Technology that enlists natural soil bacteria as 21st century roughnecks now is commercially available and poised to recover precious oil remaining in thousands of exhausted oil wells, according to a scientist who spoke here today.
His report on a process termed microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) was part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.
“The idea of using microbes to bring spent oil wells back to life dates to the early 1900s,” said Brian Clement, Ph.D. “That was the era of ‘easy-to-recover’ oil, and when a well played out, you just moved on and drilled another — knowing that 60-70 percent of the oil in that first reservoir remained untouched. We’re in a different era now. Oil is scarcer, and it makes sense to use MEOR. It can put about 10 percent of the oil in exhausted wells into barrels with low capital investment, low operating costs and little environmental impact.”
Clement is a senior scientist at Glori Energy, which is deploying its MEOR technology known as AEROTM, for Activated Environment for Recovery of Oil. Other companies that have moved the technology to market include DuPont, which offers its MATRx™ MEOR technology and Titan Oil Recovery, Inc., which offers its Titan Process®. Clement’s talk was part of the symposium titled “The Interconnected World of Energy, Food and Water.”
Conventional oil production techniques rely on pressure that exists naturally in an underground reservoir to push oil to the surface, much like the pressure in a bottle of carbonated beverage. Clement explained that the pressure in a reservoir declines over time, and eventually it is too low to force oil to the surface. At that point, as much as 60 to 70 percent of the reservoir’s oil often remains in the ground.
MEOR can retrieve that oil by fostering various changes in the reservoir. Clement explained that the AEROTM System, for instance, piggybacks on waterflooding, a widely used process in which water is injected into the reservoir to force oil out of the well and to the surface. The system adds a customized formula of nutrients to the injection water to optimize its quality and stimulate the growth of native reservoir bacteria.
With the AERO System, microbes thrive and grow to increase oil production using two main mechanisms. First, they break down and metabolize oil at the oil-water interface, allowing the oil to flow more freely. Second, the microbes block existing water channels within the reservoir’s soil, forcing the water into new channels and driving more oil to the surface.
With the AERO System’s MEOR technology, oil field owners and operators can increase production from declining wells without having to invest in expensive, new infrastructure. Clement described tests in which the technology helped produce an additional 9-12 percent of the total oil remaining in reservoirs. The number may sound small, but translates into an additional $10 billion of oil from wells in the United States and more than $165 billion worldwide.
The Latest Bing News on:
Soil bacteria pump
- May's full of opportunities for gardeners ready to go and grow | Sally Scaleraon April 27, 2024 at 2:09 am
Though we have just begun to receive warm weather, this month is still ideal for gardening. When the weather is nice, who wants to stay inside?
- Score major pre-Memorial Day savings on washers and dryers from top brandson April 26, 2024 at 11:10 am
This washer and dryer set comes in your choice of white or titanium. It's on sale for 43% off, which brings the price of the set down to $1,798 for the set. You can also finance this washer and dryer ...
- How often should you pump your septic tank? Experts have the answers to avoid costly repairson April 26, 2024 at 7:00 am
If pumping a septic tank is not managed timely, it can lead to sewage backup, odors, and clogs – here's how to determine how often to pump your septic tank ...
- Outdated infrastructure and oil spills: the cases of Colombia, Peru and Ecuadoron April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This was followed in 2019 by a sit-in at Pump Station #5 ... thus facilitating recovery. Polluted soil can be scooped up and taken to treatment facilities, known as ‘land farms’, where specially ...
- Kerala: Thrissur Farmers Face Crisis As Low Yields Push Them Into Financial Distresson April 24, 2024 at 11:05 am
Thrissur: The farmers of Chettupuzha were left devastated after harvesting their paddy, as the yield was unexpectedly low. This shocking outcome has ...
- Villagers in Mexico organize to take back their water as drought, avocados dry up lakes and riverson April 23, 2024 at 9:08 pm
As a drought in Mexico drags on, angry subsistence farmers have begun taking direct action on thirsty avocado orchards and berry fields of commercial farms that are drying up streams in the mountains ...
