Chemical Flocculation of Microorganisms in the Reservoir During Meor
Chukwuma G.J. Nmegbu1, Jossy Spiff2
1Chukwuma G.J. Nmegbu, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2 Jossy Spiff, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Manuscript received on May 27, 2014. | Revised Manuscript received on June 06, 2014. | Manuscript published on June 30, 2014. | PP: 46-49 | Volume-3, Issue-5, June 2014. | Retrieval Number: E3080063514/2013©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Clogging of the pores of a porous medium can be caused chemically by formation of a precipitate, physically by entrainment of suspended particles or biologically by the formation of biomass by microbes. All these mechanisms are potentially relevant to enhanced oil recovery. This paper investigates the level of flocculating activity in a Berea core sample dosed with Bacillus and Pseudomonas species, Nutrient agar and Salt diluent. Three of such samples were prepared and incubated for 12, 24 and 48hours. From scan pictures of the core, slimy substances were seen suggesting the production of biofilms, crystalline substances were observed inferring the production of biopolymers by the microorganisms and colloids observed, proving the production of biosurfactants. Heat was also generated during the process and the basic characteristics of the crude oil changed as seen in the flow of the crude oil. Thus, the chemical flocculation of these microorganisms in the reservoir aids in the recovery of substantial amounts of crude oil.
Keywords: Bioflocculants, Chemical flocculation, MEOR, Microbial Flocculation.