Spe114344 PDF

SPE 114344
The Application of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria in Daqings Low

Permeability, High Paraffin Content Oilfields
Hou Zhaowei, Han Peihui , SPE, Le Jianjun, Chang Jianfei, Dou Xumou, Guo Menghua, Chen Xinghong, QAQING
OILFIELD CO.,LTD.
Copyright 2008, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2008 SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A., 1923April2008.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
To seek an effective oil recovery approach, Brevibacillus brevis and Bacillus cereus were screened and
applied in a Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) process to recover oil from Daqing low permeability areas.
The selected bacteria were found to be highly compatible with indigenous microbes; the laboratory data shows: (1)
The oil-water interfacial tensions (IFT) after microbial treatment decreased by 50%; (2) The alkanes with middle
and high carbon numbers could be degraded; (3) The viscosity of treated crude oil decreased by about 40%; (4)
The content of paraffin and resin decreased from 1.3% to 4.9%and from 0.7% to 2.6%, respectively, thus
improving significantly the rheology of the crude oil; and (5) The oil recovery from laboratory coreflooding achieved
about 6.5% original oil in place (OOIP) over that achieved by waterflooding.
From 2002 to 2005, microbial huff n puff trials have been conducted in 70 wells altogether in the Daqing
Chaoyanggou (0.510
-3
m
2
-2510
-3
m
2
) and Pubei areas (10310
-3
m
2
). Effectiveness was observed in 43 out of
60 Chaoyanggou wells, with accumulative incremental oil amounting to 9175.7 tons. Eight out of 10 Pubei wells
showed effective results as well, with 1873 tons of accumulative incremental oil . The total incremental oil from the
two areas amounted to 11,000 tons, with an average of about 158 tons for one individual well.
Based on the success of microbial huff n puff trials, a microbial flooding pilot test with two injectors and 10
producers was carried out in the Chaoyanggou low permeability area (2510
-3
m
2
) in June 2004. The bacteria
injection was followed by a pressure decrease in two injectors and an increase in the fluid injection. The daily
produced fluid and oil increased from 43.6 tons to a high of 79.6 tons and from 24.7 to 40.8 tons, respectively.
Water cut decreased from 45.2% to 38.6%. By the end of Dec, 2007, 7 out of 10 wells showed significant oil
production response. The incremental oil is about 13,000 tons. The analysis made to the effective and non-
effective wells demonstrates that MEOR plays an important role in establishing an effective driving system.

Introduction
There are six oil layers in the Daqing periphery oilfields.The main reservoirs are the fluvial facies and delta
depositions, which are buried from 500 to 2200 meters deep. Daqing periphery oilfields have the unfavorable
features of low permeability (from 0.1 10
-3
m
2
to 200 10
-3
m
2
), low reserves, and low output. The ground oil
viscosity is from 8 mPas to 100 mPas with a wax content from 20% to 30%. Due to these adverse conditions,
both recoverable reserves and waterflood efficiency in these areas are low. A driving system cannot be established
and oil production has decreased dramatically (Hou, 2005; Ren et al., 2005; Zhang et al., 2004). A new,
economical, and effective way to further enhance oil recovery is urgently needed.
In 1926 Beckman first presented the concept of MEOR. Currently, it has been applied successfully in
EOR , with promise of a successful future (Cheng et al., 2006; Dietrich et al., 1996; Feng and Chen, 1999; Feng et
al., 2005; Gao et al., 1999; Jiang et al., 2005; Li et al., 2002; LV et al., 2002; Portwood, 1995; Streeb and
Brown,1992; Wang and Liu, 2005; Wang et al., 2002; Wang et al., 2004; Xing et al., 2000; Yang et al., 2005;
Zhang et al., 2001).
The mechanism by which the microbes degrade oil is an object of ceaseless in-depth study. Microbial huff n
puff technology has become a relatively mature stimulation treatment. The scale of MEOR application is expanding
2 SPE114344
continuously. The industrial application of MEOR has been scheduled in Chinas Shengli, Jilin and Dagang oilfields
(Cheng et al., 2006; Feng et al., 2005; Jiang et al., 2005; Wang et al., 2004; Wang et al., 2005).
Based on the reservoir characteristics of periphery oilfields, a batch of Brevibacillus brevis and Bacillus
cereus was screened and applied in microbial stimulation tests in 70 wells. In addition, a microbial flooding field
test with two injectors and 10 producers was carried out successfully in Daqing peripheral low permeability oilfields
(Hou et al., 2005).
1 Strains Screening and Performance Evaluation
A group of Brevibacillus brevis and
Bacillus cereus were screened and studied.
The results show that both Brevibacillus brevis
and Bacillus cereus are rod-shaped with a cell
size from 0.8 1.2 -1.6 m and 0.4 0.8-1.2
m, respectively, and able to generate non-
circular gemmas. Their colonies are milky
white and moist with a diameter from 0.2 to
0.4 mm and 0.6 to 1.0 mm, respectively.
Electron microscope photographs of the cell
morphology of those two strains are shown in
Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1Bacillus cereus. Fig. 2Brevibacillus brevis.
1.1 Composition change of saturated
hydrocarbons in the crude oil before and after
microbial treatment
The hydrocarbons were separated from the oil before and after microbial treatment and were analyzed with
gas chromatography. The analysis demonstrates that the composition of those saturated hydrocarbons in treated
crude oil is distinctly different from those found in the blank oil. The long-chain alkanes are biodegraded by the two
microbes, resulting in a decrease in heavy component content and an increase in light component content, which
can be determined based on the index of C
21-
/ C
22+
and C
21
+ C
22
/ C
28
+ C
29
. Additionally, the decrease of
OEP indicates the degree to which the ripeness of the crude oil is improved. Ratios of Pr , Ph and nC
12
nC
18

