Surfactant based enhanced oil recovery mediated by naturally occurring microorganisms

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5367019

Thomas, C P; Bala, G A; Duvall, M L

Oil recovery experiments using Bacillus licheniformis JF-2 and a sucrose based nutrient were performed using Berea sandstone cores ranging in permeability from 85 to 510 md (0.084 to 0.503 {mu}m{sup 2}). Bacillus licheniformis JF-2, a surfactant producing microorganism isolated from an oilfield environment, is nonpathogenic and will not reduce sulfate. Oil recovery efficiencies (E{sub r}) for four different crude oils ranging from 19.1 to 38.1{degrees}API (0.9396 to 0.8343 g/cm{sup 3}) varied from 2.8 to 42.6% of the waterflood residual oil. Injection of cell-free'' supernatants resulted in E{sub r} values from 7.0 to 16.4%. Microbially-mediated systems reduced interfacial tension (IFT) about 20 mN/m for four different crude oils. Following microbial flood experimentation microorganisms were distributed throughout the core (110 md (0.109 {mu}m{sup 2}) Berea sandstone) with a predominance of cells located near the outlet end. 34 refs., 6 figs., 7 tabs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5367019
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-91102; CONF-9110149-3; ON: DE91018747
• Resource Relation: Conference: 66. annual Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) technical conference and exhibition, Dallas, TX (United States), 6-9 Oct 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACILLUS
EVALUATION
BRINES
INJECTION WELLS
INTERFACES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METABOLITES
MICROBIAL EOR
PERMEABILITY
SACCHAROSE
SANDSTONES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
BACTERIA
CARBOHYDRATES
DISACCHARIDES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSCOPY
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
ROCKS
SACCHARIDES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
550700 - Microbiology