Prevention and remediation of petroleum reservoir souring and corrosion by treatment with virulent bacteriophage
US9650272B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N2795/00031
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
There is provided a safe, natural, environmentally sound means of controlling bacterial contamination, corrosion, and souring of oil and gas wells and reservoirs that result from bacteria-contaminated water in a well. In one aspect it is a process for remediation of souring of petroleum reservoirs and coalbeds by adding to the water used in flooding and “fracing” operations an effective amount of virulent (non-lysogenic) bacteriophages (phages) specific for problematic target bacteria. The invention also provides a means for combating loss of effectiveness of bacterial control by staging bacteriophage production and application to control dominant and sub-dominant target bacteria in a community of target bacteria.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.