# US 2014/0151027 A1 · Method For Optimizing In-Situ Bioconversion of Carbon-Bearing Formations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151027 A1 - Document ID: US20140151027A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/889,754 - Filed: 2013-05-08 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-08 - Assignees: Ciris Energy, Inc. - Inventors: Robert A. Downey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151027A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/295: Gasification of minerals, e.g. for producing mixtures of combustible gases (E21B43/243 takes precedence) - C09K 8/582: characterised by the use of bacteria - C12M 21/04: {for producing gas, e.g. biogas (digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10)} - C12M 23/18: {Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations} - C12P 5/023: {Methane} - E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons - B09C 1/10: microbiologically, {biologically} or by using enzymes - C02F 1/001: {Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - E21B 43/006: {Production of coal-bed methane (E21B43/243 takes precedence)} - Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - 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)} - B09C: RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL (gatherers for removing stone or the like from the soil A01B43/00; sterilising soil by steam A01G11/00; removing undesirable matter, e.g. rubbish, from the land E01H15/00) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Processes relating to the production of methane, carbon dioxide, gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, and other valuable products from subterranean carbon bearing formations, in-situ, are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, such production utilizes indigenous and/or non-indigenous microbial consortia that are capable of converting a carbon bearing material such as shale or coal to desired products. In a particularly preferred embodiment there is provided a process for bioconverting a carbon-bearing subterranean formation, wherein the process comprises injecting fluid into a carbon bearing deposit with at least one injection well and removing injected fluid and product from the deposit through at least one production well, and controlling fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit by use of the injected fluid, the pressure being controlled such that the fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit exceeds the fluid pressure that normally exists in that portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for bioconverting a carbon-bearing subterranean formation comprising: injecting fluid into a carbon bearing deposit with at least one injection well and removing injected fluid and product from the deposit through at least one production well, and controlling fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit by use of said injected fluid, said pressure being controlled such that the fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit exceeds the fluid pressure that normally exists in that portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the pressure is controlled to decrease net effective stress for said portion of the deposit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2 wherein the bioconversion product comprises methane and net effective stress is reduced during production of methane from said deposit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process of claim 3 wherein the pressure is controlled by increasing the pressure of introduction of said fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The process of claim 3 wherein the pressure is controlled by controlling the flow of fluid removed from at least one production well. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the bioconversion product comprises methane and the injected fluid includes nutrients for bacteria that bioconvert coal to methane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein the injected fluid flows from an injection well to a plurality of production wells and the distribution of fluid flow from the injection well to the production wells is controlled by controlling the pressure difference between the injection well and the production wells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the flow distribution is controlled to increase the total production of methane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the deposit is a coal deposit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the deposit is shale.