Transformation of hydrocarbons by microorganisms: Topical report
An increase in the number of microbial enhanced oil recovery projects in petroleum reservoirs has led to a heighted concern about the possible adverse effects that microbial metabolism may cause. One potential problem is the possibility of microbial metabolism on hydrocarbons in the reservoir, which might lead to undesirable alteration in the crude oil. This topical report addresses the microbial activity on hydrocarbons, with an emphasis placed upon considering the possible environmental hazards that the application of microbial petroleum technology may cause. From our analysis of existing data there is no proof that microorganisms have caused compositional changes in crude oil in petroleum reservoirs. There are a multitude of microorganisms that can metabolize crude oils aerobically, but there are no available anaerobic metabolic pathways for microorganisms to alter crude oils in the reservoir, where only anerobic conditions would exist. Certainly the advent of high technological processes could show that anaerobic degradation of petroleum by microorganisms can occur; however, at this time there is little chance of microbial anaerobic degradation occurring from microbial enhanced oil recovery processes. 40 refs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC22-83FE60149
- OSTI ID:
- 6913397
- Report Number(s):
- NIPER-213; ON: DE87004136
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
METABOLISM
MICROBIAL EOR
MICROORGANISMS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
REVIEWS
WELLS