alkanes had no change before and after microbial treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that only long chain
alkanes (> C
20
) can be degraded, with no evidence of short-chain alkane (less than C20) degradation found.
Meanwhile, no short-chain alkanes are generated during the alkane biodegradation process (Tables 1 and 2)
(Huang et al., 2006).
1.2 Changes in viscosity, wax content and gum content
No. Sampl e nC
21-
/ nC
22+
C
21
+C
22
/ C
28
+C
29 OEP Ph/ nC
28
Ph/ nC
18
1 Bl ank oi l 1. 35 1. 14 1. 12 0. 39 0. 24
2
Oi l af t er t reat ment by
Baci l l us cereus
1. 73 4. 18 1. 08 0. 48 0. 23
Oi l af t er t reat ment by
Brevi baci l l us brevi s
3 1. 87 1. 83 1. 07 0. 46 0. 24

Table 1Chromatogram Analysis of Fermented Crude Oil by Bacteria
No. Sampl e Ph/ nC
2 0
Pr / nC
19
Ph/ nC
1 6
Pr / nC
15
Ph/ nC
1 4
Pr / nC
13
Ph/ nC
1 2
1 Bl ank oi l 0. 21 0. 14 0. 22 0. 14 0. 24 0. 14 0. 25
2 Oi l af t er Bacillus cereus
t r eat ed
0. 21 0. 14 0. 23 0. 15 0. 24 0. 14 0. 24
3 Oi l af t er Brevibacillus brevis
treated
0. 22 0. 15 0. 22 0. 14 0. 25 0. 14 0. 25
Table 2Comparison of Short-Chain Alkanes in Crude Oil before and after Microbial Treatment
The viscosity, wax and gum content of treated oil are measured after dehydration by centrifugalization under
low temperature. Viscosity, wax, and gum content decrease by 40%, 1.3-4.9% and 0.7-1.2%, respectively.
1.3 Changes in fermentation liquor's interfacial tension and content of organic acid
Interfacial tensions (IFT) between fermentation liquor and oil before and after culture were measured and the
resulta showws that IFT dropped by about 50% after culture. Active substances which are favorable for reducing
SPE114344 3
interfacial tension were generated.
Contents of organic acid before and after culture were measured. The results show that two microbes can
produce different organic acids. This characteristic can contribute to permeability improvement in less-permeable
reservoirs.
Low molecular-weight organic acids and alcohols in two fermentation liquors of Bacillus cereus and
Brevibacillus brevis were qualitatively and quantitatively analysised by GC-MS. Four organic acids, acetic acid,
propionic acid, butyric acid and isovaleric acid and one alcohol, ethanol were detected in the Bacillus cereus
fermentation liquor, while three organic acidsacetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acidwere found in the
Brevibacillus brevis fermentation liquor (Table 3).

