Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Mexico is one of the most important oil producers in the world, its reserves are mostly heavy oils (<20oAPI). Microorganisms capable of living in extreme conditions are useful in microbial process to enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). The aim of this work was to evaluate microorganisms present in Mexican oil samples to be used in experiments of microbial oil recovery. 19 samples of Mexican crude oils were evaluated. Anaerobic specific culture media for fermentative, sulfate-reducing and nitrate- reducing bacteria and methanogenicarchaea was used. The cultures were incubated at 80ºC. The microbial growth of each group, the production of CO2, CH4, and biosurfactant were determined. In every oil samples growth of all microbial groups were observed. The fermentative bacteria showed the best behavior as far as metabolites production was concerned in all oil samples. A limestone coreflood assay was implemented with fermentative bacteria, at pressure of 120 psi and temperature of 80ºC. The core was characterized and saturated with oil, the waterflooding was carried out by injection of brine and microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR).The oil recovered was analyzed at each stage of the recovery process. The quantity of oil recovered was 18.17% by the MEOR process additionally to the secondary process. The microbial culture used in the coreflood assay was identified by molecular analysis. It was composed by extremophile fermentative microorganisms including Thermoanaerobacter, NatronovirgaandGeothermobacterium. The extremophile microorganisms were able to growth at 120 psi and 80 °C and to produce metabolites that are useful to oil recovery.

Biography

Patricia Olguín-Lora completed her PhD at University of Rennes France. She is a researcher at the Mexican Petroleum Institute; she is responsible of project related to recovery and mobilization of oil using microorganisms and their metabolites. She has more than 32 papers in international journals. She has a patent in E. U. about the recovery of hydrocarbons by microbial activity and she has participated in the review papers in journals Water Science and Technology, Waste Management, Environmental Management Journal, Bioresource Biotechnology, Journal Petroleum Science and Engineering, among others.