Microbial Profile Modification MPM: A Noble Application of Biotechnology in Improving Oil Recovery

Abstract

Abstract Lack of sufficient natural drives in most of the reservoirs in the world has lead the practice of supplementing the natural reservoir energy by some form of artificial drive, the most basic method being the injection of displacement fluid like water or gas. Problem associated with these recovery mechanism is channeling of the displacement fluid through high permeable streaks thus resulting in a poor sweep efficiency of the hydrocarbon. In such cases, profile modification is being carried out to reduce high permeability streaks using conventional chemical based techniques; gels and polymers. Microbes provides another environment friendly noble technique from the field of biotechnology to improve sweeping efficiency of oil from water flooding reservoir. In Microbial Profile Modification (MPM) process, sequential injection of selective microbes is done along with certain nutrients package in the reservoir rock. In-situ excretion from injected microbial, bio-polymers create a stable multilayer growth of cells called biofilm. Formation of biofilm reduces the pore throat size and in turn reduces the permeability of watered out thief zones or high-permeability streaks. Permeability reduction results in diversion of the displacement fluid towards low permeability zone to provide better sweep efficiency. This paper presents an application of biotechnology in improving oil recovery through microbial approach by modifying permeability profiles. Paper highlight the importance of microbe selection, laboratory core flooding study, and lesson learned from worldwide field application of the novel technique. Authors also evaluate the application of the technique in Indian oil fields.