IMTH-V | SEMINAR

MICROBIAL ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY

(MEOR)
KEY HIGHLIGHT : COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL

PRESENTED BY : ASMIDISHA GHOSH

ROLL NO. : 1860046
IMTH-V | SEMINAR

CONTENTS

1. THREE W'S OF MEOR 2. EOR MEETS MICROBIOLOGY

3. MEOR : APPROACHES FOR

4. CASE STUDIES
EXTRACTION ENHANCEMENT

5. COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF MEOR 6. ADVANTAGES OF MEOR

7. SHORTCOMINGS OF MEOR 8. CONCLUSION

 IMTH-V | SEMINAR

THREE W'S OF MEOR - WHAT IS IT, WHY AND WHERE IS IT USED

• SO, WHAT IS MEOR?
Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery is a Tertiary oil extraction technology in which microorganisms
are used to produce metabolites/bioproducts using growth substrates from the existing fossil fuels
which allows the partial recovery of the commonly residual two-thirds of inaccessible oil (by primary
and secondary recovery techniques) thus extending the life of
mature oil reservoirs.

• WHY IS IT USED?
The ultimate aim of MEOR is to improve the recovery of oil entrapped in porous media
while increasing economic profits by manipulating function or structure, or both, of microbial
environments existing in those oil reservoirs.

• AND WHERE?
The recovery is made at poor-performing and depleted oil wells for the extraction of
residual oil at an economically feasible production rate after primary and secondary oil
recovery techniques can no longer be applied there.
IMTH-V | SEMINAR
WHEN EOR MEETS MICROBIOLOGY
 Microbes can improve oil recovery by -

Reducing permeability Producing

Generation of gases
in channels thereby biosurfactants that
that increase reservoir
improving decrease surfaceand
pressure and reduce oil
displacement interfacial tensions.
viscosity.
conformance.

2 3 4 5 6
1

Reducing oil viscosity

Generation of acids that
Altering by degrading long-
dissolve rock improving
wettability. chain saturated
absolute permeability.
hydrocarbons.

Laid down by Zobell and group in the year 1947.

MEOR - APPROACHES FOR EXTRACTION ENHANCEMENT
BUT FIRST - WHICH MICRO-ORGANISMS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ?
<< Molds, yeast, algae and
 Bacteria!
protozoa are not suitable due to
 Mainly used are Bacillus sp. and their large cell size, intolerance
Clostridium sp. to harsh reservoir conditions and
inability to form spores!
WHY, one may ask -
 Smaller and grow exponentially!
 Tolerant to extreme environmental
factors
 Can form spores, hence survive the
harsh environment of the reservoirs.
 Produce metabolites. 1. EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES APPLIED :

 DEPENDING ON THE PLACE OF • Well Stimulation

EXTRACTION, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF • Enhancing Waterflooding
BACTERIAL POPULATIONS : • Permeability Modifications

• Indigenous - found in the reservoir itself • Wellbore-Cleanup

• Exogenous - found off-site
MEOR - APPROACHES TO EXTRACTION ENHANCEMENT

2. EXTRACTION PROCESSES (depending on the site of

metabolite production) :
 IN SITU - Bacterial bioproducts/metabolites are produced inside the
reservoir.
Achieved by -
1) Stimulation of the indigenous reservoir bacterial population
2) Injection of inoculum- (Water+Nutrients+ specially selected consortia
of exogenous bacterial population) which are directed to produce specific
bioproducts/metabolites inside the reservoir.

 EX SITU - Production of the bioproducts/metabolites outside the

reservoir (in a bioreactor), then injecting them separately either with or
without the separation of the bacterial cells (inoculation)
Desired metabolite for field applications, is produced at a commercial scale
remotely. Eg : Biosurfactants (IFT), Biopolymers (Selective Plugging) >>
MEOR - APPROACHES TO EXTRACTION ENHANCEMENT

3. EXTRACTION METHODS APPLIED :

A. WELL STIMULATION >> ' HUFF AND PUFF ' METHOD

STEP 1:
Injecting
Inoculum
STEP 3 :
Production
(From the
same well)
STEP 2 :
Shut-in
(Huff &
Puff)
MEOR - APPROACHES TO EXTRACTION ENHANCEMENT

3. EXTRACTION METHODS APPLIED :

B. ENHANCING WATERFLOOING >> MICROBIAL FLOODING
MEOR - APPROACHES TO EXTRACTION ENHANCEMENT
3. EXTRACTION METHODS APPLIED (TO) :
C. PERMEABILITY MODIFICATIONS >>
 Biodegradation of big molecules
reduces viscosity.
 Production of surfactants reduces INTERFACIAL
interfacial tension. TENSION 1
[BIOSURFACTANTS]

WATER MOBILITY  Permeability Reduction : Selective Plugging

2  Viscosity Increasing : Thickening of water
[BIOPOLYMERS]

 Permeability Increasing : Dissolution of

carbonates & sulphate minerals, dislodge
debris
OIL MOBILITY
[ORGANIC ACIDS, BIO-GAS] 3
 Viscosity Reduction : Emulsion, Swelling,
Oil dissolution/biodegradation
[ORGANIC SOLVENTS,
BIOSURFACTANTS, BIO-GAS]
MEOR - APPROACHES TO EXTRACTION ENHANCEMENT
 In-situ microbial stimulation can be chemically promoted (induced) by injecting directive nutrient media eg: nitrate; easy
fermentable molasses, vitamins or surfactants.
 It is also promoted by injecting exogenous microbes, adapted to reservoir conditions which produces desired MEOR agents..

