Abstract
MEOR refers to any enhanced petroleum recovery technique utilizing single celled microorganisms or their by-products. Recent advances in microorganism screening, selective breeding, rDNA, and more productive fermentation reactors, along with a better understanding downhole environments and transport have made MEOR a more attractive alternative to more conventional EOR techniques. Recent advances and commercial; potential of six MEOR classifications are considered: 1) Bio-Production of Injected Materials; 2) Emulsification and Demulsification of Produced Hydrocarbons; 3) Desulfurization and Denitrogenation of Produced Hydrocarbons; 4) In situ Bio-Production of Polymers and Surfactants; 5) In situ Bio-Production of Miscible and Immiscible Gases; and 6) Selective Formation Plugging.
