Biological enhancement of hydrocarbon extraction
US7472747B1 · kind B1 · utility
23Cited by
16References
11Claims
0Family size
Assignee
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Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/582
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of microbial enhanced oil recovery for recovering oil from an oil-bearing rock formation is provided. The methodology uses a consortium of bacteria including a mixture of surfactant producing bacteria and non-surfactant enzyme producing bacteria which may release hydrocarbons from bitumen containing sands. The described bioprocess can work with existing petroleum recovery protocols. The consortium microorganisms are also useful for treatment of above oil sands, ground waste tailings, subsurface oil recovery, and similar materials to enhance remediation and/or recovery of additional hydrocarbons from the materials.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.