Interactions of polyacrylamides used for enhanced oil recovery and reservoir isolates of the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio
The interactions of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides utilized in enhanced oil recovery as mobility control agents and reservoir isolates of Desulfovibrio were examined. Produced waters from reservoirs undergoing polymer flooding were sampled to determine the presence and numbers of sulfate-reducing bacteria. The influence of polyacrylamide on the growth of Desulfovibrio under a number of conditions was studied. Brookfield viscosity and screen factor measurements were used to screen for adverse changes in the rheological properties of polyacrylamide solutions which had been exposed to Desulfovibrio. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides stimulated the growth of Desulfovibrio under laboratory conditions. The polymer may act as a nitrogen source or as an incomplete substrate under certain conditions, but is apparently not utilizable as a carbon source. Desulfovibrio caused a loss in screen factor of polyacrylamide solutions under anaerobic conditions, but no significant loss in solution viscosity was observed. No decrease in polymer concentration was detected. Labelled polyacrylamide was not incorporated in Desulfovibrio. The authors conclude that the observed screen factor losses are probably not the result of enzymatic degradation of the polymer, and are most likely a physical/chemical interaction of polymer molecules with some product of Desulfovibrio metabolism.
- Research Organization:
- Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7017587
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DESULFOVIBRIO
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROWTH
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MICROORGANISMS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROLEUM
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
RHEOLOGY
SAMPLING
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
VISCOSITY
WELLS