MICROBIAL ENHANCED OIL

RECOVERY(MEOR)
PART OF CHEMICAL INJECTION-(WITH THE HELP OF MICRO-ORGANISMS)
 MEOR is a process in which MICRO-ORGANISM are used to produce
surfactants , acids , and/or gases using growth substrates from the fossil fuel ,
to enhance the oil recovery

 BIOSURFACTANT – which decrease the oil viscosity to increase oil flow

 ACID – which increase the rock porosity and hence oil flow
 GASES – to increase the pressure in the reservoir and improve oil recovery

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ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY THROUGH
MICROBES

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 MEOR APPLICATION

 Selective Plugging
 Hydrocarbon Chain Degrading Bacteria
 Microbiological stimulation for oil recovery

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 1.SELECTIVE PLUGGING RECOVERY
 BLOCKS the high permeability zone in the oil – leads to the increase in oil
recovery

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 2.HYDROCARBON CHAIN DEGRADING
BACTERIA
 A large group of bacteria is able to cut hydrocarbon chains thus decreasing the
viscosity of oil

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 3.MICROBIOLOGICAL STIMULATION FOR
OIL RECOVERY
 Stimulating naturally occurring bacteria that feed on oil to create conditions
that release residual oil from the reservoir.
 The interfacial tension between water and oil is lowered resulting in easier oil
recovery.

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 ADVANTAGES OF MEOR OVER OTHER EOR
TECHNOLOGIES
 Cheap
 Since injected fluids are not petrochemicals, their cost are not depended on the
global crude oil prices

 MEOR eliminates the need of use of harsh chemicals during oil drilling
 Environmentally acceptable alternative
 Do not consume large amount of energy

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 DISADVANTAGES….

 The oxygen deployed in aerobic MEOR can act as corrosive agent on non-
resistant topside equipment and down-hole piping
 Need a standardized framework for evaluating microbial activities
 Exogenous microbes require facilities for cultivation

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 THE BEST PART OF MEOR

 Microbes REPLICATE- process is SELF SUSTAINING

 Eliminates logistical hassle
 Find their own carbon source in the reservoir
 It’s a cheap method as compare to other EOR technologies

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 CONCLUSION…

 Bacterial population can tolerate harsh environments

 Bacterial growth is rapid
 Its availability is widespread
 Efficiency of recovery is high
MEOR highly contributes to a sustainable oil production and thus
ensures meeting the LONG TERM WORLD ENERGY DEMAND

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