Open AccessThe utilization of the microflora indigenous to and present in oil-bearing formations to selectively plug the more porous zones thereby increasing oil recovery during waterflooding, Class 1
Author(s) -
James O. Stephens,
Lewis R. Brown,
A.A. Vadie
Publication year - 2000
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/750872
Subject(s) - petroleum engineering , fluvial , population , enhanced oil recovery , geology , environmental science , spark plug , bearing (navigation) , engineering , geography , paleontology , cartography , structural basin , demography , sociology , aerospace engineering
The objectives of this project were (1) to demonstrate the in situ microbial population in a fluvial dominated deltaic reservoir could be induced to proliferate to such an extent that they will selectively restrict flow in the more porous zones in the reservoir thereby forcing injection water to flow through previously unswept areas thus improving the sweep efficiency of the waterflood and (2) to obtain scientific validation that microorganisms are indeed responsible for the increased oil recovery. One expected outcome of this new technology was the prolongation of economical life of the reservoir, i.e. economical oil recovery should continue for much longer periods in areas of the reservoir subjected to the MPPM technology than it would if it followed its historic trend