Ijaiem Angus

International Journal of Application or Innovation in
Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)

Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
Volume xxx, Issue xxx, August 2012
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Modeling the Effects of Microbes in a Reservoir

Undergoing Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery
Nmegbu, Chukwuma Godwin Jacob 1, Akpa G. Jackson2
1
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Rivers State, Nigeria
nmegbu.godwin@ust.edu.ng
Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Rivers State,
Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The need to maximize oil production from petroleum reservoirs has prompted the evaluation of several recovery techniques in
the oil and gas industry. The primary energy of a reservoir can only account for about 20 40% of the initial oil in place,
leaving quite a significant volume still residual in the reservoir. Microbial enhanced oil recovery is a tertiary recovery
technique utilizing the potential of certain microbes to significantly influence oil production from the reservoir with different
mechanisms of recovery. This study focuses on investigating oil recovery by increasing its mobility due to viscosity reduction as
a result of dissolved biogenic gases produced during microbe-oil reaction. Results showed that viscosity of a crude sample
initially at 27cp reduced to about 0.002cp as a result of the soluble biogenic gases produced by the microbe. A significant
increase in the oil permeability and cumulative oil production due to a reduced viscosity was also recorded.
Keywords: MEOR, Microbes, Solubility, Viscosity
1. INTRODUCTION
In 1926, Backman pioneered the discovery that certain microbes when grown in the presence of nutrients could free
oil from saturated porous media. Zobell whose experiment demonstrated the release of oil sand by certain sulfate
reducing bacteria, continued the work Beckman. He concluded that for microbes to degrade oil, certain metabolites
must the produced to alter the reservoir oil properties [1], [2]. Modeling the effects of microbes in a reservoir
undergoing microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery entails the development of a working mathematical presentation to
analyze and evaluate specified or the general recovery mechanisms of the microbes in a reservoir, having a
comprehensive mathematical interpretation for determining the incremental oil Recovery from MEOR application [3].
For a MEOR program, microbes are selected, cultured and injected into the reservoir as an alternative tertiary oil
recovery technology [4]. These microbes interact with the hydrocarbon in the reservoir to produce microbial metabolites
such as; biopolymers, biogases, bioacids, solvents, etc which reduces the interfacial tension, plug off area of high
permeable zones, re-pressurize the reservoir, which ultimately helps to improve the recovery of heavy or residual crude
oil from depleted and marginal reservoirs and extending the life of the field [1], [2], [3], [5].
In the past, microbes were considered detrimental to the petroleum industry, it is now ascertained that they are
beneficial in oil recovery [1], [4], [5], [6]. Petroleum and gas industry operators are currently in the quest for the
investigation of various means of maximizing the production of oil from reservoirs so as to cope with the increasing
demands of energy [7], [8]. According to oil and gas researchers, conventional oil production technologies are able to
recover only about one third of the oil originally in place (OOIP). In the United States of American, it is estimated that
over 300 billion barrels of oil remain un-recovered after conventional technologies reached their economic limit,
inexpensive, new technologies and expertise to recover this significant volume of residual oil are often unavailable and
as such threatens the recovery from these reserves [8]. Microbial enhanced oil recovery involves the application of
microbes and or the exploration of microbial metabolic processes and products to increase production of residual or
heavy oil from reservoirs. Microbes degrades the hydrocarbon by breaking the hydrogen into smaller molecules, thereby
increasing its mobility as a result of reduction in viscosity. This study focuses of the effects of oil-dissolved biogenic
gases produced by the microbes in the reservoir after microbial-oil interaction for viscosity reduction and improved
heavy crude mobility.
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Choice of microbes
The production of biogenic gases creates a free gas phase that can account for incremental oil Recovery in MEOR
process either by reduction of the oil viscosity when these produced gases go into solution or by re-pressurization of the
reservoir causing displacement from trapped capillaries and enhancing mobilization of oil to the producing wells. Gas
producing microbes are; clostridium, Desulfovibrio, Pseudomonas, and methanogens. Their morphologies confirm
their ability to produce bio acids and a higher proportion of biogases. Carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane and nitrogen

