Polysaccharides and bacterial plugging. Final report, 1992--1993

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10115067· OSTI ID:10115067

Fogler, H S

In situ core plugging experiments and transport experiments, using the model bacteria Leuconostoc m., have been conducted. Results demonstrated that cellular polysaccharide production increases cell distribution in porous media and caused an overall decrease in media permeability. Further, a parallel core plugging experiment was conducted and showed the feasibility of this system to divert injection fluid from high permeability zones into low permeability zones within porous media as is needed for profile modification. To implement this type of application, however, controlled placement of cells and rates of polymer production are needed. Therefore, kinetic studies were performed. A kinetic model was subsequently developed for Leuconostoc m. bacteria. This model is based on data generated from batch growth experiments and allows for the prediction of saccharide utilization, cell generation, and dextran production. These predictions can be used to develop injection strategies for field implementation. Transport and in situ growth micromodel experiments have shown how dextran allow cells to remain as clusters after cell division which enhanced cell capture and retention in porous media. Additional Damkohler experiments have been performed to determine the effects of the nutrient injection rate and nutrient concentration on the rate of porous media plugging. As shown experimentally and as predicted by a model for in situ growth, an increase in nutrient concentration and/or its injection rate will result in a faster rate of porous media plugging. Through continuum model simulations, it has been shown that the initial cell profiles play a key role on the core plugging rate. Controlling the location of the inoculating cells is thus another key factor in using bacteria for profile modification.

• Research Organization: Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-90BC14664
• OSTI ID: 10115067
• Report Number(s): DOE/BC/14664--12; ON: DE95000127
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300
550700
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOSYNTHESIS
DRILLING AND PRODUCTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MICROBIAL EOR
MICROBIOLOGY
OIL WELLS
PERMEABILITY
PLUGGING
PLUGGING AGENTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PORE STRUCTURE
PROCESS CONTROL
PROGRESS REPORT
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING