Laboratory Investigation of Polymer Producer TU-15A for MEOR Field Tests

Sugai, Yuichi; Kishita, Atsushi; Hong, C-X.; Enomoto, Heiji; Chida, Tadashi; Zhou, S-C.

doi:10.2118/54381-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Solutions were compared with commercial simulators or laboratory experiments and the results indicated that the model was able to determine the transport and metabolism of microorganisms in porous media, as well as to estimate the additional oil recovery due to MEOR processes. Sugai et al (2007) also presented a numerical model to analyse the MEOR mechanisms using laboratory data obtained by Sugai et al (1999) for the microorganism Clostridium sp. Their work was validated through the comparison of simulated data with experiments carried out in porous media.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…-viscosity reduction by gas (CO 2 , H 2 , N 2 and CH 4 ) production or degradation of long-chain saturated hydrocarbons (Maure et al 2001;Strappa et al 2004;Bao et al 2009); -improvement of rock absolute permeability by the generation of acids that dissolve rock matrix (Yakimov et al 1997); -wettability modification and reduction of oil/water interfacial tension by surfactant production and bacterial presence (Sitnikov et al 1994;Zekri et al 2003;Almehaideb et al 2004;Kowalewski et al 2006;Soudmand-Asli et al 2007; Afrapoli et al 2009); -oil viscosity reduction by biosurfactants (Maure et al 2001;Karim et al 2001;Soudmand-Asli et al 2007); -selective plugging by microorganisms and biopolymers (Yakimov et al 1997;Mezzomo et al 2000;Soudmand-Asli et al 2007); -water viscosity increase due to biopolymers (Sugai et al 1999). The main objective of this paper is the modelling of a MEOR process in which microorganisms produce biopolymers that increase water viscosity and then improve reservoir sweep efficiency.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microbial EOR: A Quantitative Prediction of Recovery Factor

2012

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Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) is a promising EOR technique. Feeding bacteria so that they can be stimulated to produce metabolites is a good way to increase recovery factors. In this paper, we present a mathematical model which describes a MEOR process and can be applied to estimate the recovery factor.A one-dimensional isothermal model, comprising displacement of oil by water containing bacteria and nutrients, is studied. The model is composed by a hyperbolic system of four partial differential equations with source terms and appropriate initial and boundary conditions, solved numerically by a fractional step method. We analyse the case when the produced metabolites are biopolymers which increase water viscosity, and then, improve sweep efficiency.The required parameters used in this model are not always known, therefore, to better investigate their importance, a sensitivity analysis is run and the impact in the recovery factor observed. The sensitivity analysis was performed according to the following steps: 1) three values for the maximum specific growth rate were assumed and their impact in the recovery factor is analyzed, to demonstrate the importance of bacteria screening; 2) water viscosity dependence on biopolymer concentration is described by three functions and the resulting recovery factor of each one of them is compared; 3) three different models describing bacteria growth and their effects in the recovery factor are also presented. Maximum specific growth rate was the parameter that has caused the major impact in the recovery factor. When a small value was adopted, there was no additional oil recovery in comparison to water injection. This sensitivity analysis has shown the importance of laboratory tests to improve the prediction of recovery factor. It was also noticed that a significant incremental oil recovery can be achieved with this process of MEOR for different oil viscosities.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial EOR: A Quantitative Prediction of Recovery Factor

2012

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Starting Up Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

