Microbial EOR Technology Advancement: Xinjiang Project
Rosas Hernández Giselle, Ingeniería Petrolera, UNAM.
2019
Abstract
Field results from the Xinjiang Project
commercial Microbial EOR with diverse
reservoir conditions prove Microbial EOR
increases production and reserves while
decreasing water cut. Xinjiang is located in
China.
Microbial reduced oil viscosity and residual oil
result in improved oil recovery. Production rate
increases range from ten to five hundred
percent, averaging thirty-nine percent. Oil
recovery increases thus far average thirty-two
percent. Numerical simulator results
considering the two main microbial effects are
consistent with field performance. In this
project facultative anaerobic bacteria capable
of deriving nourishment from the native
reservoir environment are injected into the
producing wells. The microbes are diluted with
water and placed in the formation using
annular batch treatments. Treatment size has
ranged from ten to 450 barrels and frequency
from every seven to twenty-eight days.
Injection wells are treated as recycled
produced water is injected.
Microbe selection and effectiveness are
determined and monitored by measuring
changes in Newtonian behavior and viscosity
of produced oil.
Introduction
Production data and laboratory results indicate
microbes improved production and increased
reserves on the project. Oil production rates
are compared to baselines established by the
operator before the start of Microbial EOR.
Care was taken to continue field operations in
the same manner under Microbial EOR as
during the period the baseline waestablished.
Laboratory testing for microbe induced oil
viscosity decreases confirmed the
effectiveness of the selected microbes both
before and during the projects.
Microbes can improve oil recovery by:
1. Generation of gases that increase reservoir
pressure and reduce oil viscosity.
2. Generation of acids that dissolve rock
improving absolute permeability.
3. Reducing permeability in channels thereby
improving displacement conformance.
4. Altering wettability.
5. Producing bio-surfactants that decrease
surface and interfacial tensions.
6. Reducing oil viscosity by degrading
longchain saturated hydrocarbons.
For this reservoir and microbes in these
projects is considered the significant
mechanisms for the reduction of residual oil
and increased production. A typical reservoir
was numerically simulated using three phase,
black oil calculations. Considered in the
simulator model are reduced oil viscosity,
reduced residual oil and changes in relative
permeability which occur as the microbes
migrate or are transported through the
reservoir. Model results are consistent with the
field results.
Microbes
The Microbial EOR technology used in the five
projects is based upon colonizing reservoirs
with microbes capable of deriving nourishment
from the native reservoir environment. The
process does not require large volumes of
nutrients be pumped into the reservoir.
The microbial cultures used in these projects
are naturally occurring, non-pathogenic and
not genetically engineered. They are mixtures
of live facultative anaerobes containing
several principal strains which produce
desirable changes in crude properties.
Dimensions are 1 to 4 micro-meters in length
and 0.1 to 0.3 in width. The strains are motile
and capable of migrating into the pore space
of oil reservoirs. The metabolic process of the
microbes produces organic acid, alcohol and
surfactant and degrades long-chain, saturated
hydrocarbons.
The five Microbial EOR reservoirs are
inoculated with microbes mixed in formation or
treated fresh water. Microbe distribution and
colonization in the reservoirs occur by natural
microbe migration and by transport in injected
water. The Microbial EOR process converts
reservoirs into subsurface bioreactors and
microbe growing facilities. The immobile,
irreducible water phase present in the majority
of oil producing reservoirs provides a habitat
for microbe colonization and migration.
Irreducible water saturation can be as high as
fifty percent in preferentially water wet
reservoirs.
The irreducible water saturation of the five
subject reservoirs ranges from 30 to 40%
allowing ample colonization and migration
medium. As microbe colonies develop and
extend into the reservoirs, the growing process
reduces oil viscosity and produces metabolites
which improve oil flow and recovery.
The Microbial EOR technology
The Microbial EOR is based upon colonizing
reservoirs with microbes capable of deriving
nourishment from the native reservoir
environment. The process does not require
large volumes of nutrients be pumped into the
reservoir. The microbial cultures used in these
projects are naturally occurring, non-
pathogenic and not genetically engineered.
They are mixtures of live facultative anaerobes
containing several principal strains which
produce desirable changes in crude
properties. Dimensions are 1 to 4 micrometers
in length and 0.1 to 0.3 in width. The strains
are motile and capable of migrating into the
pore space of oil reservoirs. The metabolic
process of the microbes produces organic
acid, alcohol and surfactant and degrades
long-chain, saturated hydrocarbons.
The five Microbial EOR reservoirs are
inoculated with microbes mixed in formation or
treated fresh water. Microbe distribution and
colonization in the reservoirs occur by natural
microbe migration and by transport in injected
water. The Microbial EOR process converts
reservoirs into subsurface bioreactors and
microbe growing facilities. The immobile,
irreducible water phase present in the majority
of oil producing reservoirs provides a habitat
for microbe colonization and migration.
Irreducible water saturation can be as high as
fifty percent in preferentially water wet
reservoirs. The irreducible water saturation of
the five subject reservoirs ranges from 30 to
40% allowing ample colonization and
migration medium. As microbe colonies
develop and extend into the reservoirs, the
growing process reduces oil viscosity and
produces metabolites which improve oil flow
and recovery.
Project Evaluation Method.
First the history of each project before the start
of Microbial EOR and the suitability of the
reservoir and operations to Microbial EOR are
evaluated. Next the treatment design and
frequency are reviewed. The project results
are then evaluated in terms of:
• Production rate increase compared to
baseline, • decrease in water cut.
• Increase in cumulative recovery.
• Microbe effectiveness as measured by oil
compositional changes indicated by viscosity
testing.
• Projected change in residual oil saturation.
Xinjiang Project
Background
This project contains ten wells located in the
Xinjiang Petroleum Administration Bureau.
The wells, most in the later stage of being
waterflooded, are scattered and not in the
same reservoir. Therefore, while production
data can be analyzed, reservoir performance
cannot be determined for this grouping.
Microbial EOR started January 1995. The
wells are rod pumped, with pumps set from
200 to as high as 6,000 feet above the
perforations on one well. Reservoir and fluid produced which is 43% over the baseline
parameters are all favorable for microbe (Figure 2).
growth.

Treatments

Each well was treated three times (Figure 1).

Figure 2. Xinjiang Project Cumulative

Incremental Oil Recovery.

Figure 1. Xinjiang Project Production

Response

The first treatment consisted of 150 barrels of

microbe-laden fluid on 7 wells and 80 barrels
on 3 wells, followed by 0 to 150 barrels of
displacing water. The displacement was
calculated according to the distance the pump
was set over the perforations and the pumping
fluid level. The second and third treatments
were 50 barrels on 6 wells and 75 barrels on 4
wells with displacement ranging from 0 to 70
barrels.

Evaluation
The wells in the project were on a rapid decline
for the 24 months before Microbial EOR was
begun (Figure 1). For the 6 months after the
start of Microbial EOR the oil production rate
increased then maintained a rate of 300
barrels per day. Water production decreased
after the start of Microbial EOR, and as shown
by Figure 21 the water cut decreased from
64% to 54%. And the trend in water cut versus
cumulative oil production which was rapidly
increasing is now flat. Over the 6 months
14,000 barrels of incremental oil have been
Figure 3. Xinjiang Project Viscosity vs.
Shear Rate at 80°F
Oil production is 300 barrels per day, 36%
percent over baseline. Viscosity for an
example project well is shown versus shear
rate in Figure 3 and versus temperature in
Figure 4.
The baseline sample indicated microbes could
significantly alter the crude. The area under
the shear rate curve is reduced by 49%. The
temperature curve is shifted to the left
approximately 10°F. Due to the short duration
of the microbe treating and the location of the
project, viscosity curves are not available for
the field treated oil. However, on five of the
wells the operator measured an average
decrease in viscosity at 68°F from 273 to 184
cp. (49%) and an increase in gravity from 28.7
to 29.6°API (3.1%). Microbes favorably altered
the oil in is this reservoir.
Figure 4. Xinjiang Project. Viscosity vs.
Temperature
Conclusions
Microbial EOR has significantly increased oil
production and reserves on the project. The
only costs were for the microbes and for
performing the treatments. No investments
were required. On Xinjiang project increased
production has paid all the expenses and
resulted in ongoing profit. The average cost of
each incremental Microbial EOR barrel
produced on these projects is $3.10.
Expansion is underway or planned for the
project. Commercial simulators can be used to
match and project Microbial EOR recovery
using the experience in this reservoir with
these types of microbes.
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