Effect of biological activity on the movement of fluids through porous rocks and sediments and its application to enhanced oil recovery
Titel:
Effect of biological activity on the movement of fluids through porous rocks and sediments and its application to enhanced oil recovery
Auteur:
Bubela, B.
Verschenen in:
Geomicrobiology journal
Paginering:
Jaargang 4 (1985) nr. 3 pagina's 313-327
Jaar:
1985
Inhoud:
Movement of fluids through geological porous media is an important factor in ore genesis, crude oil genesis, and in oil recovery from oil reservoirs. Such a movement may be beneficially affected by biological in situ activity. We have shown that once bacteria have been introduced into a porous medium, they are able to penetrate into their environment and multiply without decreasing significantly the rock's permeability. The limiting bacterial concentration, which may cause plugging, depends on the bacterial size, pore size, and pore size distribution of the reservoir rock. Microorganisms may, under anaerobic conditions, affect the composition of crude oil by increasing its asphaltenic fraction. In simulated systems microorganisms increased the recovery of the oil in place approximately five times. A bacterial consortium was more effective than a single pure bacterial strain.
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