantages that make it an economically attractive method to
enhance oil recovery. MEOR processes do not consume large amounts of
energy as do thermal processes and MEOR processes do not depend on the
price of crude oil as do many chemical recovery processes. Because
microbial growth occurs at exponential rates, it should be possible to
produce large amounts of useful products quickly from inexpensive and
renewable resource. Continued industrialization and economic growth will
increase the demand for oil. The demand for crude oil often exceeds existing
production in many countries. Conventional oil production technologies are
able to recover only about one-third of the oil in the reservoir. Microbially
enhanced oil recovery may offer an economic alternate oil recovery method.
44
The principle behind this kind of technology (Microbial Enhanced Oil

Recovery Technology) is the use of non pathogenic bacteria to
prevent the outbreak of infection. But the question remains: what then
is the function of a solid filter in the production well during
production? The solid filter are suppose to trap the bacteria in the oil
when flowing through the production well; thus, if pathogenic or non
pathogenic bacteria are used or not ;there will be no outbreak of
infection (Mclnerney and Sublette 1997).
MEOR has two distinct advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages
(1) Microbes do not consume large amounts of energy.
(2) The use of microbes is not dependent on the price of crude oil, as
compared to many of the other EOR processes (Cano Petroleum).
Disadvantages
(1) The microbial enhanced oil recovery process may modify the
immediate reservoir environment by damaging the production
hardware or the formation itself. Certain sulphate reducers can
produce hydrogen sulphide, which can corrode pipeline and other
components of the recovery equipment.
(2) Microbial enhanced oil recovery systems currently represent high-risk
processes to oil producers looking for efficient and predictable oil

recovery (Jonathan et. al, 2003).
45
Finally, microbial enhanced oil recovery technology may be attractive to

independent oil producers, who mostly operate “stripper wells”
(producing an average of 0.2 to 0.4 ton of oil per day). A single well
stimulation treatment might increase the rate of production from 0.2 to
0.4 of oil per day and sustain the increased rate for 2 to 6 months without
additional treatments (Jonathan et. al, 2003).
Another attraction in the microbial treatment is clearing up of oil spillage in

the riverine areas and creeks. Recently, a sizeable proportion of the spillage
in the oil slicks that once spread across thousands of miles of the Gulf of
Mexico disappeared completely. This was reported by Yahoo News
Exclusive on Wednesday, the 28th of July, 2010. Perhaps the most important
cause of the oil’s disappearance, some researchers suspect, is that the oil has
been devoured by microbes. The lesson from past spills is that the lion’s
share of the cleanup work is done by nature in the form of oil-eating bacteria
and fungi. The microbes break down the hydrocarbons in oil to use as fuel to
grow and reproduce. A bit of oil in the water is like a feeding frenzy,
causing microbial populations to grow exponentially. This experience is
informing.
Microbes can therefore be cultured to clear spillage even in difficult terrains.
46
CHAPTER ELEVEN
REFERENCES
.
Beckman J. W (1926), The Action of Bacteria on Mineral Oil, pp. 3.
Industrial Engineering Chemical News, November 10,1926.
Cano Petroleum , http://www.canopetroleum.inc.org/html
Department of Energy, Grant and the Venezuelan Ministry of

Energy and Mines, Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery April
1997. (DOE/BC- 97/3/SP OSTI ID:14278), USA.
Distribution of the Effect of Nutrient Injection into the deposit in

Kuznetsov, USSR, 1958, 6:10-16. New York, USA.
Fourth International Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)

Workshop in Poland, 1961: An Overview of Microbial
Enhanced Oil Recovery. Department of Applied Science,
Brookhaven Lab, New York 11973, USA.
Jonathan D., Van Hamme, Ajay S. (2003), Microbial Enhanced Oil

Recovery,Microbial Molecular Biology Review. Pp. 535-549.
American Society for Microbiology, Canada.
Lazar I. (1987), Research on the Microbiology of Microbial

Enhanced Oil Recovery(MEOR) in Romania, Jeannette King and
Debra Stevens (publishers), pp124-153; Bartles Ville Project
office. Department of Energy, Grant, USA.
Mclnerney J. and Sublette B.1997, Petroleum Microbiology:

