Experimental studies of in-situ microbial enhanced oil recovery

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/10789-PA· OSTI ID:6718737

Jenneman, G E; Knapp, R M; McInerney, M J; Menzie, D E; Revus, D E

Experiments were conducted to study the feasibility of using microorganisms in EOR, particularly for the correction of permeability variation. The use of microorganisms requires the ability to transport viable cells as well as the nutrients required for cellular growth through reservoir formations. Nutrients such as glucose, peptone-protein, and phosphate and ammonium ions were transported through brine-saturated Berea sandstone cores in amounts sufficient to support microbial growth. Viable bacterial cells were transported through sandstone cores of 170-md permeability. Less than 1% of the influent cell concentration was recovered in the effluent, indicating a high degree of cell retention inside the core. The addition of nutrients to these cores and subsequent incubation to allow for microbial growth resulted in permeability reductions of 60 to 80%. These data show that the growth of microorganisms significantly reduces the permeability of porous rock.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Oklahoma
• OSTI ID: 6718737
• Journal Information: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 24:1; ISSN SSPJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALDEHYDES
BACTERIA
BRINES
CARBOHYDRATES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INCUBATION
MICROBIAL EOR
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NUTRIENTS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTONE
PERMEABILITY
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POROSITY
PROCESSING
PROTEINS
QUANTITY RATIO
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SACCHARIDES
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USES
WELLS