- Nevada biologist tackles tick reproductionon April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Nuss, an associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology in the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, is ...
- Renewable natural gas a new market for damaged grainon April 18, 2024 at 6:53 pm
Renewable natural gas is among the newest low- or no-carbon fuels made from agricultural products that are generating attention from power utilities, ...
- 9 Earth Day Activities for a Healthier Youon April 18, 2024 at 10:43 am
Seeking something eco-friendly to take part in this Earth Day 2024? Check out our favorite activities to do with the family.
- Mercury’s promise of endless gold in South Americaon April 18, 2024 at 2:10 am
Mercury’s a known pollutant in fish, but did you know one of the biggest mercury emitters is actually small-scale gold mining? From sunken ships to shihuahuaco trees, we take a deep dive into the ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Soil bacteria pump
[google_news title=”” keyword=”soil bacteria pump” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”] [/vc_column_text]The Latest Bing News on:
Enhanced oil recovery
- EERC receives 11.6 million dollar grant towards enhanced oil recovery researchon April 27, 2024 at 8:35 pm
Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND said the funds will enable the EERC to conduct 18 months of field and laboratory research to study the viability of EOR.
- UND's EERC awarded more than $11 million for oil recovery, carbon storage projectson April 24, 2024 at 5:39 pm
GRAND FORKS — The Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota has been awarded $11.6 million for research related to enhanced oil recovery and carbon capture. The ...
- UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center Lands $11.6 Million Oil Recovery Studyon April 24, 2024 at 12:53 pm
UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center has landed a major award to study enhanced oil recovery. The Department of Energy is giving the center $11.6 million to investigate how CO2 injected into ...
- Millions going to UND to study enhanced oil recovery in the Bakkenon April 23, 2024 at 5:00 pm
State officials have said the practice -- known as enhanced oil recovery or EOR -- will be necessary to maintain high oil production past the 2030s. Much of the oil stuck underground is considered ...
- Schlumberger Has Significant Upside Potential With ChampionXon April 21, 2024 at 11:27 am
Learn about Schlumberger's acquisition of ChampionX, which opens new opportunities in the production chemicals market, and the company's growth prospects ...
- Summit to make its carbon pipeline permit case again in NDon April 19, 2024 at 4:19 am
Tharaldson Ethanol remains the only North Dakota plant in the project. The project has grown from 31 plants to 57 plants after another carbon pipeline project, Navigator CO2 Ventures, abandoned its ...
- Capitalize on the Acrylamide Boom: Opportunities in Cosmetics, Paper, and Enhanced Oil Recoveryon April 19, 2024 at 1:59 am
The global acrylamide market is poised for significant growth, projected to achieve a valuation of US$ 3.65 billion by 2023 and anticipated to reach US$ 5.5 billion by 2033, reflecting a steady ...
- Specialty Oilfield Chemicals Market to Reach USD 14.06 Billion by 2031, Fueled by Rising Crude Oil Production and Enhanced Oil Recoveryon April 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Rising crude oil demand and the growing adoption of enhanced oil recovery techniques are fueling the specialty oilfield chemicals market growth According to the SNS Insider report, the specialty ...
- Pulse Oil Announces Operational Results, EOR Progress Update, and Provides Results of Independent Reserve Evaluationon April 16, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Pulse is a Canadian company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) that is primarily focused on a 100% Working Interest Enhanced Oil Project Located in West Central Alberta, Canada ...
- Environmental Stewardship in the Global Oil Sector: Corporate and Government Strategieson April 16, 2024 at 12:50 am
Corporate and Government Strategies Environmental stewardship in the global oil sector is a critical concern that addresses the environmental impacts associated with the exploration, extraction, ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Enhanced oil recovery
[google_news title=”” keyword=”enhanced oil recovery” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]