Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery

Microorganisms and microbial products can be used to recover oil from reservoirs. To be successful, the complexity of oil and the physical constraints in the reservoir must be taken into account. The three general approaches are: stimulation of the endogenous microbial population; injection of microorganisms with proven ability to perform well in situ; and the use of microbial products, such as xanthan gum, produced by Xanthomonas campestris.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. National Science Foundation. 1976. Proceedings Engineering Foundation Conferences, “The Role of Microorganisms in the Recovery of Oil.” NSF/RA-770201.

  2. Department of Energy Conference on Microbiological Processes Useful in Enhanced Oil Recovery. CONF-790871. October 1979.

  3. Department of Energy International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery. May 1982 (in press).

  4. Davis, J.B. 1968. Petroleum Microbiology. Elsevier Publishing Co., Amsterdam.

  5. Singer, M.E. and Finnerty, W.R. 1983. Microbial metabolism of straight-chain and branched alkanes. In: Petroleum Microbiology, R. Atlas (ed.), MacMillan Publishing Co., New-York (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Singer, J.T. and Finnerty, W.R. 1983. Genetics of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms. In: Petroleum Microbiology, R. Atlas (ed.). MacMillan Publishing Co., New York (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Johansen, R.T. 1979. Chemistry of Oil Recovery. American Chemical Society Symposium Scr. 91, Washington, D.C.

  8. Taber, J.J., Karnath, I.S.K. and Reed, R.L. 1961. Soc. Petro. Eng. J. 1: 195–212.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Melrose, J.C. and Brandner, C.F. 1974. Role of Capillary Forces in Determining Microscopic Displacement Efficiency for Oil Recovery by Waterflooding. J. Can. Petrol. Technol. 13: 54–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Reed, R.L. and Healy, R.N. 1977. Improved Oil Recovery by Surfactant and Polymer Flooding, p. 383. Academic: Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Taber, J.J. 1980. Research on Enhanced Oil Recovery: Past, Present, and Future. Pure and Appl. Chem. 52: 1323–1347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. McGill, W.B., Rowell, M.J. and Westlake, D.W.S. 1981. Biochemistry, ecology, and microbiology as petroleum components in soil. In: Soil Biochemistry, E.A. Paul and J.N. Cadd (eds.). Vol. 5: 229–295. Marcel Dekker, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lazar, I. 1982. Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery in Romania. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton, OK (in press).

  14. Yarbrough, H.F. 1982. Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery from the Upper Cretaceous Nactoch Formation. Union County, ARK. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton, OK (in press).

  15. Hitzman, D.O. 1982. Petroleum Microbiology and the History of Its Role in Enhanced Oil Recovery. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton, OK (in press).

  16. Johnson, A.C. 1979. Microbial Oil Release Technique for Enhanced Recovery. Department of Energy Conference on Microbiological Processes Useful in Enhanced Oil Recovery, pp. 30–34, CONF-790871.

  17. Jenneman, G.E., Knapp, R.M., Menzie, D.E., McInerney, M.J., Revus, D.E., Clark, J.B. and Munnnecke, D.M. 1982. Transport Phenomena and Plugging in Berea Sandstone Using Microorganisms. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton. OK (in press).

  18. Yen, T.F., Jang, L.K., Chang, P.W., Sharma, M.M. and Findlay, J.E. 1982. The Transport of Bacteria through Porous Media. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Alton, OK (in press).

  19. Updegraff, D.M. 1982. Plugging and Penetration of Petroleum Reservoir Rock by Microorganisms. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton, OK (in press).

  20. Sandvik, E.I. and Maerker, J.M. 1977. Application of xanthan gum for enhanced oil recovery. In: Extracellular Microbial Polysaccharides. P.A. Sandford and A.I. askin (eds.). American Chemical Society Symposium Series 45, pp. 242–264, Washington, D. C.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Slodki, M.E. and Cadmus, M.C. 1982. Production, Composition and Biodegradation of Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide B-1459). Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton, OK (in press).

  22. Grula, M.M. and Sewcll, G.W. 1982. Microbial Interactions with Microbial Polymers. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton. OK (in press).

  23. Zajic, J.E. and Panchal, C.J. 1976. Bioemulsifiers. Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 5: 39–66. CRC Press.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Cooper, D.G. and Zajic, J.E. 1980. Surface active compounds from microorganisms. Adv. Appl. Microbiol. 26: 229–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Gutnick, D.L., Zosim, Z. and Rosenberg, E. 1982. The Interaction of emulsan with hydrocarbons. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery. Afton, OK (in press).

  26. Singer, M.E., Finnerty, W.R., King, A.D. and Bolden, P. 1982. Microbial Processes in the Recovery of Heavy Petroleum. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Alton, OK (in press).

  27. Revus, D.E., Jenneman, G.E., Knapp, R.M., Menzie, M.J., McInerney, M.E., Clark, J.B. and Munnecke, D.M. 1982. The Potential Use of a Biosurfactant in Enhanced Oil Recovery. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery. Afton, OK (in press).

  28. Guerra-Santos, L., Kappeli, O. and Fiechter, A. 1982. Growth and Biosurfactant Production of a Bacterium in Continuous Culture. Proceedings International Conference on Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery, Afton, OK (in press).

  29. Kretschmer, A., Bock, H. and Wagner, F. 1982. Chemical and physical characterization of interfacial-active lipids from Rhodococcus erythropolis grown on n-alkanes. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 44: 864–870.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Rapp, P., Bock, H., Wray, V. and Wagner, F. 1977. Mikrobielle Bildung eines Trehalose lipids und seine Anwendung in Modellversuchen zum Tensidfluten von Erdollagerstatten. DECHEMA Monogr. Biotechnol. 18: 177–186.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gerson, D.F. and Zajic, J.E. 1978. Surfactant production from hydrocarbons by Corynebacterium lepus, sp. nov. and Pseudomonas asphaltenicus, sp. nov. Develop. Indust. Microbiol. H. Underkafler, ed. AIBS, Washington. 19: 577–599.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Finnerty, W., Singer, M. Microbial Enhancement of Oil Recovery. Nat Biotechnol 1, 47–54 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0383-47

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0383-47

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing