EVALUATION OF THE FORMATION OF BIOPRODUCTS OF INTEREST TO MEOR

Abstract

Among the most prevalent problems affecting the oil industry is the low efficiency of hydrocarbon extraction from natural reservoirs. Given this situation, the use of biotechnology as a tool for enhanced oil recovery has become an attractive and economically feasible alternative. In this regard, there has been renewed interest worldwide in methodologies that include the use of microorganisms. MEOR (Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery) is a general term that refers to the use of microorganisms such as bacteria and/or archae and their metabolic products (acids, gases, biopolymers, biosurfactants and others). MEOR microbiological processes are considered advantageous over physical-chemical variants because they are cheaper, consume less energy, do not depend on oil prices and do not use substances that are aggressive to the environment because they are biodegradable. The objective of the research was to evaluate the potential of native microorganisms from drilling wells for use in MEOR processes. Microorganisms were isolated from the Cuban Northern Oil Belt sector, where characteristics of interest were assessed, such as acid and gas production, qualitative determination of biofilm formation (presence of exopolysaccharides) through adherence to Congo red, as well as the production of bio-surfactants through three different methods: drop collapse, interfacial tension and oil dispersion. From the tests carried out on the strains, Strain No. 241-2 was found to be the most satisfactory for continuing with the MEOR process tests. Strains No. 237-1 and 237-2 were discarded for future research, as they did not meet any of the requirements in the tests carried out.