Addressing wellbore integrity and thief zone permeability using microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP): A field demonstration

Kirkland, Catherine M.; Thane, Abby; Hiebert, Randy; Hyatt, Robert; Kirksey, Jim; Cunningham, Alfred B.; Gerlach, Robin; Spangler, Lee; Phillips, Adrienne J.

doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2020.107060

Title: Addressing wellbore integrity and thief zone permeability using microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP): A field demonstration

Journal Article · Thu Feb 13 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2020.107060· OSTI ID:1799798

Kirkland, Catherine M. ^[1]; Thane, Abby ^[1]; Hiebert, Randy ^[2]; Hyatt, Robert ^[3]; Kirksey, Jim ^[4]; Cunningham, Alfred B. ^[1]; Gerlach, Robin ^[1]; Spangler, Lee ^[1]; Phillips, Adrienne J. ^[1]

Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (United States)
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (United States); Montana Emergent Technologies, Butte, MT (United States)
Montana Emergent Technologies, Butte, MT (United States)
Loudon Technical Services LLC, Charleston, WV (United States)

Microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an emerging biotechnology for wellbore integrity applications including sealing defects in wellbore cement and modifying the permeability of rock formations. The goal of this field demonstration was to characterize a failed waterflood injection well and provide proof of principle that MICP can reduce permeability in the presence of oil using conventional oilfield fluid delivery methods. Here we compared well logs performed at the time the well was drilled with ultrasonic logs, sonic cement evaluation, and temperature logs conducted after the well failed. Analysis of these logs suggested that, rather than entering the target waterflood formation, injectate was traveling through defects in the well cement to a higher permeability sandstone layer above the target formation. Sporosarcina pasteurii cultures and urea-calcium media were delivered 2290 ft (698 m) below ground surface using a 3.75 gal (14.2 L) slickline dump bailer to promote mineralization in the undesired flow paths. By Day 6 and after 25 inoculum and 49 calcium media injections, the injectivity [gpm/psi] had decreased by approximately 70%. This demonstration shows that 1) common well logs can be used to identify scenarios where MICP can be employed to reduce system permeability, remediate leakage pathways, and improve waterflood efficiency, and 2) MICP can occur in the presence of hydrocarbons.

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Research Organization:: Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0024296; ECCS-1542210

OSTI ID:: 1799798

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1601732

Journal Information:: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol. 190, Issue C; ISSN 0920-4105

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 26 works

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