BIO-PRODUCT/ METABOLITES APPLICATION IN OIL RECOVERY

(AGENTS)
BIOMASS Selective Plugging, Viscosity Reduction, Oil Bio-
degradation, Rock-Wettability Alteration

BIOSURFACTANTS Oil Emulsification, Decrease in Interfacial

Tension, Viscosity Reduction
BIOPOLYMERS Injectivity Profile Modification, Mobility
Control
ORGANIC SOLVENTS Oil Dissolution, Viscosity Reduction

ORGANIC ACIDS Permeability Increase, Emulsification

ORGANIC GASES Pressure Increase, Oil Swelling, Decrease in

Interfacial Tension, Viscosity Reduction,
Permeability Increase
So, How does it look up close?
 CASE STUDIES > >
Conoco
Inc.
Well Stimulation
• Location : Johnson Co. , Wyoming
USA, 1979
• Problem : Shallow, depleted reservoir
• Oil production : Very Low - 20 bbl/day
• Objective : Well clean-out
• Huff 'n' puff method -
1. Injection- (Bacillus/Clostridium
sp. about 105-6 cells/ml +
Molasses (4%) & (NH4)3PO4
(0.02%))
2. Shut-In for 4 weeks
• Final Productivity : 70 bbl/day (+50
barrels - 350% spike), baseline
efficiency increased, unswept oils made
more accessible - net oil recovery
increases.
Davidson
et al, 1988
Microbial-Flooding
• Location : Chinese mature on-shore wells
• Problem : Inefficient water-flooding due to
high oil viscosity (unfavorable mobility
ratio)
• Oil production : Return to baseline
efficiency and enhanced oil recovery
• Objective : Well clean-out
• Microbial Injection -
1. Inoculum- (Clostridium sp.+Water
10k bbl+ Free Corn Syrup-200k
lbs+ Mineral salts)
2. Shut-In for 7 days
• Final Productivity : Production rates
restored by increased sweep efficiency &
mobility ratios, by the release of organic
butanol and CO2 to reduce oil viscosity.
 COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF MEOR
The global oil market is very volatile. Governments all over the world are
more concerned about the supply of oil by geography.
There are 1.65 trillion barrels of proven oil reserves in the world as of
2016 reported by worldometers.info. With the current technologies, about
20-40% OOIP can extracted by conventional production operations (e.g
vertical drilling), with secondary recovery methods yielding a further 15–
25%. Hence, up to 55% of the OOIP can remain unrecovered in a
reservoir. Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is one of the EOR
techniques which is an attractive, alternative oil recovery approach, which
is claimed to potentially recover up to 50% of residual oil.

Global demand for crude oil (including biofuels) in 2019 amounted

to 100.1mbbl/day and is projected to decrease to 91.7 mbbl/day in
2020.
This decrease is due to the economic and mobility impacts of
Covid-19, including widespread shutdowns across the world.

Increasing maturity of major oil fields indicate the need for the
development of oil recovery technologies that are less costly and,
where possible, environmentally compatible - Hence, MEOR.
 COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF MEOR

 WHAT LED TO DEVELOPMENT OF MEOR?

The petroleum crisis in 1970s led to increased research efforts to
scientifically evaluate MEOR as a recognized EOR method.

 HOW DOES THE FIELD MARKET FOR MEOR LOOK ?

About two-thirds of the world’s daily oil production comes from mature
fields, according to a report from IHS Cambridge Energy Research
Associates. Hence, fields with remaining oil saturation of 25% or
more make ideal MEOR field candidates.

 AND, WHY DOES MEOR HAVE SUCH A PROSPECTIVE

MARKET?
1. Revitalization projects are affordable and increase the amount of oil
recovered by as much as 20% and more, which is a lot!
2. Recovers almost abandoned wells to realise its maximal potential.
3. Extension of the natural (production) decline curve adds viable
SCHEMATIC OUTLINE OF A MEOR PROCESS
production years to the exsisting age of the well.
 COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF MEOR
 WHERE DOES MEOR STAND NOW?

MEOR's early successes had enamored industries, but a widespread

commercialised application of the process is yet to be seen due to
one simple fact which has hindered the development of a
generalised MEOR model till date and that is : Due to reservoir
heterogeneity, the holistic approach to MEOR must be always
be site-specific.

 SO THEN, WHERE IS IT APPLIED AT THE

MOMENT?

Independent operators, small firms and private and local

merchants with the use of reservoir modeling tools such as
our Personal Computer reservoir simulation programs,
validated with field data, have had improved well
performance by prediction and risk-assessment - a must for
such operators.
 COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF MEOR
 SO THEN HOW DO WE TURN THIS INTO A COMMERCIAL APPROACH?
1. Researchers must take the time to identify the organisms that are problem solvers under specified conditions.
2. They also need to compile a collection of technical choices, with each choice catalogued and described for it to be selected for the
proper situation (site-specificity is accounted for).
3. Field trials are an essential part of the effort to educate and convince the operators of a technique's value.

 OKAY, BUT HOW DO WE ASSESS A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROCESS?

Microbe effectiveness as measured by oil

compositional changes indicated
by viscosity testing.
Production rate increase compared to baseline.

Projected change in residual oil saturation.

Decrease in water cut.

Increase in cumulative recovery.

 TRENDS IN THE CURRENT MARKET & FIELD TRIALS
• Successful MEOR field trials have been conducted in the U.S, Russia, China, Australia,
Argentina, Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, former East Germany, Hungary, India,
Malaysia, Peru, Poland, and Romania.
• 400+ standalone MEOR field tests have been conducted in the United
States alone on “stripper wells” (Van Hamme et al., 2003).
• In Argentina, the
Tupungato-Refúgio
project by 29% or 60 • In China, field trials only started in the last 10–20 years and show some
bbl/day after 14 months promising as well as mixed results (Weidong et al., 2014; Li et al., 2015).
of treating by Also (Lazar et al.) suggested China is leading in the area. • Most of the successful
microbialflooding. According to an amazing research article - (Recent Advance of Microbial field cases were
(SPE 36746) Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) in China, Haicheng She et al.) show that conducted by Glori
Microbial flooding recovery field tests in China show that MRF is close to Energy Inc. in
commercial application! since a high incremental oil recovery of 4.95% Houston. Success
(~5%) OOIP was attained with a typical slug sizes!!! stories in Kansas,
• In Europe, MEOR field
California, Canada,
projects are mostly confined to
Brazil.
Norway (Equinor) (Bødtker et
al., 2009), Poland (RAM • The most successful study was carried out in
Biomedicals; Polish and Gas Alton field, Australia (40% increase of oil • The only known offshore
Institute) (Falkowicz et al., production in 12 months). field trials were in Norne
2015) and Germany (BASF;
(Norway) and Bokor
Wintershall) (Alkan et al.,
(Malaysia).
2014, 2016).
  ADVANTAG E S O F M E O R :

01 03 05 07

Inexpensive 02 Requires minimum, 04 The benefits of 06 Processes are

and readily bacterial activity stimulated in
if any, upgrade of within the situ (within the
available the existing process reservoir are
reservoir),
resources. amplified with
Economically equipment and thus
time, whereas the
viable option for Microbial processes opposite is true Environmentally eliminating the
facilities.
consume less energy for other EOR compatible need to
use in mature oil
technologies. accommodate
fields prior to than thermal EOR process. large storage
their processes. facilities
abandonment. onsite/offshore
(Perfect for use .
in carbonate oil
reservoirs.)
  SHORTCOMINGS OF MEOR :

01 03 05 07

Slowest EOR 02 Majority of field 04 Its absolute 06 Metabolites

process. success is themselves may
projects are done on
difficult to predict reduce
stripper wells, due to high
permeability by
which renders heterogeneity of
Complex reservoirs. activation of
Unmangeable once Laboratory-based
process because MEOR a low secondary flow
implemented in the projections of
the desired incremental oil field, because of the paths by
unpredictable growth of desired depositing:
bacterial recovery process.
interactions between metabolic biomass,
activities depend microbes and the
products under minerals,
on the geophysiology of the
reservoir. reservoir suspended
environment of
particles
the reservoir. conditions has
(clogging) if
proven difficult.
MEOR technique
is not designed
and deployed
 C O N C L U S I O N
Despite the fact that MEOR has been around for around 70 years, it has not been widely used as both industry and academia recognize that in
order to develop robust MEOR methods, multidisciplinary and collaborative research between both sectors is needed and that it would
include expertise in microbiology, metagenomics, biotechnology, metabolic engineering, petroleum engineering, petrophysics, process
engineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering and geology.

At present, oil-producing companies see “Microbial

Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)” as a high-risk
technology to achieve efficient and predictable oil
recovery.
Whilst modeling approaches for predicting reliable oil
recovery under simulated reservoir conditions show
promise, progress has been slow, as both micro/macro
conditions vary in each and every reservoir in practical
life and the MEOR processes must be customized for
the specific conditions in each reservoir for it to be
successful, not to mention the unpredictable
interactions that may arise and influence the process
flow.

Keeping these in mind the potential development of a “universal” formulation is hence, seen as a promising line of future research in this
field, which can then ultimately meet its commercialized fate someday.
IMTH-V | SEMINAR

THANKS

I would like to express my special thanks to my Project guide Dr. Snehashis Mishra Sir, for providing me a safe and enabling exposure
to venture in the areas of my interest through the course of this project till its succesful completion.