SPE 143161

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery in Carbonate Reservoir: An Experimental

Study
Chang Hong Gao, University of Aberdeen

Copyright 2011, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Enhanced Oil Recovery Conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 19–21 July 2011.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
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Abstract
Many successful field cases of microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) method have been reported for sandstone reservoirs.

The objective of this study is to investigate the potential of MEOR method in UAE carbonate reservoirs. Two Bacillus strains

were incubated at temperatures from 35 to 55°C, and their effects on crude oil properties and recovery were tested. It was

discovered that neither strain could effectively reduce crude oil viscosity. Bacteria solutions were subsequently injected into a

glass Hele-Shaw model to simulate microbial flooding in a fracture. It was observed that both strains grown under 45°C

achieved maximum enhanced recovery of over 13%. Core flooding tests were conducted at elevated temperature of 70°C

with limestone core. The two strains achieved enhanced oil recovery of more than 4.5%, respectively. The observation on

core flooding test indicated selective plugging as the dominant recovery mechanism. Even though the recovery test results

were positive, an analysis shows that MEOR method is not cost-effective. Therefore, MEOR technology may have limited

potential in UAE carbonate reservoirs.

1. Introduction

Even after secondary recovery, large amount of residual oil is held in reservoir rocks by capillary force.

It is estimated that more than 50% of original oil remains underground at field abandonment. Tertiary

recovery methods, or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods have to be employed to produce the

residual oil. Most common EOR methods include thermal recovery methods, polymer flooding, and CO2

flooding.
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Microbial enhanced oil recovery method is a unique technique. In MEOR operations, live

microorganisms and nutrients are injected into reservoir. Bacteria and their metabolic products, such as

biosurfactants and biopolymers are able to mobilize the residual oil. If favorable bacteria already reside

in reservoirs, it is feasible to inject nutrients only. MEOR method is environmentally friendly, because

no toxic chemical is involved. It is also easy to carry out in the field, because no modification of present

water injection facility is required.

The proposed MEOR mechanisms for sandstone reservoirs include reduction in interfacial tension (IFT),

selective plugging, reduction in viscosity by gas production, alteration of wettability, and biodegradation

(Sen, 2008). MEOR is not a new concept, but the field applications have become more active in the past

ten years. According to a survey (Gao et al., 2009), most MEOR field cases were conducted in reservoir

temperatures below 55°C. This is due to the fact that bacteria cannot thrive at high temperatures.

Besides, the high salinity in deep oil and gas reservoirs also has negative effects on bacteria growth.

Moreover, injected bacteria have to compete with the indigenous microbes in the reservoir.

To overcome the unfavorable underground conditions, the authors propose to grow bacteria at surface

conditions under optimum temperature and low salinity. The produced bacteria solution will be injected

into the oil and gas reservoir for enhanced oil recovery. Therefore, bacteria’s production capacity for

biopolymers and biosurfactants can be maximized.

Most MEOR treatments were carried out for sandstone reservoirs. The research and applications of

MEOR in carbonate reservoirs are very limited. This paper is to investigate the effectiveness and the

mechanism of MEOR in carbonate reservoirs.

2. Preparation of Bacteria Solution

Bacillus subtilis (B.S.) and Bacillus licheniformis (B.L.) were chosen for this study. In an early study

(Yakimov et al., 1997), Bentheimer sandstone cores were injected with B.L. and nutrients. The tests

achieved oil recovery ranging from 9.3% to 22.1%. In another study (Sifour et al., 2005), surfactin
SPE 143161 3

produced by B.S. and lipopeptide produced B.L. were found effective in emulsifying crude oil. In field

cases, Bacillus species increased oil production in several sandstone fields (Liu et al., 2005; Hou et al.,

2008).

Bacillus subtilis (B.S.) and Bacillus licheniformis (B.L.) strains were purchased as dry culture from

DSMZ (the German resource center for biological material). The nutrient solutions for both strains

consist of Peptone (5.0 g), meat extract (3.0 g), and Agar (15.0 g), mixed with distilled water (1000 ml).

Aerobic incubation was conducted in a temperature-controlled shaker at 35°C for 48 hours. The

procedure was repeated at 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60°C. The products were yellow-colored solutions.

3. Effect of Bacteria on Crude Oil Properties

The tested crude oil was taken from a field in UAE. The crude has a specific gravity of 0.83 at 30°C.

B.L. solutions prepared at 35°C and 55°C were hand-mixed with crude oil for 2 minutes then

centrifuged. The viscosity of crude oil was then measured with Anton Paar viscometer at 30, 40, 50, and

60°C. As illustrated in Fig. 1, it can be seen that B.L. can reduce viscosity at low temperature, but the

effect diminishes at high temperature. The mixtures were left static for one week, but no further

reduction in oil viscosity was observed. Similar results were obtained for B.S., as seen in Fig. 2. It can

be concluded that the tested Bacillus strains have limited capacity in reducing oil viscosity.

4. Recovery Tests with Hele-Shaw Model

Unlike sandstone, fluid flows in Carbonate reservoirs through fractures and wormholes. The Hele-Shaw model was used for

flooding tests, because of its resemblance to a fracture (Zajic et al, 1989). Hele-Shaw model is simply made of two square

glass plates glued together with a thin gap in between. The thickness of the gap is 2 mm. One small hole is drilled on each

plate to serve as liquid inlet and outlet. The model has a volume capacity of 158 ml. The detailed dimensions can be seen in

Fig. 3.
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Fig. 1: Effect of B.L. on Crude Oil Viscosity

Fig 2: Effect of B.S. on Crude Oil Viscosity

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Fig. 3: Dimensions of Hele-Shaw model

The tests with Hele-Shaw model were all conducted at ambient pressure and temperature. The test procedures are similar to a

typical EOR experiment. The model was first saturated with fresh water, then flooded with crude oil till residual water

saturation (Swi) was achieved. The model was subsequently flooded with fresh water till no oil leaves the model (i.e.,

residual oil saturation). Afterwards, 50 ml of bacteria solution was injected into the model. At last, water flooding was

resumed till no extra oil could be recovered. Volumes of injected and produced fluids were measured for calculation of oil

recovery.

The recovery data are illustrated in Fig. 4. It can be seen that both strains are most effective when grown at around 45°C. B.L.

and B.S. achieved maximum recovery of 14% and 13%, respectively. During the tests, it was also observed that once

injection of bacteria solution was initiated, residual oil immediately started to flow. This indicates the reduction of interfacial

tension as the recovery mechanism for recovering oil in Hele-Shaw model.

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Fig. 4: Recovery tests results with Hele-Shaw model

5. Recovery Tests with Limestone Core

Tests with Hele-Shaw model show that both strains are most effective when grown at 45°C. Their performance at reservoir

temperature should be further investigated. A limestone core was cut from outcrop at Jabel Hafeet Mountain in UAE. The

core has porosity of 19%, and permeability of 4mD. The flooding tests were conducted at 70°C, the typical reservoir

temperature in UAE carbonate fields. The effect of normal reservoir pressure on bacteria is insignificant. Therefore, the tests

were conducted at a low injection pressure of 300 psi.

The core was first saturated with brine. Crude oil was then injected till residual water saturation (Swi) is achieved. The core

was subsequently flooded with brine till residual oil saturation (Soi) is achieved. Finally, 100 ml (9 pore volumes) of bacteria

solution was injected into the core. Volumes of injected and produced fluids were measured for calculation of oil recovery.

For the core flooding tests, B.L. achieved enhanced oil recovery of 6%, while B.S. solution recovered 4.5% of extra oil.

Compared with the tests with Hele-Shaw model, the recovery is significantly lower with the limestone core. This is possibly

because the limestone core is tight, which makes it difficult for the biosurfactants to reach the residual oil. Moreover, the

deterioration of biosurfactants at high temperature may also lead to reduction in recovery.

As mentioned earlier, the residual oil inside the Hele-Shaw model started to flow immediately upon injection of bacteria

solution. However, for the tests with limestone core, traces of residual oil started to appear after 4 to 5 pore volumes of

bacteria solution have been injected. This indicates different recovery mechanism. Some tiny fractures exist in carbonates. It

is suspected that bacteria started to plug the fractures at the early stage of flooding. After plugging the fractures, the bacteria

solution started to sweep the residual oil.

Based on the test results, it can be seen that for large fractures (Hele-Shaw), reduction in IFT is the mechanism for enhanced

oil recovery. While in tight limestone, selective plugging may be the dominant mechanism.
SPE 143161 7

6. Cost Analysis of MEOR Treatment

Nutrient is the major cost for MEOR treatment. Assume a reservoir will go through MEOR treatment. The reservoir

parameters are given in Table 1. The original oil in place (OOIP) is calculated to be 231 million liters (1.934 million barrels).

Table 1: Assumed reservoir parameters

Area 40 acres
Porosity 19%
Reservoir thickness 10 meters
Original oil saturation 75%

It is reasonable to assume that the MEOR treatment will achieve 4% of extra recovery. Thus the treatment will recover 9.23

million liters (58030 barrels) of oil. If oil price is at 70 USD per barrel, MEOR treatment will lead to an income of 4 million

USD.

It is estimated that 1 liter of nutrient solution costs 5 US dollar (USD), and assume totally 4 pore volumes of bacteria solution

are injected to achieve 4% of recovery. The required volume of bacteria solution will be 7.74 million barrels, which will cost

6151 million USD.

It is obvious that MEOR method is not financially feasible. However, many technically and economically successful MEOR

cases were reported for sandstone fields. As we know, the macroscopic structure of sandstone is very different from that of

limestone. The pore throats in sandstone often have size around 1 micron, which enables effective plugging by microbes with

similar size. However, the fractures in limestone have larger dimensions than pore throats. Microbes can not be easily

captured by fracture. Therefore, large volumes of injection are required to achieve effective plugging.

7. Conclusions

(1) Both Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis have limited capacity in reduction of crude oil viscosity.

(2) According to the tests in Hele-Shaw model, both strains incubated at 45ºC are most effective in improving oil recovery.

(3) Both strains achieved positive oil recovery with limestone core.

(4) Based on observations, the recovery mechanism for tight limestone core is selective plugging, while that for Hele-Shaw

model is reduction in IFT.

(5) Based on an assumed field scenario, MEOR method is not cost-effective, due to the large volumes of injection required.
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