ISSN 2319 - 4847
are some of these gases evolved after the microbe-oil reaction. For this study, pseudomonas proved suitable for the
investigation used on the basis of its ability to produce quite a significant percentage of biogases with a negligible
percentage of other metabolites.
2.2 Biochemical reactions of microbes
The biochemical reactions leading to improving heavy residual oil recovery are intricate and proceeds via multiple inter
and intra-molecular reactions involving de-polymerization, desulfurization, de-nitrification, and de-metalation
pathways.
2.3 Derivation of solution biogenic gas model during MEOR
The purpose of this study is aimed at determining the fluid properties that are affected by certain metabolites. These
properties are then incorporated in the production equation to obtain the required model for residual or heavy oil
production using microbes.
Accounting for volume of produced biogenic gas;
Vg(P,T)MA =Volume of gas dispersed due to microbial Activities.
VL(P,T)MA = Volume of oil due to microbial Activities.
V*(P,T)MA = Volume of dispersed biogenic gas which evolved during biochemical reaction between the reservoir and
microorganisms.
MA = Microbial activity.
When P and T are dropped to Pref and T ref.
When assumed that only a mixture of liquid and dispersed gas exist and that the dispersed gas enters only through the
volume fraction (Vf)MA.
VFMA
VgMA
Vg
V V
g
L
V f VL

1 VL
(1)
MA
(2)
MA
VFMA = volume fraction of the dispersed biogenic gas due to microbial activities
VgMA = volume of biogenic gas due to microbial activities
VLMA = volume of liquid due to microbial activities
The dispersed biogas fraction (Vf) from a solution of dissolved biogas in oil at any P and T is then determine by
V*
RSmA
VL P,T MA
where RS biogenic gas solubility
but
P Pr ef Y T RS
Where
(3)
(4)
(5)
(4)
dp
dv
(6)
And
Pref is a small pressure at which a negligible amount of gas is dissolved in the oil.
To determine the relationship between P and (V f)mA at equilibrium, it is paramount to note that mass of gas is constant
and independent of P and T.
Thus:
M mA
Mg P, T Mc P, T MA
(7)

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Where
M mA Total mass of gas in the reservoir due to M A
M g Mass of gas evolved due to M A
M c Mass of condensed gas due to M A
Since, mass of condensed biogas (Mc) is constant when it is vaporized and also assuming that this Vapor is a perfect
gas. the EOS can be applied.
Thus:
Pv MA nRT MA
(8)
(7)
But
m
M
MRTref
: . Pr efV MA
(9)
MA
PV *
McmA
Rg Tref MA
(10)
Similarly
PVg
RT
M gmA
(11)
MA
Combining the equations above
PVg Pr efV *
MmA
RT MA R Tref MA
(12)
Also combining the above
PVg
M mA
RT
Pr ef
RTref
MA
P Pr ef
VLb
MA
(13)
Where M mA is the total mass of biogas dissolved in the oil at bubble point
Setting R = Rsb when Vg=0
From Pb -Pref = T Rsb
Where
Rsb gas solubility at bubble point.

ISSN 2319 - 4847
Since evaluation is taken at bubble point ,
V *
RsbMA
VLb mA
Pr ef
VLb
RTref
and M MA
(14)
Eliminating average biogas solubility
Pr ef
RTref
M MA
Pb Pr ef
VLb
(15)
Simplifying we have
Tref P
P Pr ef
Vg
T Pr ef
VL
mA
P Pr ef
b
VLb
mA
(16)
Due to gas evolution, volume of oil changes and its compressibility is small
VL ~ VLb
Where
VLb is the volume of oil at bubble point (Pb)
The terms proportional to Pref in equation (16)above subtracts out and replacing Vg with
Vf
Bg
1Vf
Pb P

MA
MA
(17)
Tref
,
T Pr ef
BgmA
MA
(18)
At this point, we assume that variation of temperature is small on an absolute scale
T
Thus the ratio
is slightly greater than one
Tref
From 18,
T MA P Pr ef
R sb
MA
(19)
Substituting equation (19) into equation (18) yield
Bg MA
(20)
Tref
T
b Pr ef
Pr ef R sb
MA
V f VL
1V f
gives:

ISSN 2319 - 4847
But Pb Pref in many practical situations therefore;
Bg MA
P b
Tref
T Pr ef R sb
MA
(21
Where Bg is the solubility parameter of the reservoir due to microbial activities.

