Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) is a tertiary oil recovery method where microorganisms, their activity, or their by-products increase oil recovery through formations of stable oil-water emulsions, reduced interfacial tension, or bio-plugging thereby diverting injection fluids through upswept areas.
ISSUE: As much as 50% of the original oil in a reservoir can remain unrecovered even after conventional production and secondary recovery methods. MEOR is believed to be able to extract up to 50% of this residual oil left in a reservoir after primary and secondary recovery processes have been exhausted.
BENEFITS: Increased Production and Field Life + Economically Attractive + Environmentally Friendly
OBSTACLES: Whether field-wide or for single well stimulation (microbial “huff and puff”), MEOR depends on the distribution, growth, and activity of injected microbial cultures and/or successful stimulation of key indigenous microorganisms.
PATH TO RESOLUTION: What microorganisms are already present in the reservoir? Did the microbial culture survive and thrive after injection? Did injected carbon sources stimulate microbial growth? Did the desired microorganisms grow in response to MEOR efforts? Our superior MMM and data interpretation provide you with the information you need to evaluate the effectiveness of MEOR. Our analysis is 100% unbiased. Microbial Insights does not sell microbial cultures or any treatments. We provide the MMMs and reporting that help you make the most informed decisions, based on the best possible data and analysis.