Biofouling, Scouring and Improved Oil Recovery, pp. 600-
607. ASM Press, Washington D.C, USA.
Mississippi State University, “Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery”

http://www.msstate.edu/depr/wrri/meor
Petroleum Technology Transfer Council , “Microbial Enhanced Oil

Recovery” http://www.pttc.org/index.html
47
The World Bank Group, (1998), Pollution Prevention and

Abatement Handbook,pp.446, 447-455. Washington D.C.,
USA.
ZoBell C.E, (1947), Bacteria Release of Oil from Oil-bearing

Materials, Parts 1 and 11. Pp. 36-47(part 1), 35-41(part 11).
World Oil 126, USA.
Ballangue, J., E. Masion, J. Amine, H. Petitdemange, and R. Gay.
1987. Inhibitor effect of products of metabolism on growth of
Clostridium acetobutylicum. Applied Microbiology and
Biotechnology 26:568.
Bryant, R. S. 1990. Screening Criteria for Microbial Eor Processes,

Topical Report, Bartlesville Project Of. ce, Department of Energy,
Bartlesville, OK.
Bryant, R. S., and T. E. Burch. eld. 1989. Review of microbial

technology for improving oil recovery. SPE Reservoir Eng. J.
4(2):151.
Bryant, S. L., and T. P. Lockhart. 2001. Reservoir engineering

analysis microbial enhanced oil
recovery. Journal of Petroleum Technology 53(1):57.
Bushnell, L. D., and H. F. Haas. 1941. The utilization of certain

hydrocarbons by microorganisms. Journal of Bacteriology 41:529.
Donaldson, E. C., and J. B. Clark. 1982. Conference focuses on

microbial enhancement of oil recovery. Oil and Gas Journal 82:47.
Hitzman, D. O. 1983. Petroleum microbiology and its role in

enhanced oil recovery, Proc. of the 1982 International
Symposium on MEOR, NTIS, Spring. eld, VA, 162.
48
Hitzman, D. O., and G. T. Sperl. 1994. A new microbial technology

for enhanced oil recovery and sul. de prevention and reduction,
Proc. SPE/DOE Ninth Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery,
Tulsa, OK, Pap. SPE/DOE 27752, 171.
Jack, T. R. 1983. Enhanced oil recovery by microbial action. In T.

F. Yen, F. K. Kawahara,R. Hertzberg (eds.), Chemical and
Geochemical Aspects of Fossil Energy Extraction, Ann Arbor, MI:
Ann Arbor Science.
Jenneman, G. E., P. D. Mof. tt, and G. R. Young, 1994. Application

of a microbial selective plugging process at the North Burbank
unit: Prepilot tests and results, Proc. SPE/DOE Ninth Symposium
on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, OK, Pap. SPE/DOE 27827, 493.
Lepage, C., F. Fayolle, M. Hermann, and J. P. Vandecasteele.

1987. Changes in membrane lipid composition of Clostridium
acetobutylicum during acetone-butanol fermentation: Effects of
solvents, growth temperature and pH. Journal of General
Microbiology 133:103.
Pelger, J. W. 1992. Wellbore stimulation using microorganisms to

control and remediate existing paraffin accumulations, Proc. SPE
Intl. Symposium on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, LA,
Pap. SPE 23813, 419.
Production Operations (Editorial). 1997. Biotechnology:

Alternative permeability-modi. cation methods.Journal of
Petroleum Technology 49(3):280.
Ronchel, M. C., C. Ramos, L. B. Jensen, S. Molin, and J. L. Ramos,

1995. Construction and behavior of biologically contained
49
bacteria for environmental applications in bioremediation.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology 61(8):2990.
Yakimov, M. M., M. M. Amro, M. Bock, K. Boseker, H. L.

