MEOR Mechanism
Understanding MEOR mechanism is still far from being clear. Although a variety of explanations has been given in isolated experiments, it is unclear if they were carried out trying to mimic oil reservoirs conditions.
The mechanism can be explained from the client-operator viewpoint which considers a series of concomitant positive or negative effects that will result in a global benefit:
- Beneficial effects. Biodegradation of big molecules reduces viscosity; production of surfactants reduces interfacial tension; production of gas provides additional pressure driving force; microbial metabolites or the microbes themselves may reduce permeability by activation of secondary flow paths.
- Detrimental effects. Biologically produced hydrogen sulphide, i.e. souring, causes corrosion of piping and machinery; consumption of hydrocarbons by bacteria reduces the production of desired chemicals.
- Beneficial or Detrimental. Permeability reduction can be beneficial in some cases but detrimental in others. Negatively, microbial metabolites or the microbes themselves may reduce permeability by activation of secondary flow paths by depositing: biomass (biological clogging), minerals (chemical clogging) or other suspended particles (physical clogging). Positively, attachment of bacteria and development of slime, i.e. extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), favour the plugging of highly permeable zones (thieves zones) leading to increased sweep efficiency.
Read more about this topic: Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery
Famous quotes containing the word mechanism:
“When one of us dies of cancer, loses her mind, or commits suicide, we must not blame her for her inability to survive an ongoing political mechanism bent on the destruction of that human being. Sanity remains defined simply by the ability to cope with insane conditions.”
—Ana Castillo (b. 1953)