When Vf and P satisfying 17 above vary at different point,
Then,
P 2
Pb 1 V f
PMA
V f
MA
(22)
Recall that by Darcys Law in a MEOR Process
U MA P
(23)
Where
K
mA

mA
(24)
Substitute equation (24) and (23) into (22) to obtain
K
P 2
Pb 1 V f
U MA
V f
MA
(25)
The gas solubility during the microbial activities in the reservoir helps to reduce interfacial Tension and Viscosity. The
evolved gas phase in the reservoir forms a gas cap, maintaining the pressure of the reservoir and preventing fast
depletion of reservoir energy, thus sustaining production for a longer period.
MEOR processes generate gases which dissolve and reduce the strength of the capillary and viscous forces which exist
fluid/fluid and fluid/rock interface. Depending on concentration of the biogases in the crude, two types of gas saturation
exist; namely sub-saturation and super-saturation.
Sub-saturation: Occurs when not enough biogas is available to dissolve in order to satisfy thermodynamic equilibrium
at prevailing reservoir pressure and temperature.
Super-saturation: This corresponds to having more biogases dissolved than there should be under thermodynamic
equilibrium. It occurs when the oil cannot evolve gas fast enough to keep up with the depressurization.
A bubble which might f0rm in the crude oil by the vaporization of dissolved gas at supersaturated condition can
expressed by;
PVap . P
Where
2
R
(26)
is the interfacial tension
From the above, interfacial Tension can be obtained as:
PVap P
MA R
MA
(27)

ISSN 2319 - 4847
Considering that the average liquid and gas velocities are equal, the mixture velocity is given by:
U mixt . MA U L U g MA
(28)
U L MA 1 Vf U L ma
(29)
U g MA V f U g
(30)
ma
Where, UL and Ug are superficial velocities of the oil and gas respectively.
The mixture density
mixt = V is given as:

f
mixt V f g V f L 1 V f ~
L 1 V f
(31)
The crude oil mass average velocity (Um) is given as:
L 1 V f
Um MA
gV f U g
uL
V f
(32)
The equation expressing the conservation of mass of each of the two phases is:
L
1 V f L 1 V f U L
t
O
(33)
MA
And
g Vf
g V f U g
O
(34)
MA
Where,
UL and Ug are the average gas and Liquid velocity, respectively.
When
U L U g.
U m U UL Ug
(35)
Incorporating the permeability of oil and biogas into the above, we have:
U LmA 1 V f U L
MA
KK rL

KK rg
U gmA V f U g mA
P
g
Where:
K
p
L V f
(36)
K

p
g V f
(37)
mA
mA

ISSN 2319 - 4847
= Molecular velocity of gas.
L = Molecular velocity of Liquid.

The ratio of relative permeability is:
L Mg V f
KL
K g
g L V f
mA
1V f L
V f g
MA
(38)
MA
From equation above, the effective viscosity () of liquid and gas can be determined as;

LmA L
KL
MA
K
g
MA
(39)
gmA
(40)
misxt mA L g
(41)
Considering oil production after microbial action in-situ, Oil production rate can be treated as a function of the
drawdown pressure. Assuming: A = Cross-section area of the reservoir undergoing MEOR.
U = Mixture Velocity as given by Darcys law.
A.U = Volume flow rate of the oil and gas mixture, which is greater than the volume flow rate,
L 1 V f
The mass flow rate of oil:
L Q mA
L A1 V f V f
dp
dx
(42)
MA
The cumulative production is obtained as the integral over time of the rate of production.
LQ (t ) L to
Q A 1 V f
Q(t )dt
(43)
dp
dx
(44)
Where
KL
L
K
dp
Therefore , QMA A L 1 V f
dx
L
(45)
(46)
MA

ISSN 2319 - 4847
The model can be used to show how the reservoir fluid properties have been altered, implying an increased flow.
Reservoir fluid properties that can be determined from the above derived mathematical model are thus;
The permeability of oil as a result of microbial activities can be obtained from;
KL
K g
1 V f L
V f g
mA
(47)
MA
Then
1 V f L
K L mA K g
V f g
(48)
MA
Viscosity () of oil as a result of biogas dissolution after microbial actions can be determined from as

LmA L
KL
mixt
mA
And
g mA
K
g
MA
MA
L g MA
Solubility due to microbial activities can be calculated from;
Bg MA
Tref
1 dp
T Pr ef dx
MA
The cumulative production of a reservoir undergoing MEOR process can also be obtained from
K
dp
QMA A L 1 V f
dx
L
MA
Some Assumptions made

