Oil Recovery Techniques MEOR

CHALLENGE

Increasing the recovery of undrained oil

in existing reservoirs

RECOVERY TECHNIQUES

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Oil Production Processes

Natural storage energy

Waterflooding

Sofia Castanho, May 2014

 Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)

Microorganisms are utilized for

the mobilization of crude oil
trapped in mature oil formations
Indigenous microorganisms are
advisable

Reduce the viscosity of

Improve oil mobility HC´s by degradation of
Environmentally harmless heavy oil fractions

Reduce interfacial tension

between the HC´s and
aqueous phase

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 MEOR Workflow

Consortium of
microorganisms

Biosurfactant Degradation of
production heavy oil fractions

↓ interfacial ↓ oil viscosity

tension
↑ oil mobility

Enhance Oil
Recovery

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In-Loco Experimental Procedures: Huff & Puff

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 MEOR General Strategies

• Injection of nutrients to stimulate indigenous microorganisms replication

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 MEOR Brazilian Field Assay

Most of the successful MEOR treatments were conducted in formations with:

 Low temperature (below 55°C)

 Low salinity (less than 100000 ppm)

 High water cut (above 75%)

 Low production rate

 Dead Oil ( 30º API)

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MEOR Brazilian Lab Assay

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 MEOR Advantages

 Microbial products are biodegradable and have low toxicity

 Easy application

 Reduces production decline & Increases water flood efficiency

 Increase Oil Recovery Factor and thus life of the field is extended for years.

 Commercially proven, fast and simple application.

 Utilizes indigenous microorganisms, environmentally friendly and no harsh chemicals or

additives used.

Glori Energy Report, 2008

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 MEOR Disadvantages

 The oxygen deployed in aerobic MEOR can act as corrosive agent on non-resistant
topside equipment and down-hole piping

 Anaerobic MEOR requires large amounts of nutrients limiting its applicability in offshore
platforms due to logistical problems

 Exogenous microbes require facilities for their cultivation..

 Microbial growth is preferentially applicable when: layer permeability is greater than 50 md;
reservoir temperature is inferior to 80 0C, salinity is below 150 g/L and reservoir depth is
less than 2400m.

Sofia Castanho, May 2014

 Conclusion

 Indigenous microorganisms
are advisable

 Growth is rapid

 Microbes degrade skin

damage, increasing fluid entry
into the reservoir

 Efficiency of recovery is high

Sofia Castanho, May 2014

THANK YOU