No. Bacteria IFTmN/m Content Of organic acidmg/L
1 blank 29.71 0

2 Bacillus cereus 15.22 604.129
3 Brevibacillus brevis 18.29 7.24

Table 3Changes in IFT and Organic Acid of the Fermentation Liquor

1.4 Improvement of crude oil's rheology
The viscosity of the treated crude oil
was measured using a HAAKE rheometer
at 55C with shear rate from 0.1 to 1000l/s
with a C20/2 rotor. Figure 3 illustrates the
improvement of flow capability of the
crude oil after the microbial treatment.
1.5 Changes in Newtonian Index, Delta
Viscosity and EOR Index of crude oil
A number of methods established by
Alejandro Maure et al. were applied to
evaluate the changes in crude oils after
microbial treatment. The high values of
the Newtonian Index, Delta Viscosity and
potential EOR Index (shown in Table 4),
which are considered to be the microbes degradation ability, demonstrate that the selected microbes are capable
of using crude oil as the carbon source and thus improving the flow ability of crude oil by degradation.
000
10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
100
1000
10000
0000 10
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Brevi bacil lus brevi s
Baci l lus cereus
0000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0000 10
rat e of shear(l/s)
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Baci l lus cereus
000
10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
100
1000
10000
0000 10
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Baci l lus cereus
0000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0000 10
rat e of shear(l/s)
v
i
s
c
o
s
i
t
y

(
m
P
a
.
s
)
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Baci l lus cereus
000
10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
100
1000
10000
0000 10
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Baci l lus cereus
0000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0000 10
rat e of shear(l/s)
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Baci l lus cereus
000
10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
100
1000
10000
0000 10
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Baci l lus cereus
0000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0000 10
rat e of shear(l/s)
v
i
s
c
o
s
i
t
y

(
m
P
a
.
s
)
Blank
20 30 40 50 60 70
Baci l lus cereus

Fig. 3Oil rheological property curve before and after microbes
treated.

Bacteria
Newtonian
Index
Delta Viscosity EOR Index
Bacillus cereus 2.08 0.50 2.03
Brevibacillus brevis 2.40

0.55 2.31
Table 4Changes in Newtonian Index, Delta Viscosity and EOR Index

1.6 Compatibility of screened microbes with indigenous microbes
The screened microbes and indigenous microbes collected from produced and injected water were cultured
together to determine their compatibility. Microbial concentrations in produced and injected water were 10
2
cell/mL
and 10
4
cell/mL, respectively, while concentrations of the screened microbes were all over 110
8
cell/mL, which
were inoculated in both produced and injected water. The results show that there is no antagonism between the
screened microbes and indigenous microbes and they are perfectly compatible.
1.7 Core flooding experiments
In order to verify the displacement efficiency and optimize microbial concentration and dosage of selected
microbes, coreflooding experiments were performed with the mixed microbes using three-layered, artificial
heterogeneous cores with a length of 30 cm, a permeability of 5010
-3
m
2
, a porosity of 17% and a Dykstra-
Parsons Coefficient of permeability variation of 0.72. The formation water salinity was 2320mg/L and the microbial
injection slug was 0.05 PV. The results show that given the same PV injection, the higher the microbes
concentration, the higher the EOR. When the microbial injection concentration was 3%, microbes were able to
enhanced oil recovery by 6.7% (OOIP) over that obtained by waterflooding (Table 5).
4 SPE114344
No.
Fermentation liquor
concentration%
Recovery by
waterflooding
Recovery by
microbial
Ultimate
recovery
1 0.5 44.6 4.5 49.1
2 1.0 47.2 5.3 52.5
3 2.0 45.0 5.9 50.9
4 3.0 48.1 6.7 54.8
Table 5 Data of Microbial Coreflooding Experiments

