Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

(MEOR)

By : Irsandi Syarifudin (201710255004)

Definition of MEOR
Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is a
method used to drain residual oil which is still
left in the reservoir by injecting a solution
containing microorganism and nutrient during a
certain incubation period, so as to allow
microorganism to produce metabolites which
then change the nature of the fluid or oil, so that
it can liberate the oil stuck on a micro scale.
 MEOR is a biological based
technology consisting in
manipulating function or
structure (or both) of microbial
environments existing in oil
reservoirs.
The Aim of MEOR
MEOR combines multidisciplinary fields of
science, among other Geology, Chemistry,
Microbiology, Fluid Mechanics, Petroleum
Engineering, Environmental Engineering,
and Chemical Engineering.
The ultimate aim of MEOR is to improve the
recovery of oil entrapped in porous media
while increasing economic profits.
Advantages Of MEOR method
 Bacteria and ingredients to injected are cheap
and easy to obtain
 Accordingto a statistical evaluation, 81% of the
MEOR project success in increasing oil production
 In implementing the MEOR method only requires a
little modification in the field facilities
 MEOR is suitable for fluid reservoirs with
carbonate rock structures
 Lack of MEOR method
 Very need a simulation before
implementation of the MEOR
 The injected microorganism can clog the
reservoir
 Needdeep knowledge about the MEOR
mechanism
 Need attention to environmental problems
Criteria for microorganism or microbial
used for the MEOR method
 Small size
 Resistant to high pressure and temperature
 Able to survive in an environment that has high
salinity
 The nutrients needed are easy to get
 Conclusion
MEOR is very potential method in increasing the acquisition
of petroleum reserves that ultilize the activities of
microorganism in the reservoir. Microorganism or microbial
activity will produce environmental friendly metabolite
products such as gas, solvent, acid, biosurfactant, and
biopolymers which function to increase permeability, reduce
interface voltage, and reduce oil viscosity. MEOR is
environmental friendly method with many benefits compared
to other EOR methods.