Siegert

Sitte

Galushko

et al. 2013

Geobiotechnology II

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This chapter gives the reader a practical introduction into microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) including the microbial production of natural gas from oil. Decision makers who consider the use of one of these technologies are provided with the required scientific background as well as with practical advice for upgrading an existing laboratory in order to conduct microbiological experiments. We believe that the conversion of residual oil into natural gas (methane) and the in situ production of biosurfactants are the most promising approaches for MEOR and therefore focus on these topics. Moreover, we give an introduction to the microbiology of oilfields and demonstrate that in situ microorganisms as well as injected cultures can help displace unrecoverable oil in place (OIP). After an initial research phase, the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) manager must decide whether MEOR would be economical. MEOR generally improves oil production but the increment may not justify the investment. Therefore, we provide a brief economical assessment at the end of this chapter. We describe the necessary state-of-the-art scientific equipment to guide EOR managers towards an appropriate MEOR strategy. Because it is inevitable to characterize the microbial community of an oilfield that should be treated using MEOR techniques, we describe three complementary start-up approaches. These are: (i) culturing methods, (ii) the characterization of microbial communities and possible bio-geochemical pathways by using molecular biology methods, and (iii) interfacial tension measurements. In conclusion, we hope that this chapter will facilitate a decision on whether to launch MEOR activities. We also provide an update on relevant literature for experienced MEOR researchers and oilfield operators. Microbiologists will learn about basic principles of interface physics needed to study the impact of microorganisms living on oil droplets. Last but not least, students and technicians trying to understand processes in oilfields and the techniques to examine them will, we hope, find a valuable source of information in this review.

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Simulation Studies on the Mechanisms and Performances of MEOR using Polymer Producing Microorganism Clostridium sp. TU-15A

Sugai

Hong

Chida

et al. 2007

Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition

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Polymer-producing microorganism Clostridium sp. strain TU-15A was isolated from reservoir brine of Jilin Oilfield, China. TU-15A produces polymer in a molasses medium and increases the viscosity of the culture solution to 70cP by 10days cultivation. It's expected to be an effective microorganism for MEOR. In this study, a simulator was developed in order to analyze the mechanisms of MEOR using polymer-producing microorganism. The numerical model in this simulator consists of 2-phases(oil and water) and 5-components(oil, water, microorganism, nutrient and polymer). This model includes almost all processes of MEOR such as growth and death of microorganism, nutrient consumption, polymer production, water viscosity increment, improvement of the flow profile in a reservoir and enhancement of oil recovery. The validity of this simulator was shown by a comparison of both results of the numerical simulation and a flooding experiment. The quantitative change of microorganism, nutrient, polymer(water viscosity) and oil saturation were analyzed by a simulation of MEOR using polymer-producing microorganism on quarter of fivespot pattern flooding. Regarding the alteration of flow pattern in the reservoir, it was found that (1) the polymer produced by microorganism in reservoir flew into the main flow channel along the shortest way between the injection and production wells and water viscosity there increased, (2) subsequently more uniform flow profile of injected water as a postflash was established, and (3) the residual oil was mobilized to the production well. The additional oil recovery of 10% or higher was obtained at the early stage of the postflash. Our simulator will be a first comprehensive simulator for MEOR using an existing strain that produces polymer strongly. By using this simulator, the phenomena occurred in a reservoir on MEOR using a polymer-producing microorganism have been clarified and the high performance of this MEOR process have been demonstrated. Introduction In Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery(MEOR) processes, microorganism(s) and nutrient(s) are injected into reservoir, and the microorganism(s) increases and produces metabolites such as polymers, surfactants, gases and/or acids in reservoir. These metabolites help to mobilize the residual oil. In the past, high potential to enhance oil recovery of MEOR process have been shown by many laboratory experiments and field trials. However, it is important to analyze not only the enhancement of oil recovery by microorganisms but also the mechanisms in MEOR process. There have been a few studies analyzing the mechanisms in MEOR process using mathematical simulators. A simplified numerical model were proposed by Baracat et al.1 and Knapp et al.2. Both their numerical models consisted of 1-phase(water) and 2-components(water and microorganism). In their numerical models, growth of microorganisms, absorption of microorganisms to the rock surface and diffusion of the microbial cells in porous media were modeled using fundamental conservation laws such as Monod equation and Langmuir equation. Their mathematical simulators were able to predict the reductions of porosity and permeability that were caused by the growth of microorganisms and the absorption of microorganisms to the rock surface.

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Laboratory Investigation of Polymer Producer TU-15A for MEOR Field Tests

Abstract: This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, 20–22 April 1999.

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Microbial EOR: A Quantitative Prediction of Recovery Factor

Microbial EOR: A Quantitative Prediction of Recovery Factor

Starting Up Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

Simulation Studies on the Mechanisms and Performances of MEOR using Polymer Producing Microorganism Clostridium sp. TU-15A

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