Fredrickson, D. G. Kessel, and K. N. Timmis. 1997. The potential
of Bacillus licheniformis strains for in-situ enhanced oil recovery.
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 18:147.
PROFILE
Attended Benson Idahosa University, Nigeria where I

obtained an honours degree in Microbiology, BSc.(2007).
Was employed briefly between 2007 and 2008 as a teacher
in School of Mid-wifery, Maiduguri, Borno State of Nigeria,
during my national youth corps service year, where I taught
Microbiology to midwifery students. Worked in 2008 with the
50
World Health Organisation as an Independent monitor.

Worked with Innercity Resource Centre, Maiduguri, between
2008 to 2010, as a Chapter Representative, where I offered
varying degrees of public health services. Currently doing a
Master Degree Course in University of Benin, Benin City,
Nigeria. Desires sponsorship for research works that will
remarkably touch on oil productivity and oil related
paradigm. Contact: chi_chi34@yahoo.com.
51

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery Process

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery Process

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

MICROBIAL

ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY

Detailed Documentation &

Secondary and tertiary recovery methods may net a further 15 to 25 per

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) technology targets the remaining

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) method relies on microbes to

chemical reactions such as the production of biosurfactants in a very specific

Stimulating bacterial growth at an oil/water interface causes a substantial

MEOR has two distinct advantages: microbes do not consume large

The Titan Process of MEOR is a dynamic, new and unique form of

ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY (EOR) PROCESS

Discoveries of new reservoirs, is a high-risk business that companies

Secondary recovery methods are used when there is insufficient

Tertiary recovery method is implemented when water flooding for

MODES OF ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY

Several methods are employed in Enhanced Oil Recovery process. These

Chemical methods focus mainly on alkaline–surfactant–polymer (ASP)

Gas flooding technologies primarily use carbon dioxide flooding as a

experiment with a number of foams, gels, and thickening agents to improve

Heavy oil is recovered by introducing heat into the reservoir through

Reservoir simulation is advancing rapidly with improved computing

Microbial enhanced oil recovery refers to the use of microorganisms to

Stage 1: Primary Recovery – 12% to 15% of the oil in the well is

Stage 3: Tertiary Recovery – This stage may be accomplished through

Oil Recovery Factor: This is also called overall hydrocarbon displacement

Ev= macroscopic (volumetric) displacement efficiency; and

ED= microscopic (volumetric) hydrocarbon displacement efficiency.

DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF MEOR

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) is a biological based

MEOR is a multidisciplinary field incorporating, among others: geology,

• enhanced water floods increase microbial activity by injecting

The microbes in MEOR are typically hydrocarbon-utilizing, non-pathogenic

This technology depends on the physicochemical properties of the reservoir

The concept of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) was proposed

time, multiplicity of microbiological technologies has been developed to

The various stages of development of MEOR are outline below:

First Stage: Initial ( to 1975)

In 1895, Miyoshi first reported the growth of a mould culture on n-alkanes.

Second Stage: Developmental (1975~1996)

Third Stage: Rapid (1996~)

From late 1990s, modern biological methods began to be applied on the

Current Status of MEOR

THE SCIENCE OF MEOR

The microorganisms used in MEOR can be applied to a single oil well or to

Reduction of oil viscosity – Oil is a thick fluid that is quite viscous,

Production of carbon dioxide gas – As a by-product of metabolism,

Production of biomass – When microorganisms metabolize the nutrients

Selective plugging – Some microorganisms secrete slimy substances called

Production of biosurfactants – Microorganisms produce slippery

Case Study: An Exopolysaccharide Called Xanthan

The Xanthomans campestris bacteria produces a gummy substance called

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MEOR

MEOR is a direct application of biotechnology. It uses biological materials,

Current Research Areas

The environmental conditions in an oil well make it very difficult for

amounts of biosurfactants. Some researchers are developing bacteria that

Sustainable Development and MEOR

Published MEOR models are composed of transport properties, local

(A) Fundamental conservation laws, cellular growth, retention kinetics of

(B) Filtration model to express bacterial transport as a function of pore size;

VENTURES WORKING IN MEOR

Mainly, MEOR is classified as surface MEOR and underground MEOR

underground MEOR, microorganisms, nutrients and/or other addictives are

Based on the source of microorganisms, underground MEOR is categorized