2 Microbial huff n puff test
2.1Microbial huff n puff test in Daqing Chaoyanggou low permeability oilfield
2.1.1 Background
The permeability of Chaoyanggou oilfield is between (2-30)10
-3
m
2
with average permeability of 1010
-3
m
2

and reservoir temperature at 55C. It is a fracture morphology, low and ultra-low permeability oilfield. Based on the
permeabilities of the reservoirs, the flow ability of crude oil and the fracture development, Chaoyanggou reservoirs
are divided into three classes. Class I reservoirs have permeability of above 1510
-3
m
2
and relatively good
development efficiency. The oil production rate is 0.6% and current oil recovery is 21.7%. Class II reservoirs have
a permeability of (5 -1510
-3
m
2
. The oil production rate is 0.57% and the current oil recovery is 13.4%. Class III
reservoirs have permeability less than 510
-3
m
2
and relatively poor development efficiency. The oil production
rate is 0.27% and current oil recovery is 5.5%.
2.1.2The performance of the microbial huff n puff test
The microbial huff n puff test was conducted in three different kinds of reservoirs involving 60 wells
altogether: 28 wells in Class, 22 wells in Class and 10 wells in Class . A total of 205 tons of bacteria fluid
was injected. After injection, wells were shut in for 57 days.
Of the 28 wells in the Classreservoir, 22 (78.5%) wells responded with an increase in oil production and a
decrease in water production after the bacteria injection. The average daily incremental oil production amounted to
1.04 tons per well. For well C9-0, both the fluid and oil production increased after the microbial solution injection.
The daily incremental oil production reached 2.2 tons and the water cut dropped from 32.3% to 10%. The
cumulative incremental oil production reached about 500 tons.
Of the 22 wells in Class reservoir, 15 (68.2%) wells showed an effective response. The average daily
incremental oil production amounted to 0.92 ton for each well. For well C00-6, the daily incremental oil reached 2.4
ton, the daily fluid production increased by 218.2% and a total of 384.4 tons of cumulative incremental oil was
produced. In 2004, a huff n puff test was carried out in this well and its daily oil incremental oil and total oil
incremental production were only 0.9 and 92.5 tons. Therefore, the second cycle of microbial injection produced a
better response than the first cycle.
Of the 10 wells in Class reservoir, six (60%) wells showed an effective response.
For the microbial huff n puff tests conducted in 60 wells in Chaoyanggou oilfield, 43 wells (71.7%) showed a
significant oil production increase; the cumulative incremental oil production was 9175.5 tons. An average of 153
tons of incremental oil was produced for each well and the ratio of produced oil and injected microbial solution was
about 63.75 (ton/ton).
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Fig. 4The production performance curve of well C00-6.
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Fig. 5The production performance curve of well C8-6.

SPE114344 5
The performance of the huff n puff tests can be divided into four types.
Type: The fluid production baseline decreased severely before microbial injection and afterwards increased
significantly, see Figs. 4 and 5. This feature was shared by 48.3 % of the wells, or 29 wells.
Type : The fluid production baseline stayed level before microbial injection and afterwards the production
increased, see Fig. 6. This feature was shared by 18.3 % of the wells or 11 wells.
Type : The fluid production baseline decreased severely before microbial injection and afterwards the
production increased slightly, but not enough to compensate for the production decline, see Fig. 7. This feature
was shared by 7.0 % of the wells or three wells.
Type : There were 17 (28.3%) invalid wells.
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time
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i
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)
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Oil production
Injection of
microbes
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Fluid production
Oil production
Injection of
microbes

