# US 2010/0163230 A1 · Method of enhancing oil recovery

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2010/0163230 A1
- Document ID: US20100163230A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/452,259
- Filed: 2008-06-26
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2007-06-26
- Assignees: Statoil ASA
- Inventors: Hans Kristian Kotlar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163230A1

## CPC

- C09K 8/582: characterised by the use of bacteria
- C09K 8/592: Compositions used in combination with generated heat, e.g. by steam injection
- C12N 1/20: Bacteria; Culture media therefor
- C12N 1/26: Processes using, or culture media containing, hydrocarbons (refining of hydrocarbon oils by using microorganisms C10G32/00)
- C12P 39/00: Processes involving microorganisms of different genera in the same process, simultaneously
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}

## Abstract

The invention provides a method of enhancing oil recovery from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, said method comprising injecting into said reservoir through a matrix injection section of a well a microorganism capable of digesting oil, and recovering oil from an oil receiving section of a production well, where said injection section is in said production well or is in an injection well and is above or adjacent said oil receiving section, and wherein microorganism injection is preceded by another oil extraction enhancing procedure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of enhancing oil recovery from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, said method comprising injecting into said reservoir through a matrix injection section of a well a microorganism capable of digesting oil, and recovering oil from an oil receiving section of a production well, where said injection section is in said production well or is in an injection well and is above or adjacent said oil receiving section, and wherein microorganism injection is preceded by another oil extraction enhancing procedure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein microorganism injection is into an injection well.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein steam, superheated water or organic solvent is also injected through said injection well.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein microorganism injection is into a production well.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein organic solvent is also injected through said production well.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein as a said microorganism is used an alkane chain-shortening microorganism.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein as a said microorganism is used an aromatic ring opening microorganism.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising injecting said microorganism into said reservoir at a plurality of sites, each above or adjacent a said oil receiving section of a said production well.

### Claim 9

A microorganism mixture for hydrocarbon reservoir treatment, said mixture comprising microorganisms of at least two, preferably at least three, of the following species: Sphingomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., Burholderia sp., Thermovirga lienii, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Acinebacter venetianus, Thermosipho geolii and Symbiobacterium sp.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A mixture as claimed in claim 9 comprising microorganisms of the species Sphingomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Burholderia sp.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A mixture as claimed in claim 10 comprising microorganisms of the species Sphingomonas stygia, Sphingomonas aromaticivorans, Sphingomonas subterranean, Sphingomonas yanoikuyae, Pseudomonas putida, and Burholderia sp.