Microbial enhanced oil recovery methods

{
  "publication_number": "US2011067856A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Microbial enhanced oil recovery methods",
  "abstract": "The present invention is directed to the field of microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). In particular, the invention focuses on new, efficient, economical and environmentally safe microbial methods to enhance oil recovery in existing oil reservoirs, as well as microorganisms useful in such methods.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of enhancing oil recovery comprising introducing into an oil reservoir a microorganism capable of growing in an environment of high salinity, which microorganism is deficient in its ability to degrade short chain hydrocarbons of about 12 carbons or less. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the oil reservoir is selected from the group consisting of underground reservoirs, producing wells, non-producing wells, experimental wells, exploratory wells, oil sands and other sources of heavy oil. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the growth of said microorganism is obligately dependent on high salinity. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the microorganism is an archaeon or a bacterium. 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the microorganism is present in a culture of microorganisms comprising a plurality of microorganisms that are obligatory halophiles and are deficient in their ability to degrade short chain hydrocarbons of about 12 carbons or less, wherein the growth of said culture is obligately dependent on high salinity. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said obligatory halophile microorganisms are deficient in their ability to degrade short chain hydrocarbons of less than about 20 carbons. 7. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism is able to grow in a salinity of about 5% or higher. 8. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism is inhibited in acquiring the ability to grow at salinity below about 5% from microorganisms indigenous or contaminating said reservoir. 9. The method of claim 3 wherein in said microorganism one or more metabolic pathways degrading short chain hydrocarbons of about 12 carbons or less are down regulated, mutated or deleted. 10. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism naturally lacks the ability to degrade short chain hydrocarbons of about 12 carbons or less. 11. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism has the ability to utilize aromatic hydrocarbons. 12. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism has the ability to utilize hydrocarbon chains of greater than about 12 carbons. 13. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism has the ability to utilize modified hydrocarbons containing sulfur. 14. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism has the ability to utilize modified hydrocarbons containing nitrogen. 15. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism has the ability to utilize simple carbons selected from the group comprising glucose, sucrose, mannose, starch, glycerin, organic acids, and other simple sugars. 16. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism has the ability to produce surfactants. 17. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism has the ability to produce extra cellular polymers. 18. The method of claim 3 wherein said microorganism (i) contains functional genes for the metabolism of high molecular weight hydrocarbons; (ii) lacks functional genes for the transport and oxidation of short chain alkanes at the cell membrane; (iii) contains functional genes for the production of surfactants; and (iv) is regulated to express said functional genes and grow in a high salt environment within said reservoir. 19. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of injecting a nutrient mixture into said reservoir. 20. The method of 3 further comprising the step of water-flooding said reservoir with low salinity fluid or a fluid containing a compound toxic to said microorganism to reduce the concentration of halophilic microorganisms that have the ability to utilize short chain hydrocarbons of about 12 carbons or less. 21. A microorganism that (i) is a halophile, and (ii) is deficient in its ability to degrade short chain hydrocarbons of about 12 carbons or less. 22. The microorganism of claim 21 which is an obligatory halophile. 23. The microorganism of claim 22 that is an archaeon or a bacterium. 24. The microorganism of claim 23 which is an archaeon. 25. The microorganism of claim 21 that naturally has at least one of properties (i) and (ii). 26. The microorganism of claim 21 that is engineered to have at least one of properties (i) and (ii). 27. The microorganism of claim 21 which is able to grow in a salinity of about 5% or higher. 28. The microorganism of 21 which is additionally inhibited in acquiring the ability to grow at salinity below about 5% from microorganisms indigenous in or contaminating an oil reservoir. 29. The microorganism of claim 21 which is additionally deficient in its ability to degrade hydrocarbons of about 20 carbons or less. 30. The microorganism of claim 21 which additionally has the ability to utilize aromatic hydrocarbons. 31. The microorganism of claim 21 which additionally has the ability to utilize hydrocarbon chains of greater than 12 carbons. 32. The microorganism of claim 21 which additionally has the ability to utilize hydrocarbons containing sulfur. 33. The microorganism of claim 21 which additionally has the ability to utilize modified hydrocarbons containing nitrogen. 34. The microorganism of claim 21 which additionally has the ability to utilize simple carbons from the group comprising; glucose, sucrose, mannose, starch, glycerin, organic acids, and other simple sugars. 35. The microorganism of claim 21 which additionally has the ability to produce surfactants. 36. The microorganism of claim 21 which additionally has the ability to produce extra cellular polymers. 37. The microorganism of claim 21 which (i) contains functional genes for the metabolism of high molecular weight hydrocarbons; (ii) lacks functional genes for the transport and oxidation of short chain alkanes at the cell membrane; (iii) contains functional genes for the production of surfactants; and (iv) is regulated to express said functional genes and grow in a high salt environment within an oil reservoir. 38. A culture or consortium comprising a microorganism of claim 21 or claim 37. 39. A culture or consortium consisting essentially of microorganisms according to claim 21 or claim 37. 40. A culture or consortium consisting of microorganisms according to claim 21 or 37."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "C12N 15/102",
    "C09K 8/582",
    "C12N 1/00",
    "C12N 1/20",
    "C12N 1/26",
    "C12N 9/0077",
    "C12Y 114/15003",
    "E21B 43/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "KOHR WILLIAM J"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2010-08-26",
  "publication_date": "2011-03-24",
  "priority_date": "2009-08-28",
  "application_number": "US-86964710-A",
  "family_id": "42937551",
  "citations": [
    "US2413278A",
    "US5013654A",
    "US5297625A"
  ]
}