Laboratory Studies of MEOR in the Micromodel as a Fractured System

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is receiving renewed interest worldwide in recent years as a viable method while not damaging the reservoir is proven to be remarkably effective, however to some extent costly. This method is based on microorganisms’ activities to reduce residual oil of reservoirs, which is dependent on behavior of inherent microorganisms or injection of bioproduct of external microorganisms.</jats:p> <jats:p>In this work, five bacterial species were taken from MIS crude oil that is one of the aging Persian fractured reservoirs. These microorganisms are substantially strong in increasing oil recovery especially by reducing IFT and other MEOR mechanisms such as change of wettability of rock at the favorable condition for the activities of these bacteria observed within the temperature range of 50°C to 90°C at the atmospheric pressure.</jats:p> <jats:p>Two series of visualization experiments were carried out to examine the behavior of microbial enhanced oil recovery in micromodels designed to resemble the fractured system: static and dynamic. In the static one, carbonate rock-glass micromodel is used to simulate the reservoir conditions and the latter is performed by a glass micromodel which has a fracture with 45 degree inclination. The image processing methodology is used to determine the recovery achieved by MEOR in the micromodel made of glass.</jats:p>