SPE 101767
Simulation Of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery
M.R. Ghadimi Gheshlaghi, SPE, Natl. Iranian Oil Co., and M. Ardjmand, Islamic Azad U.
Copyright 2006, Society of Petroleum Engineers
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2006 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum
Exhibition and Conference held in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., 5–8 November 2006.
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Abstract
Nowadays, the experts in biotechnology and oil engineering cooperate
to improve the production of oil reservoirs. A large portion of the world
energy consists of non-renewable fossilized fuels; the primitive
methods in oil recovery just make 8 to 30 percent of oil reservoirs
available. So, the owners of these reservoirs are trying to increase
efficiency via using newer methods with lower costs. One of the most
important new methods in oil recovery enhancement is the microbial
method (MEOR), which is based on utilizing special microbes to
increase the production of oil wells. In this project a computer software
is presented for simulation of microbial enhanced oil recovery. In other
words, an oil reservoir is simulated for applying microbial method.
Firstly, mass balance equations of reservoir fluid (water & oil),
bacterium, metabolite and nutrient are droved and analyzed
considering the experimental data and mathematical relations of a
MEOR model. This information is applied on one of the oil reservoirs in
Persian Gulf. The equations are simulated by applying numerical
methods (finite element, successive overrelaxatoin) using a computer
software (MATLAB). The effectivity of application by this method for
enhancement of oil recovery is assessed through analyzing the graphs
resulted from this software which includes the profiles of concentration
(water, oil, bacterium, metabolite and nutrient), pressure and also plots
of oil and water saturation, mobility of water and oil. The obtained
results show that through applying this method, pressure of reservoir
that is the main factor will increase linearly leading to enhanced oil
recovery from reservoir.
Furthermore, this method can be used as a pattern in analyzing other
reservoirs in which MEOR is used for enhanced oil recovery.
Introduction
Using micro-organisms in oil industry is one of the biotechnology
challenges. Considering expansion of oil industry in some countries, it
must be paid special attention. Using microbes to enhance oil recovery
is not a new subject. The first document about this has been written in
1913 by “J.B.Davis” and “C.A.Zobell” recorded a method for secondary
oil recovery by using anaerobic bacteria & sulfate minerals dissolution
mechanism. The first field test of Microbial Enhancement Oil Recovery
(MEOR) was done in one of the oil fields in Arkansas in 1954. In spite
of being successful, it was put aside because of cheap oil reservoirs
availability. These methods were noticed again in 1970's because of
instability in oil price and tending to biotechnology. Since 1980, by
growth of the oil price in different countries, these methods became
more or less common and it seems that they will be the only practical
way of enhanced oil recovery In future. temperature lower than 75 °C ,
salinity to 100000 ppm, PH between 4 to 9 , permeability more than 75
mili darsy, API more than 18 API, pressure to 12000 atm. and
reservoir depth less than 3500m ,are conditions that should be
considered for appropriate reservoirs in MEOR. Among these,
temperature and permeability are the most important ones. Microbes
help in enhance oil recovery in different mechanisms: 1-Producing
organic acids result in solving carbonated rocks and developing
chanals. 2- Reviving sulphur in chalky and anhydride compounds and
sulphatic minerals, which release trapped oil. 3- Producing gases such
as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and nitrogen which push out the
oil from dead spaces. 4- Producing various solvents such as ethanol,
acetone and alcohol which contribute in mobility of oil phase by solving
or inflating organic residuals. 5-Producing surfactants and detergents
to decrease superficial tension and tensions of common frontiers of oil
and water to separate oil form rocks. 6- Producing biopolymer that
blocks the areas with higher permeability selectively, as a result fluid
flows to the areas with lower permeability. 7- Degrading big molecules
of hydrocarbon and decreasing oil viscosity. Therefore, appropriate
bacteria for MEOR should be small enough, have rapid growth rate
and enough mobility to transfer inside the well. It should produce
appropriate metabolic compounds such as gas, acid and solvent, and it
should be able to tolerate difficult environmental conditions like high
temperature, pressure and salinity, without any need to complicated
nutrition for growth and metabolism. It should be able to tolerate anti-
corrosion and microbicide materials as well. It should be able to bear
conditions with no-oxygen or low viscosity. In spite of some limitations
that may affect the microbial activity in the reservoir ,numerous reports
about the presence of microbes have been presented, so different
kinds of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Microbacterium,
Clostridium, Escherchia coli and some other kinds of
Enterobacteriaceae are used in MEOR. Despite the presence of
microbes in reservoir, their activity is slight because: 1-The anaerobic
condition of the reservoir that makes it impossible to degrade the
petrochemicals, resulting lack of carbon source. 2-In most of the oil
reservoirs, concentration of phosphorous are low. 3- The low
concentration of nitrogen can be the cause of few numbers of
microbes. There is no great change in oil compounds, since the activity
2 SPE 101767

of native microbes is very low. Oil compounds will be changed if a

nutrition source and appropriate supplementary factors can be
supplied. Oil is not just consisted as hydrocarbon components and
every change in its content will cause a great change in its
characteristics, among these, gas production which leads to production
of lighter oil, can be mentioned.

