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Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) is a biological-based technology involving the manipulation of functions or structures within microbial environments present in oil reservoirs. The primary objective of MEOR is to improve the extraction of oil confined within porous media, while boosting economic benefits.[1][2][3][4][5] As a tertiary oil extraction technology, MEOR enables the partial recovery of the commonly residual 2/3 of oil, effectively prolonging the operational lifespan of mature oil reservoirs.[3]
MEOR is a multidisciplinary field incorporating, among others: geology, chemistry, microbiology, fluid mechanics, petroleum engineering, environmental engineering and chemical engineering. The microbial processes proceeding in MEOR can be classified according to the oil production problem in the field:
- wellbore clean up removes mud and other debris blocking the channels where oil flows through;
- well stimulation improves the flow of oil from the drainage area into the well bore; and
- enhanced water floods through stimulating microbial activity by injecting selected nutrients and sometimes indigenous microbes.[6][1][2][3][4][5] From the engineering point of view, MEOR is a system integrated by the reservoir, microbes, nutrients and protocol of well injection.[1]
- Enhance oil recovery of the depleting multistage fractured horizontal shale oil wells in unconventional shale oil reservoir.
- ^ a b c Lazar, I., I.G. Petrisor, and T.E. Yen, Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). Petroleum Science and Technology, 2007. 25(11–12): p. 1353-1366
- ^ a b Ollivier, B. and M. Magot, eds. Petroleum microbiology. 1st ed. 2005, ASM Press: Washington, DC. 365
- ^ a b c Sen, R., Biotechnology in petroleum recovery: The microbial EOR. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2008. 34(6): p. 714-724
- ^ a b Van Hamme, J.D., A. Singh, and O.P. Ward, Petroleum microbiology – Part 1: Underlying biochemistry and physiology. Chimica Oggi-Chemistry Today, 2006. 24(1): p. 52
- ^ a b Fujiwara, K., et al., Biotechnological approach for development of microbial enhanced oil recovery technique. Petroleum Biotechnology: Developments and Perspectives, 2004. 151: p. 405-445
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