Applied genetic engineering has a place in petroleum production

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Energy (Stamford, Conn.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6406233

Crull, A W

On the very leading edge of high technology for the eighties is the merger of applied genetic engineering and the emerging technologies for enhanced oil recovery. Within a reservoir, gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen, or methane can be produced from a fermentation process that will increase the reservoir pressure and push more oil out. Various polysaccharides or mucopolysaccharides can be produced that will act in situ in lower interfacial tension. It is possible for microbial action to degrade the large molecules of crude oil and lower the viscosity. An internal sulfonation of molecules by bacterial metabolites can occur and result in the formation of in situ surfactants. Oklahoma State is working under a DOE grant to screen anaerobic Clostrida for enhanced oil recovery. Another Oklahoma State contract from DOE includes a microbial study of the biodegradation of compounds used in EOR.

• OSTI ID: 6406233
• Journal Information: Energy (Stamford, Conn.); (United States), Journal Name: Energy (Stamford, Conn.); (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN ENGYD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FERMENTATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MICROBIAL EOR
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
POLYSACCHARIDES
RECOVERY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SACCHARIDES
SURFACTANTS