Mechanisms of microbial oil recovery by Clostridium acetobutylicum and Bacillus strain JF-2
Core displacement experiments at elevated pressures were conducted to determine whether microbial processes are effective under conditions that simulate those found in an actual oil reservoir. The in-situ growth of Clostridium acetobutylicum and Bacillus strain JF-2 resulted in the recovery of residual oil. About 21 and 23% of the residual oil was recovered by C. acetobutylicum and Bacillus strain JF-2, respectively. Flooding cores with cell-free culture fluids of C. acetobutylicum with and without the addition of 50 mM acetone and 100 mM butanol did not result in the recovery of residual oil. Mathematical simulations showed that the amount of gas produced by the clostridial fermentation was not showed that the amount of gas produced by the clostridial fermentation was not sufficient to recover residual oil. Oil recovery by Bacillus strain JF-2 was highly correlated to surfactant production. A biosurfactant-deficient mutant of strain JF-2 was not capable of recovering residual oil. These data show that surfactant production is an important mechanism for microbially enhanced oil recovery. The mechanism for oil recovery by C. acetobutylicum is not understood at this time, but the production of acids, solvents, or gases alone cannot explain the observed increases in oil recovery by this organism.
- Research Organization:
- BDM Oklahoma, Inc., Bartlesville, OK (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-90BC14662
- OSTI ID:
- 270510
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9509173-; ON: DE96001220; TRN: 96:002616-0038
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International conference on microbial enhanced oil recovery and related biotechnology for solving environment problems, Dallas, TX (United States), 11-14 Sep 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]; Related Information: Is Part Of The fifth international conference on microbial enhanced oil recovery and related biotechnology for solving environmental problems: 1995 Conference proceedings; Bryant, R. [ed.]; PB: 619 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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