The reservoir is assumed to be related to PVT cell.
The thermodynamics of fluids are independent of the wall properties of the reservoir, and provided that these walls
are not so closely spaced as to affect the thermodynamics properties of the bulk fluid.
Mass of the dissolved gas released considered.
Gas flow is in 1 dimension, from the point of injection to the reservoir extent.
Metabolite production mostly biogenic gases.
Gas solubility considered
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
cp
1.100
1.105
1.114
1.123
Table 1: Field parameters for model validation
g cp
0.0250
0.0234
0.0220
0.0217
Kg
md
0.001
0.004
0.033
0.102
Vf
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
Po
Psi
3,600
3,200
30,000
2800
C
0
50
70
80
90

ISSN 2319 - 4847
1.196
0.0201
0.222
0.4
2400
1.337
0.0184
0.395
0.3
2200
1.497
0.0139
0.614
0.2
800
2.100
0.0128
0.867
0.1
400
The calculations of the general effect of microbial activities on these parameters are shown below:
Given; A=600ft2, L 1.100, g 0.250, V f 0.8, K rg 0.004, then,
Permeability of gas in oil after microbial application can be obtained from
KL
K g
mA
1Vf

V f
1Vf
K L mA K g
V
f
MA
MA
1 0.8 1.100
K L mA 0.004
0.8 0.0250
0.2 1.100
0.004
0.8 0.0250
0.004(0.2544) 0.0044mD
For oil viscosity is given as

L mA L
KL
MA
1.100
0.044
L mA
MA
L mA 25.0cp
The oil viscosity due to microbial application is calculated as:
Solubility of gas in oil due to MEOR activities is calculated from equation (23) above as;
Bg
MA
Tref 1 dp
but recall,
T Pr ef dx MA
Pr ef 15.6 0 C and P 14.7 PSia

Bg 0.83
110
130
150
180

ISSN 2319 - 4847
1Vf
Kg
V
KL
1 0 .7
0.004
0.7
0.004 0.4287 47.2
K L mA
mA
1.105
0.0234
0.081md
The oil viscosity due to microbial application is calculated as:
L mA
KL
mA
1.105
0.081
:.
L mA 13.64cp
Solubility of gas in oil after microbial activities is;

ISSN 2319 - 4847
Bg
MA
Bg
MA
Bg
Tref
1 dp
T Pr ef dx
MA
15.6 1 dp
70 14.7 dv
15.6
ln 14.7
70
MA
0.599 MA
K
dp
Q mA A L 1 V f
L
dx
mA
0.081 1 0.7
Q mA
600
Q mA
0.15 bbl / Day
13.64
Table 2: Deduced parameters after MEOR application
L Cp
Q bbl / day
Krl md
27.500
0.018
0.044
13.600
0.15
0.084
1.000
38.8
1.144
0.210
1121.5
5.280
0.060
19345
19.800
0.020
279000
55.970
0.006
8540000
264.500
0.002
196000000
1280.000

ISSN 2319 - 4847
Fig 1 Plot of cumulative production against oil viscosity
Fig 2 Plot of cumulative production against oil viscosity in 3-dimensions
Fig 3 Plot of cumulative production against permeability of mobilized oil

ISSN 2319 - 4847
Fig 4 Plot of cumulative production against permeability of mobilized oil
Fig 5 Plot of oil viscosity against effective permeability of mobilized oil

Figure 1 and 2 shows the plot of cumulative production against the altered viscosity of oil. The plot shows that as the
viscosity of crude oil decreases, cumulative production increases. This improved production is traceable mechanism of
improved mobility of oil as a result of the dissolved biogenic gases in the oil. On the other hand, if more gases are
evolved from the oil, the oil becomes more viscous resulting to a reduction in cumulative production. The Crude
becomes very heavy at this point and is difficult to produce.
Figure 3 and 4 shows the relationship between cumulative production and oil permeability. The plot shows that
production of oil increases with an increased permeability of oil in the microbe-subjected reservoir. Injected microbes
tend to plug thief zones, diverting flow towards the production points in the reservoir, plugging these high permeable
zones in the reservoir increases sweep efficiency during production. Permeability of a rock is the measure to which the
rock can transmit fluid through itself. Once oil viscosity drops in magnitude, the permeability of the oil in the reservoir
increases instantly. The inverse relationship between viscosity and permeability is shown in figure 5.
4. CONCLUSION
Microbial enhanced oil recovery still remains the cheapest, environmental friendly tertiary recovery technique
incorporating several mechanisms to alter certain rock and fluid properties to enhance oil flow to the surface. Before
these microbes can be utilized, thorough investigation must be done to ascertain mechanism of recovery of the selected
microbe. Pseudomonas was used for this investigation on the basis of its ability to produce biogases that will dissolve in
heavy crude to reduce its viscosity and increase its mobility. This research is limited to the assumption that no in-situ
gas was present, it is highly recommended that further study be done to ascertain the effects of in-situ gases on the
produced biogases by the microbe.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to Wosu Angus and Pepple Daniel Dasigha for their immense contributions
to this work.

