Selection of an effective biocide and toxicity evaluation for a specific MEOR (microbial enhanced oil recovery) microbial formulation
The two major environmental impacts associated with microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) are possible contamination of surface and groundwater and contamination of agricultural land. Other potential environmental problems associated with MEOR processes include changes in indigenous microflora in reservoirs caused by injection of nonindigenous microorganisms and nutrient, or the possibility of injected microorganisms mutating and producing undesirable compounds under reservoir conditions. A specific MEOR microbial formulation, NIPER 1 and 6, was first tested for pathogenicity and mutagenicity of its metabolic products. Pathogenicity testing included both oral ingestion and intraperitoneal injection of the NIPER 1 and 6 formulation using mice. The Ames test was used to determine any mutagenic tendencies of filtered NIPER 1 and 6 metabolic products. Although the MEOR formulation tested negative for both pathogenicity and mutagenicity, biocide tests were conducted to select an effective biocide in the event of a spill or environmental hazard when using this formulation in the field. An aqueous solution of 370 ppM formaldehyde was the most effective biocide for eradicating the microbial formulation. For reservoir injection, sodium hypochlorite at an aqueous concentration of 5000 ppM appears to control growth of the microbial formulation and is less hazardous to the environment. 13 refs., 4 figs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/FE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC22-83FE60149
- OSTI ID:
- 5458986
- Report Number(s):
- NIPER-443; ON: DE90002573
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALDEHYDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
DETOXIFICATION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FORMALDEHYDE
KINETICS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
MICE
MICROBIAL EOR
MICROORGANISMS
MUTATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
RECOVERY
RODENTS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
TESTING
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES