Effect of bacteria on oil/water interfacial tension in asphaltenic oil reservoirs

Abdi, Arastoo; Ranjbar, Behnam; Kazemzadeh, Yousef; Niazi‎, Ali; Riazi, M.R.

doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128263

Cited by 6 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…It took about 7.7 days for cells to diffuse from the inlet to the margin, and the shortest shut-in period was 10 days, which was enough to reach the edge of the model. Moreover, it was reported in previous studies that Bacillus subtilis tended to move in the direction of high residual oil concentration because of its chemotaxis [33]. Therefore, the cells in the main stream (oil saturation of 54.5%) tended to move toward the margin (oil saturation of 72.9%) where the residual oil was enriched, because of which the migration time can be further shortened.…”

Section: Mechanism Of the Improvement Of Sweep Efficiency In Shut-in ...mentioning

confidence: 95%

Long-Term Pore-Scale Experiments on MEOR by Surfactant-Producing Microorganisms Reveal the Altering Dominant Mechanisms of Oil Recovery

Yu,

Li,

Song

et al. 2023

Energies

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During microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR), surfactant-producing microorganisms are reported to improve displacement efficiency. However, the sweep efficiency could be improved by emulsified droplets or be reduced by low-IFT (interfacial tension)-induced fingering flow. Therefore, whether sweep efficiency can be improved by surfactant-producing microorganisms is currently unclear. To reveal the EOR mechanisms by surfactant-producing microorganisms, a 2D micro-model was used to conduct a long-term pore-scale experiment. In the results, 19.4% of the original oil in place (OOIP) was recovered, and surfactant-producing microorganisms can improve not only displacement efficiency (16.9% of the OOIP in the main stream) but also sweep efficiency (27.7% of the OOIP in the margin). Furthermore, the sweep efficiency was improved during flooding and shut-in periods. For instance, 19.5% of the OOIP in margins migrated to the main stream during the 1st shut-in period. Regarding mechanisms of sweep, it was improved by Jamin’s effect during the flooding period, while during the shut-in period, the oil migration was attributed to the spontaneously spreading biomass and their wettability altering the biosurfactant. This long-term experiment revealed that the dominant oil recovery mechanisms were altering with declining oil saturation, based on which sweep efficiency contributed to oil recovery only at oil saturation higher than 40.5%. While at lower oil saturation, only displacement efficiency could be improved.

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Section: Mechanism Of the Improvement Of Sweep Efficiency In Shut-in ...mentioning

confidence: 95%

Long-Term Pore-Scale Experiments on MEOR by Surfactant-Producing Microorganisms Reveal the Altering Dominant Mechanisms of Oil Recovery

Yu,

Li,

Song

et al. 2023

Energies

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“…Geobacillus is a thermophilic, facultative anaerobic bacterium that has strong surface hydrophobicity and produces a bioemulsifier. The strain can change crude oil properties through effects including emulsification, changes in viscosity, and degradation (Abdi et al 2022;Zheng et al 2011). There was obvious emulsification of the liquid produced by the test sample (Fig.…”

Section: Field Testmentioning

confidence: 97%

Anaerobic activation of microorganisms indigenous to oil reservoirs to enhance oil recovery

Lin

2022

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

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Microbial enhanced oil recovery focuses on the activation, isolation, and screening of aerobic functional bacteria. Air injection is required to activate aerobic microorganisms for use in indigenous microbe oil displacement technology. In practice, however, oil reservoirs are oxygen-free, as the oxygen in the air is rapidly consumed by reducing substances and aerobic microorganisms attached to the water injection well at the front end of the reservoir. In the reservoir, most of the microorganisms metabolize anaerobically, and they are concentrated in the area where the residual oil collects in the rear of the facility. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors such as electron acceptors, activator components, and activator concentrations that influence anaerobic metabolism in indigenous microorganisms. Core flooding tests and field trials were conducted to evaluate the anaerobic microbial activation efficiency. The organic nitrogen source in the activator was crucial to anaerobic bacterial metabolism. Yeast powder was the preferred nitrogen source, and other optimal operating parameters included a C/N ratio of 20:1 and an activator concentration of 3 g·L−1. Under these conditions, the anaerobic emulsification index surpassed 90%. Core flooding tests demonstrated that microbial enhancement may provide up to 13.5% oil recovery. A total of 3471.15 BBLs of oil was recovered by injecting anaerobic activator into the Zhan3-15 well, and emulsified oil droplets were detected in the fluid. The results of this study could provide technical support for the practical anaerobic activation of reservoir microorganisms and the improvement of microbial enhanced oil recovery.

