Patent · US Active

Method for growing and metabolizing microbes

US8522868B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
14References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 1, 2012
Grant dateSep 3, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 1, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC12N1/26
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a method for releasing trapped oil in reservoirs. The method hereof includes identifying a reservoir, obtaining a microbial community sample of the reservoir, maintaining the sample under high temperature and high pressure conditions that mimic natural conditions of the reservoir, growing the sample on at least one substrate, determining a targeted treatment regime for the reservoir based on the positive growth of the sample on the substrate, injecting the reservoir with the targeted substrate to release trapped oil in the reservoir, monitoring the reservoir, and extracting the oil from the reservoir.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.