Process for enhanced recovery of crude oil from oil wells using novel microbial consortium

US7484560B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Energy and Resource Institute · IN
• Institute of Reservoir Studies · IN

Inventors

• Banwari Lal · Gothan, IN
• Mula Ramajaneya Varaprasada Reddy · New Delhi, IN
• Anil Agnihotri · Sayla, IN
• Ashok Kumar · Jamkhed, IN
• Munish Prasad Sarbhai · Sayla, IN
• Nimmi Singh · Delhi, IN
• Raj Karan Khurana · Sayla, IN
• Shinben Kishen Khazanchi · Sayla, IN
• Tilak Ram Misra · Sayla, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 14, 2004
• Grant date: Feb 3, 2009
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E50/30
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a microbial consortium containing three hyperthermophilic, barophilic, acidogenic, anaerobic bacterial strains for enhanced oil recovery from oil reservoirs where temperatures range from 70° C. to 90√ C. The said microbial consortium is unique in producing a variety of metabolic products mainly CO2, methane, biosurfactant, volatile fatty acids and alcohols in the presence of specially designed nutrient medium. These metabolic products increase sweep efficiency of crude oil from oil bearing poles of rock formation. The present invention also provides a process for enhancing the oil recovery by in situ application of the said microbial consortium.