ISSN 2319 - 4847
References
[1]
C.E ZoBell, (1946) bacteriological processes for treatment of fluid bearing earth formation. US patent No. 2,
413,278.
[2]
C.E.. ZoBell, Bacterial release of oil from oil bearing materials, Part I, World Oil, 126(13), pp. 1-11.
[3]
M.M Chang, F. Chung, R. Bryant, H. Gao, and T. Burchfield (1991): Modeling and laboratory investigation of
microbial transport phenomena in porous media. In: SPE 22845 presented at 66th Annual Technical
Conference and exhibition of SPE in Dallas Texas.
[4]
T. A. Ryan T. 2012, Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery: A PoreScale Investigation of Interfacial Interactions,
a dissertation for the degree of doctor of philosophy in chemical engineering; pp. 1-2.
[5]
V. Moses: MEOR in the field: Why so little?, proceedings from the 1990 International Conference on Microbial
Enhancement of Oil recovery, reprinted from: Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery Recent Advances, edited
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[6]
N Youssef, . S. Elshahed, and M. J. McInerney (2009), Microbial processes in oil fields: culprits, problems, and
opportunities, Advances in applied Microbiology, vol. 66, edited,pp. 141251, Elsevier Academic Press Inc.,
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S. A. Kianipey (1990), Mechanisms of oil displacement by microorganisms. Microbial Enhancement of Oil

Recovery Recent Advances, ed. E.C. Donalsdon, Amsterdam: Elservier Science Publishers.
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Paper 63229, Presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, 1st October,
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Microbiology, 60(1), 3138.
[11]
R. M Gray, A Yeung., M. J Foght, and W. H. Yarranton, (2008), Potential microbial enhanced Oil Recovery
Processes: a critical analysis, Society of Petroleum Engineers AnnualTechnical Conference and Exhibition, SPE
114676, Denver, Colorado, 2124 September.
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oil recovery using sand pack column. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 75, 225230.

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International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)

Modeling the Effects of Microbes in a Reservoir

Keywords: MEOR, Microbes, Solubility, Viscosity

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Combining the equations above

Also combining the above

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Eliminating average biogas solubility

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Where Bg is the solubility parameter of the reservoir due to microbial activities.

is the interfacial tension

From the above, interfacial Tension can be obtained as:

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

mixt = V is given as:

The crude oil mass average velocity (Um) is given as:

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

= Molecular velocity of gas.

L = Molecular velocity of Liquid.

The mass flow rate of oil:

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Solubility due to microbial activities can be calculated from;

Some Assumptions made

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1: Field parameters for model validation

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Pr ef 15.6 0 C and P 14.7 PSia

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

0.004 0.4287 47.2

The oil viscosity due to microbial application is calculated as:

Solubility of gas in oil after microbial activities is;

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

0.15 bbl / Day

Table 2: Deduced parameters after MEOR application

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Fig 1 Plot of cumulative production against oil viscosity

Fig 2 Plot of cumulative production against oil viscosity in 3-dimensions

Fig 3 Plot of cumulative production against permeability of mobilized oil

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

Fig 4 Plot of cumulative production against permeability of mobilized oil

Fig 5 Plot of oil viscosity against effective permeability of mobilized oil

International Journal of Application or Innovation in

S. A. Kianipey (1990), Mechanisms of oil displacement by microorganisms. Microbial Enhancement of Oil

J. Costerton, D. Lewandowski, D, Caldwell, D. Korber and H. LappinScott, (1995), Microbial biofilms,

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