Restrictive equations :
The Economical Advantages of This Method: MEOR is
considered as a suitable method in increasing production on
expenditure aspects by many ways. Other advantages to be mentioned
are as follows: The microbes and injected nutrients are cheap and
available so they can be easily transported in oil fields. MEOR is
economically suitable technique for discrete and small reservoirs. The
cost of injection fluid does not depend on the oil price. The fulfillment of
the process just needs a little improvement on field facilities and
therefore it does not need a great cost. This method can be easily
performed by the equipments, which are used for washing by water.
The fulfillment of MEOR is easier and cheaper than other processes.
All MEOR products are environmentally hazardous. The microbial
population can be regulated by available nutrients. In the other word, if
nutrients are not injected, microbes will die, so the presence of
microbial population can be controlled.

Modeling
One dimensional mathematical model developed by Desouky et al.
[11] was used for bacteria, nutrient , metabolites, oil and water,
respectively. The mass balance equations are given below and that of
metabolites was considered together with superficial absorption,
distribution, bacterial growth and decomposing, nutrient composition,
permeability destruction and reductive porosity effects.
How to Solve The Equations:
According to the physics of the problem:
Mathematical Formulation
Here are five equations for preserving bacteria, nutritious, metabolites,
ko
oil & water. θ o = 0.5 λo = qo= ⎧C oo = 0.995
⎪
o ⎨ t=0
⎪ x=0
⎩
If x=0 , Po = cte t=50 hr. Ts=o R=100 for
Strain –o12
By equation 4 (oil)

⎛∂ ⎞ ∂ ⎡ ∂p ⎤ q o p o c oo
φ⎜ (θ o ρ o C oo ⎟ = ⎢ (λo ρ o C oo )⎥ + vp
⎝ ∂t ⎠ ∂x ⎣ ∂x ⎦
qo ρ o K
θ o ρ o C oo = ∫ c oo dt ⇒ K 1C (s ) = 2 (C (s ) + c )
vpφ s

θ o ρ o =k1 q o ρ o =k 2
vpφ

C C t
K1 C k 2 k1 C
⇒ C (s ) = S = ⇒ C oo = e , = 0 .995
K K K1 K1
K1 − 2 S− 2
S K1

On graphs C n = 0.02 , kw
λw =
μw
θr = 0 By equation 5 for (water) Æ θ w = 0.5

∂ ⎤ q w ρ w c ww
φ (θ w ρ w C ww ) = ∂ ⎡ ∂p
⎢⎣ ∂ x (λ w ρ w c ww )⎥⎦ +
∂t ∂x vp
SPE 101767 3

is possible to change the size of each block depending on the gap

Which is the same as equation 4, after solving the problem the answer
is as follows: between these wells.
4-constants and measures of micro-organisms (a1.b1,a2,b2 in eq. 11
t
and 12) were taken from ref [11].
‫و‬
k2
C C
C ww = e k1
= 0.98 = 1 − Cn 5-The equations for : 1) Bacteria, 2) Petroleum, 3) Nutrient, 4) Water,
K1 K1
®
⇒ K1 = θ w ρ w ‫و‬ q ρ 5) Metabolite are programmed and modeled by "MATLAB" through
K2 = w w
φV p successive overrelaxation and finite elements methods. As mentioned
® ®
According to equation 7: before, this software is simulated by "MATLAB ", "Curve Expert "
Cww +Cbw+Cmw + Cn = 1.o ®
( )
and "Degitizeit ".
−5
Cmw = 1.81+ 4.1×10 t Cbw
Cn
®
Digitize diagram 3 by software & scan it into the computer:

1 − (C mw + C n ) Cmw = (a1 +b1.t)Cbw

Cbw =
1 + a1 + b1t
The primary derivative ( Cn ) at the zero point and the final point (at
one hundred) are considered as zero, although this has caused an
error in diagram, the first and the last points are needed to solve the
numerical problem.
Equations which are related to pressure, are :
The main page of software
1 ⎛⎜ − q h ⎞⎟
p ((n + 1)h ) = + p (nh )
e ⎜V λ ⎟
tΘ ( n )
⎝ p ⎠

θ ω (nh) − θ ω ((n + 1)h )

Θω (n ) = , k = k1θ ω ⇒
k1θ ((n + 1)h )θ (nh)

1 ⎛ − qω h ⎞
p ((n + 1)h ) = ⎜ + p (nh )⎟
e Θω (n ) ⎝ V p λω
t ⎜ ⎟
⎠
q h q h A(n )
ω
− e
vpλω vpλ
p (nh ) =
1 − e A (n )