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“…Moreover, numerous studies have employed BHI as an effective medium for biosurfactant production by different bacteria types [76][77][78][79] . In previous investigations, BHI was proven to be effective in cultivating G. Stearothermophilus under harsh conditions 13,69,71,72 . According to Zargari et al 69 , the isolation process was carried out.…”

Section: Cultivation Of Bacteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Low-salinity water injection offers the advantage of being compatible with other EOR methods. According to Abdi et al 13 , the combination of low-salinity water and bacteria for fluid–fluid interactions can yield superior results compared with low-salinity water or microbial EOR (MEOR) alone. MEOR applications using bacterial activities and products like biosurfactants reduce IFT and modify wettability 13 – 18 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several MEOR studies have focused on reducing IFT and improving recovery using Bacillus strains [62][63][64][65] . Among these strains, the Geobacillus genus is notable for its critical features, such as being gram-positive, rod-shaped, chemo-organotrophic, and aerobic or facultatively anaerobic 13 . Moreover, Geobacillus strains are thermophilic, allowing them to tolerate high-temperature environments like oil fields [66][67][68] .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Investigating the mechanism of interfacial tension reduction through the combination of low-salinity water and bacteria

Abdi,

Ranjbar,

Kazemzadeh

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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In the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process, interfacial tension (IFT) has become a crucial factor because of its impact on the recovery of residual oil. The use of surfactants and biosurfactants can reduce IFT and enhance oil recovery by decreasing it. Asphaltene in crude oil has the structural ability to act as a surface-active material. In microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR), biosurfactant production, even in small amounts, is a significant mechanism that reduces IFT. This study aimed to investigate fluid/fluid interaction by combining low biosurfactant values and low-salinity water using NaCl, MgCl2, and CaCl2 salts at concentrations of 0, 1000, and 5000 ppm, along with Geobacillus stearothermophilus. By evaluating the IFT, this study investigated different percentages of 0, 1, and 5 wt.% of varying asphaltene with aqueous bulk containing low-salinity water and its combination with bacteria. The results indicated G. Stearothermophilus led to the formation of biosurfactants, resulting in a reduction in IFT for both acidic and basic asphaltene. Moreover, the interaction between asphaltene and G. Stearothermophilus with higher asphaltene percentages showed a decrease in IFT under both acidic and basic conditions. Additionally, the study found that the interaction between acidic asphaltene and G. stearothermophilus, in the presence of CaCl2, NaCl, and MgCl2 salts, resulted in a higher formation of biosurfactants and intrinsic surfactants at the interface of the two phases, in contrast to the interaction involving basic asphaltene. These findings emphasize the dependence of the interactions between asphaltene and G. Stearothermophilus, salt, and bacteria on the specific type and concentration of asphaltene.

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Effect of bacteria on oil/water interfacial tension in asphaltenic oil reservoirs

Cited by 6 publications

References 41 publications

Long-Term Pore-Scale Experiments on MEOR by Surfactant-Producing Microorganisms Reveal the Altering Dominant Mechanisms of Oil Recovery

Long-Term Pore-Scale Experiments on MEOR by Surfactant-Producing Microorganisms Reveal the Altering Dominant Mechanisms of Oil Recovery

Anaerobic activation of microorganisms indigenous to oil reservoirs to enhance oil recovery

Investigating the mechanism of interfacial tension reduction through the combination of low-salinity water and bacteria

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