Methods of identifying stimulants for biogenic methane production from hydrocarbon-bearing formations
US7977056B2 · kind B2 · utility
4Cited by
1References
11Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E50/30
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention describes methods of identifying stimulants for the biogenic production of methane in hydrocarbon-bearing formations. Methods involve the use of microbial nucleic acid sequence information for the determination of gene products that are enzymes in a variety of pathways involved in the conversion of hydrocarbons to methane. Enzymes and stimulants identified by invention methods can be used in processes for enhancing biogenic methane production, for example, by addition to coal seams and coalbed methane wells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.