The Assumptions:
1- it is assumed that constructed distance blocks are filled by a single
time block(t). i.e., by water movement each distance block reaches to a
new saturation state and in each period the saturation degree for water
is considered as a constant value and a new saturation state is
obtained by calculation. If such an assumption is not made two distinct
problems arisen:
First, the wronskian matrix would not vanish and the solution of
equations would not be possible. Second, there would be no
consideration for water motion in reservoir.
2- Experimental θr values are used [11] and a new equation

developed for θ r using curve expert software by compromising the

curve of fig.3 and that of normal fitted curve of experimental values of
θr .
The General Assumptions: 1-The utilized sandstone reservoir, is
located in the south of Iran, in the Persian Gulf. 2-The values in table 1
are all derived from the information of the reservoir. Obviously the new
information can be gained if some changes occur in the measures. 3- Table1: Initial values used for modeling
The intended reservoir is modeled by only two wells: a production-well
and an injection-well with the distance of 100 blocks from each other. It
4 SPE 101767

Results:
Fig1 - Cww profile : According to the calculations it has an
exponential drop, but it is constant along the axis X as we find out by
the equations:
C
= 0.98 = 1 − C n
K1
t
C k 2 k1
C ww = e
K1

The primary Cn is 0.02 that is gained by the diagrams in reference

paper.
K1 = θ w ρ w ‫و‬ qw ρ w k2 qw
K2 = ⇒ =
φV p k1 ρθ w v p phases.
Since θ w is along the X axes & t (in a fix period) are assumed to be
constant &qw is negative, k 2
≺ 0, cte. so this is caused a drop in Cww
k1
during the t axis, but it is constant along the X axis.

Fig.4 – Cb Profile: It shows total bacterial viscosity in oil & water

phases. Obviously it has an exponential growth. The diagram also
shows the periods which are clearer in the following diagram.

Fig.2 - Coo Profile : According to the calculations it drops

exponentially, but it is constant during the X axis. As we find out by the
equations:
t
C k 2 k1 C
C oo = e , = 0 .995
K1 K1
Assuming that bacteria & nutrient are injected at the time zero-it
means that there is no growth yet-because it is assumed that θ o is
Fig. 5 – Pressure Profile: It is the main & the most important diagram
constant along the X and t axes (in a fixed period),so:
which is represented by this software. As it is obvious, the quantity of
k2 raised production directly relates to the growth of pressure. As it found
< 0, cte. by the diagram, pressure has a linear growth along the X axis. Along
k1
the t axis at the end of span x (production well) during 250 periods,
It causes a drop in Coo during the axis t, but it is constant along the X pressure increases about 25 psi.
axis.

Fig.6 - P Plot :
At the end of span x (production well).

Fig.3 - Cm Profile : It shows total viscosity of the metabolite in two

SPE 101767 5

Fig. 7 - Px(o) Plot:This diagram shows the gradient of the pressure in Fig. 11 - Vw Plot : Shows the amount of existing water in reservoirs
the opening of the well. By considering the formula, gradient of the that will be computed by the integral q_func.m
pressure will be computed in different periods.

Fig. 8 – θ o Plot: Degree of oil saturation which will be computed in

each period according to the integral calTe_r.m
Fig.12 - ( λ o ) Plot: Shows the amount of increasing mobility λ =
k
μ
in oil phase

Fig.9 - ( θw )Plot: Degree of water saturation which will be computed

in every period by the integral calTe_r.m

Fig. 13 - ( λ w ) Plot: Shows the amount of decreasing mobility

( λ = k ) in water phase
μ

Fig. 10 - V0 Plot:: Shows the amount of existing oil in reservoirs that is

computed by the integral q_func.m
6 SPE 101767

Conclusions: REFERENCES:
1-Considering the relation between C and V0 , by increasing the 1- U.S.A National Oil Advisor Group, "Oil Recovery", December 1976.
number of the periods, saturation ( θ ° ) increases and ( θ w ) decrease 2-Ali Moshtaqian,"Exploration Plan of So Heavy Oil",Iran National Oil
Company, June 1983.
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3-Journal of Petroleum Technology, "Marine Production of Heavy Oil",
reservoir . This may results some calculating error.
January 1989.
2-When oil volume in the reservoir V01 increases, according to the
4-P.J.Schouler, "Improving Chemical Injection Usage by Chemical,
equation ( V = Vo1 ), Vp will be also increased. As Vp is in the
Nuclear, Alkaline & Polymeric Process ", Journal of Petroleum
0.1787ϕ
p

Technology, January 1989.

fraction denominator of the equations, the related fraction will be
5-Abbas Akhavine, "Water Injection Project, Modeling & Homogeneity
dropped.
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Scientific Services Center, March 1983.
Applied Parameters in this model: 6-William.M.Schoult, "Underground Combustion in Spitted Heavy Oil
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www.assaluyeh.comarticles.php41-fa
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shtml www.obio.com/meor.htm
www.sinocal.com/english_version/products/meort/meort.htm

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