The Use of Genetically-Engineered Parageobacillus toebii NBRC 107807

for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Theo Situmorang, Universitas Indonesia, theovdpsitumorang@gmail.com, +6281314717214

In this era of rapid industrialization, petroleum will still be the world’s main source of energy for
the next decades. Today, the conventional oil recovery leaves a huge fraction of oil beneath the
earth’s surface. Besides, it is apart from being environmentally friendly. Therefore, we need a more
efficient and advanced method in order to recover the most possible oil without harmful effects to
its surrounding. This paper discusses the potential use of genetically-engineered thermophile,
Parageobacillus toebii NBRC 107807, to proliferate crude oil production, a method known as
Genetically-Engineered Microorganism for Enhanced Oil Recovery (GEMEOR). The change of
genetic makeup of this thermophile includes the improvement and deletion of specific genes. The
genes that control the biosynthesis and secretion of biosurfactant, biosolvent, acid and gas will be
overexpressed to stimulate oil extraction from the reservoir. These desired byproducts play a key
role in the increase of oil recovery; biosurfactant for reducing the interfacial tension between oil
and water, biosolvent and acid for unlocking the isolated part of the reservoir and gas for increasing
the pressure in oil sweeping. Meanwhile, the genes that control the biosynthesis of starch and the
catabolism of biosurfactant will be deleted. Moreover, the motility of this genetically-engineered
thermophile will create a more dispersed composition that maximize the oil recovery. Furthermore,
mathematical models are depicted to show a more comprehensible concept. The model for
GEMEOR includes the interfacial area between oil and water and also considers the transport
equation for three important components: thermophile, nutrients and the desired byproducts. While
there is a strong need for further research regarding the methods for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR),
GEMEOR becomes the most advantageous option to be implemented. Not only it yields more oil,
but also is environmentally friendly.

Keywords: byproducts, GEMEOR, mathematical models.