Page 179 - Primer on Enhanced Oil Recovery

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) 169

in the injected mixtures. This technology, and indeed the technology for ensuring
the activity of microorganisms directly in the reservoir. This method has become
widespread in the fields of Azerbaijan, where it has been introduced since the
1980s. The technology was introduced at seven well in the developed oil fields.
The average technological effect (output input ratio) was 7.2 tons of oil per 1 ton
of injected mixture. In total about 200 thousand tons of additional oil was
produced.
The implementation of MEOR technologies, based both on the production of
metabolic products on the surface level and injecting them into the reservoir, and
on ensuring the activity of microorganisms directly in the reservoir were carried out
in the following projects:
use of MEOR in the Daqing oil field has allowed an increase in oil production by 11.2%,
while reducing the oil viscosity by 38.5%.
Portwood J.T. presented performance analysis and 322 MEOR projects conducted in more
than 2000 oil producing wells in the United States that used the same MEOR technology.
The analysis showed that in 78% of cases there was a positive effect. The oil production
increased in averaged by 36%. It is concluded that MEOR is environmentally friendly.
From the general operational point of view, problems associated with solid paraffin accu-
mulation, emulsion formation and metal corrosion were significantly reduced. This
MEOR technology has demonstrated cost effectiveness and high feasibility. The average
return on investment was 5 to 1 during the first 24 months of MEOR, and the average
payback period of the project was six months.
Successful implementation of MEOR was carried out at the Daqanq field. Over three
years of use in 77% of producing wells located in the implementation zone, an increase in
oil production with technological effect (input output ratio, injected mixture to produced
oil) of 1:5.2 was observed.
In Southern Alberta (Canada), at the field X had a MEOR injection that lasted for a year.

The average monthly production from one well from 21 BOPDs in July increased to 51
BOPDs in September 2014. During September 2014, about 14,000 bbl of oil was addition-
ally produced.

Further reading

Guo, H., Li, Y., Yiran, Zh., Wang, F., Wang, Y., Yu, Zh., et al. Progress of microbial enhanced
oil recovery in China. In: Paper SPE 174697 MS Presented at the SPE Asia Pacific
Enhanced Oil Recovery Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11 13 August 2015.
Havemann, G.D., Clement, B.G., et al., 2015. New microbial method shows promise in EOR.
JPT. March.
Ibragimov, Kh.M., Abdullayeva, F., Guseynova, N.I. Experience of microbial enhanced oil recov-
ery methods at Azerbaijan fields. In: Paper SPE-177377-MS Presented at the SPE Annual
Caspian Technical Conference & Exhibition, Baku, Azerbaijan, 4 6 November 2015.
Li, Q., Kang, C., Wang, H., Liu, C., Zhang, C., 2002. Application of microbial enhanced oil
recovery technique to Daqing oilfield. Biochem. Eng. J. (11), 197 199.
Portwood, J.T. A commercial microbial enhanced oil recovery technology: evaluation of 322
projects. In: Paper SPE-29518-MS Presented at the SPE Production Operations
Symposium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2 4 April 1995.