Method for Practicing Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Nitrogen Containing Fertilizers Recovered from Contaminated Water for Feeding Microbes
OwnerGerald J. GROTTinventor
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Abstract
A method of using nitrates, nitrites, or ammonium recovered from contaminated water for feeding microbes used in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). If required, the nitrogen waste removed from contaminated waters is treated to be converted as nitrates or nitrites. The nitrates and nitrites are mixed with microbes that are then injected into oil wells for improved tertiary oil production or injected separately depending on balance of feed and microbes in well brine as judged from examining brine that exits well with the oil. The use of nitrates recovered from contaminated waters to feed microbes in MEOR is cost effective for both the process of water decontamination and oil recovery.
Claims18
A Method for Using Nitrates Recovered from Contaminated Water for Feeding Microbes comprising the steps in combination of:
- (a) collecting contaminated waters with nitrogen waste;
- (b) decontamination processing of the contaminated waters by means of ion exchange, wherein the decontamination process produces a nitrogen waste brine having increased concentration of nitrogen waste and a decontaminated water with decreased concentration of nitrogen waste;
- (c) processing of nitrogen waste brine to produce a nitrogen feed mixture;
- and
- (d) injecting the injection fluid into an oil or gas well formation to improve production.
A Method for Using Nitrates Recovered from Contaminated Water for Feeding Microbes comprising the steps in combination of:
- (a) collecting contaminated waters with nitrogen waste;
- (b) decontamination processing of the contaminated waters by means of ion exchange, wherein the decontamination process produces a nitrogen waste brine having increased concentration of nitrogen waste and a decontaminated water with decreased concentration of nitrogen waste;
- (c) processing of nitrogen waste brine to produce a nitrogen feed mixture;
- and
- (d) injecting the injection fluid into an oil or gas well formation to improve production.
A Method for Using Nitrates Recovered from Contaminated Water for Feeding Microbes comprising the steps in combination of:
- (a) collecting contaminated waters with nitrogen waste, wherein the contaminated water is collected from a drinking water source;
- (b) decontamination processing of the contaminated waters by means of ion exchange, wherein the decontamination process produces a nitrogen waste brine having increased concentration of nitrogen waste and a decontaminated water with decreased concentration of nitrogen waste;
- (c) processing of nitrogen waste brine to produce a nitrogen feed mixture;
- and
- (d) injecting the injection fluid into an oil or gas well formation to improve production.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.