Title : Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) utilizing biosurfactant-biopolymer synergies
Abstract:
The continuous depletion of petroleum from traditional crude oil reservoirs is a result of the world's population growth, economic expansion, increased energy use, and intense industrialization. The petroleum fluids are still the primary source of fuels and the conventional crude oil production is decreasing continuously. To speed up and increase the extraction of unrecovered crude oil, research has been undertaken using tertiary (enhanced) oil recovery techniques, such as thermal, chemical, and microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) approaches. MEOR is one of the mechanisms for corporations looking for innovative ways to boost the returns on their previous investments.
However, not all indigenous microorganisms can guarantee additional oil recovery. As the framework of microbial action is not well comprehended, the implementation of the knowledge of microbe to oil reserves is sometimes regarded as being uncertain. Despite the substantial number of studies that have been carried out on MEOR, the petroleum business has noticeably shown little to no fascination, which is apparent by the 400+ MEOR patents that are yet haven't been implemented by the petroleum industry.
However, their ability to endure harsh reservoir conditions such high temperatures, salinities, and pressures deep inside the reservoir, bacterially generated metabolites such as biosurfactants, and biopolymers are chosen for MEOR applications. It is widely acknowledged that biological preparations comprising many symbiotic microbial isolates are significant due to their superior biotechnological properties and improved efficacy over monobacterial formulations.
The isolation of possible biosurfactant & biopolymer producing, gas-forming and crude oil-degrading strains from various oil collecting unit of Assam (in Eastern India) oil field production facilities is thoroughly described in the current work. Various strains were isolated from the oil field samples, and the growth of these strains was examined on Bushnell Haas agar enriched with crude oil. Based on its surface-active characteristics and growth profile, strains were selected for further investigation.
Surface tension and interfacial tension were lowered when grown in nutrient broth medium in the range of 24 – 49 mN/m and 0.02 – 1.73 mN/m, respectively. Furthermore, each strain was individually examined for emulsification of oil, production of biopolymer, biosurfactant and the generation of gas and acids. The biosurfactant and biopolymer extracted were also chemically characterized using FTIR and H-NMR. Antagonistic activity of these indigenous bacterial isolates was examined by cross streaking and later on consortium was compared and constructed on the basis of their surface-active properties.
Successful isolation and screening efforts yield a diverse pool of microbial strains suitable for MEOR applications. These microbes exhibit unique adaptive mechanisms to thrive in challenging reservoir conditions, including high temperature, high pressure, salinity, and low nutrient availability. By harnessing the metabolic activities of selected microbes, MEOR strategies aim to improve oil recovery efficiency, reduce production costs, and minimize environmental impact.
Furthermore, the isolation and screening process contribute to the development of novel biotechnologies and microbial consortia tailored to specific reservoir conditions and oil recovery challenges. Integration of advanced genetic engineering techniques enables the design and optimization of microbial strains with enhanced oil recovery capabilities, paving the way for innovative approaches in MEOR research and application.
Audience Takeaway Notes:
- Engineers, geologists, and professionals working in the oil and gas industry can apply MEOR techniques to improve oil recovery rates. By understanding the principles of MEOR, they can design and implement strategies to introduce beneficial microbes into reservoirs.
- This also benefit environmental scientists, policymakers, and regulatory agencies. Understanding the potential environmental impacts of microbial treatments helps develop guidelines and regulations for the safe application of MEOR techniques.
- Scientists and researchers in academia, government agencies, and private institutions can use insights from MEOR studies to further advance the field. They can explore new microbial strains, develop innovative biotechnologies, and conduct experiments to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of MEOR processes.
- Industry partnerships, and academic-industry collaborations will facilitate the exchange of ideas, resources, and technologies.