Fig 6The production performance curve of well C06-8.
0.0
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Aug,2001 Dec,2001 Apr,2002 Aug,2002 Dec,2002 Apr,2003
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Injection of
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Fluid production
Oil production
Injection of
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Fig 7The production performance curve of well C2-2.
2.2The microbial huff n puff field test in the Pubei transitional zone
2.2.1 Background
Putaohua oilfield is located in the south of Daqings ChangYuan Oilfield with an area of 87.7 km
2
, occupying
55.6% of the northern oil-bearing area. Its northern part is adjacent to Taipingtun and Gaotaizi Oilfields and its
southern part adjacent to Aobaota Oilfield. The formation water is NaHCO
3
-type, the chloride content is
2674~2902mg/l and the total salinity is 8490~9789mg/l.
A microbial huff n puff test for 10 wells was launched in Pubei Oilfield. The fluid production was about 20
ton/day with water cut between 30% and 90%. The effective thickness was below 10 m with permeability from
1010
-3
m
2
and 20010
-3
m
2
, but paraffin content was above 25%. The reservoir temperature is about 50C .
2.2.2 Performance of the field test
0
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250
May,2004
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Fig. 10The production performance curve of well 7P-3.
0
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Injection of
microbes
Injection of
microbes
Injection of
microbes
Injection of
microbes
6 SPE114344
The analysis of the effective wells (eight out of 10 wells) shows that the daily fluid production increased from
96 to 138 tons for 10 wells, increasing by 43.30%. Daily oil production increased from 24.7 to 37.4 tons for 10
wells, increasing by 46.18%. Water cut dropped from 74.2% to 72.9%. The cumulative incremental oil production
for 10 wells was 1873 tons. The average incremental oil production amounted to 187.7 tons for each well, with the
ratio of produced oil and injected microbial solution about 40 (ton/ton), see Figs. 811.
3. MEOR flooding pilot test
3.1 Background
Based on the success of the microbial huff n puff field test, a MEOR flooding pilot test was implemented in
Block Chao 50 of the Chaoyanggou oilfield in June 2004. This block is in the axial lobe of the Chaoyanggou
anticline of the Chaoyanggou terrace in the
central downwarping region of the Songliao
basin. The main pay zone is the Fuyu reservoir,
which belongs to fluvial deposition. The formation
temperature is 55C.It develops 30 subzones
and 41 sedimentation units.
C2-22
C1-Y21
C0-24
C8-26
C1-Y23
C1-Y25
C1-Y27 C2-24
C2-26
C0-26
C0-28
C8-28
C2-22
C1-Y21
C0-24
C8-26
C1-Y23
C1-Y25
C1-Y27 C2-24
C2-26
C0-26
C0-28
C8-28
The average effective thickness for an
individual well is 10.7 meters. The
communicated thickness is 9.1 meters, with
effective porosity of 17% and initial oil saturation
of 57%. Fractures commonly develop. The
principle direction of the fractures is NE85 near
EW; secondary fractures develop SN. For the
MEOR field test, two injectors (Wells C1-Y23 and
C0-26) and 10 producers (Fig. 12) were
involved. Among the producer wells were two
depleted wells (Well C0-24 and C2-26) that have
been shut in for 3 years.
Fig. 12Microbial injection well locations.
3.2 Injection project
Two cycles of microbial solution injection of about 100 mg/LPV were designed. The injected microbial
solution for each cycle was 125.2 tons with a
concentration of 2%. The injection began in June
2004 and ended in December 2004.
3.3 Performance of the field test
3.3.1 Injection pressure declined
Injection pressure for Well C1-Y23 began to
decline after the microbial solution injection and
was reduced from 11.6 MPa to 8.8 MPa at the end
of the first cycle injection. After the first cycle
operation, the pressure kept rising, to 11.7 MPa at
the start of second injection cycle. When the
second cycle injection was performed, the
pressure dropped to 10.7 MPa. For Well C0-26,
injection pressure dropped from 12.8 MPa to 11.8
MPa at the end of first cycle injection. In the
second cycle of injection, the water injection
pressure reached 13.8 MPa, and then declined to 12.7 MPa after the injection of microbes, with a minor decline
(Fig. 13).
C1-Y23
C0-26
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
The first
slug
The second
slug
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
time(d)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
(
m
P
a
.
s
)
The first
slug
The second
slug
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
The first
slug
The second
slug
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
time(d)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
(
m
P
a
.
s
)
The first
slug
The second
slug
C1-Y23
C0-26
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
The first
slug
The second
slug
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
time(d)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
(
m
P
a
.
s
)
The first
slug
The second
slug
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
The first
slug
The second
slug
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
time(d)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0 50 100 150 250 350 450
p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
(
m
P
a
.
s
)
The first
slug
The second
slug
Fig. 13Changes in pressure of wells by microbial injection.
The variability in injection pressure reflects the recovery mechanism of MEOR. During the operation, resistance
is affected by pore throat radius, oil-water interfacial tension and oil viscosity. In general, resistance increases with
the increase of oil-water interfacial tension and oil viscosity. Therefore, the resistance will decline due to the
decrease in both the IFT and oil viscosity, resulting in a decrease in injection pressure.
3.3.2 Screened bacteria are highly adaptable and can grow and reproduce well under reservoir conditions
The change of bacteria concentration in produced fluid is one of the critical indices for determining whether the
screened bacteria are able to adapt to reservoir conditions and grow or reproduce in the reservoir. The results
indicate that bacteria concentration increased by 23 orders of magnitude in early September from the initial
concentration of 10
3
/mL at the start of the test. This demonstrates that the injected bacteria are able to penetrate
through the formation and reach the production wells. The bacteria concentration injected is about 10
7
cell/mL and
SPE114344 7
the produced concentration is kept at 10
6
cell /mL, indicating that microbes can grow and reproduce well within
the reservoir. By contrast, for the injected microbes were not detected in the the two invalid wells, C8-26 and C8-
28,
3.3.3 Microbes may degrade heavy components of crude oil, metabolize and produce active materials
The oil viscosity for three wells in the WE fractures were measured before and after the microbe injection and
average viscosity decrease from 94.3 mPas to 76.0 mPas was achieved. This is attributed to the selective bio-
degradation of heavy components caused by the microbes. This is further verified by the gas chromatographic
analysis made of the normal paraffin hydrocarbons (see Fig. 14). Additionally, the wax content decreased from
12.4% to 7.6%. The decrease of wax or gum content in crude oil not only improves the oil properties, but also
increases water injection. It will
definitely play a key role in
production restoration and other
measures of reduction; for
example, hot water washing or
acidizing. Moreover, the flow
ability of treated oil is improved by
reducing the freezing point from
from 40C to 35.7C. Oil-water
IFT decreased from 46.3 mN/m to
39.8 mN/ which suggests that,
under reservoir conditions,
microbial metabolism has
produced active materials that are
primarily composed of surfactants.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
After microbes treated
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)
Before microbes treated
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
carbon number
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
carbon number
p
e
r
c
e
n
t
%
)

3.3.4 Satisfying results are observed
with fluid production increase and water cut decrease
Fig. 14GC curve of crude oil in C1-Y21well before and after microbes
treated.
Seven out of the total 10 oil wells responded effectively, with an increase in fluid production and a decrease in
water cut, by the end of
December 2007. Monthly fluid
production increased from 957
tons to 1456 ton and water cut
decreased from 46.8% to
40.3% for the whole area. The
monthly oil production
increased from 361 tons to 843
tons (see Fig. 15). The
effective period lasted 3 years.
The accumulative oil production
amounted to 25,000 tons.
effect
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
before microbes treated
after microbes treated
Feb,2006
time
Dec,2006
Aug,2003 Jun,2004
Apr,2005 Oct,2007
0
Injection of
microbes
effect
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
y
i
e
l
d

(
y
i
e
l
d

(
y
i
e
l
d

(
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
Feb,2006
time
Dec,2006
Aug,2003 Jun,2004
Apr,2005 Oct,2007
0
effect
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Feb,2006
time
Dec,2006
Aug,2003 Jun,2004
Apr,2005 Oct,2007
0
Injection of
microbes
effect
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
y
i
e
l
d

(
y
i
e
l
d

(
y
i
e
l
d

(
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
Feb,2006
time
Dec,2006
Aug,2003 Jun,2004
Apr,2005 Oct,2007
0
Based on the analysis of
producers in the field, several
characteristics of MEOR are
summarized below:
Fig. 15Oil rate performance of Chao50 microbial test area.
(1) Wells in pay zones with better
communication will show a better
response
The analysis shows that only the wells located in the pay zone responded effectively. Analysis of the injection profile
indicates that layer F132 has the highest injectivity. Injected microbe penetrated mainly into this layer and advanced along
the waterline. For the seven wells with effective response, daily fluid production increased significantly, from the previous
23.8 to 47.3 tons. The daily oil production increased from 10.5 to 30.5 tons. Meanwhile, the water cut decreased from
55.9% to 35.5%. Well 61-Y125, the one with the most effective response, is located between two injection wells, and also
lies in the latitudinal direction where fractures are well-developed. The fluid and oil production of this well increased
from 4.1 to 18.7 tons and 0.2 to 10.8 tons, respectively. The water cut decreased from 94.4% to 42.4% (see Figs.
16 and 17).
8 SPE114344
300
400
500
600
(2) Where fractures are not developed, wells with poor absorption respond slowly or not at all
Among the three wells that showed almost no response, except for Well C0-28 with water cut of about 100%,
Well C8-26 and Well C8-28 are not located in the fracture direction. It was very difficult for microbes to enter these
layers. Due to the difference in injectivity, along with injected water, microbes mainly entered the major reservoirs with
good injectivity (Figs. 18 and 19).

(3) MEOR contributes to the establishment of an effective drive system
Two wells (Well C0-24 and C2-26) among the 10 producers in the field test area had been closed for 3 years before the
microbe injection because of extremely low fluid production. After 3 months of microbe injection, fluid and oil production of
well C2-26 were maintained at about 1.0 ton and 0.2 ton, respectively. Currently, the water cut decreased below 50% and
daily oil production increased to 0.6 ton. The other well, C2-26, showed a similar response. The behavior of those once
abandoned wells indicates that MEOR technology contributes to the establishment of an effective drive system in the layers
into which microbes are injected (see Figs. 20 and 21).
0
100
200
20
40
60
80
100
Feb,2006 Dec,2006 Aug,2003 Jun,2004 Apr,2005 Oct,2007
300
400
500
600
0
100
200
20
40
60
80
100
time
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
300
400
500
600
monthly mass production
water cut
0
100
200
20
40
60
80
100
300
400
500
600
0
100
200
20
40
60
80
100
time
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
water cut
Fig. 16Production performance of well C1-Y25.
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
10
20
30
40
50
time
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
10
20
30
40
50
time
water cut
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
10
20
30
40
50
time
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
10
20
30
40
50
time
water cut
Fig 17Production performance of well C2-12.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
decline curve
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
time
decline curve
water cut
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
decline curve
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
time
Fig. 18Production performance of well C8-26.
decline curve
water cut
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
0
20
40
60
80
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
time
0
20
40
60
80
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
time
decline curve
decline curve
water cut
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
0
20
40
60
80
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
time
0
20
40
60
80
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
time
decline curve
decline curve
water cut
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
70
0
20
40
60
80
100
time
Oct,2007
time
Feb,2006 Dec,2006 Aug,2003 Jun,2004 Apr,2005
water cut
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
50
60
0
10
20
30
40
70
0
20
40
60
80
100
time
Oct,2007
time
Feb,2006 Dec,2006 Aug,2003 Jun,2004 Apr,2005
water cut
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
Fig 20Production performance of well C2-26.
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0
20
40
60
80
100
time
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0
20
40
60
80
100
time
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
water cut
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0
20
40
60
80
100
time
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0
20
40
60
80
100
time
w
a
t
e
r

c
u
t
(
%
)
y
i
e
l
d

(
t
/
m
)
water cut
SPE114344 9
4 Conclusions
4.1 Two strains of bacteria, Brevibacillus brevis and Bacillus cereus, were screened from Daqing produced water. The
study showed that after microbial treatment, the viscosity of crude oil declined by 40% and wax content and gum content
dropped to varying degrees, improving the oil rheology. The coreflooding experiments showed that MEOR was able to
enhance oil recovery by 6.5% over that obtained by waterflooding.
4.2 A microbial huff n puff test injecting microbes and using hydrocarbons as the carbon source was carried out in 70
wells in Chaoyanggou and Pubei oilfields. The average incremental oil production for a single well was 171 tons and the
accumulative incremental oil production was 12700 tons.
4.3 Based on the success of MEOR stimulation, a pilot flood was implemented. The accumulative incremental oil was 13500
tons. The effective period lasted over 3 years. The MEOR field test in low-permeability reservoirs shows that formation
communication affects the results dramatically. It also indicates that the presence of reservoir microfractures is beneficial to
MEOR. Therefore, the combination of MEOR and fracturing deserves consideration for the development of low permeability
reservoirs.

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SPE 114344

The Application of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria in Daqings Low

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