Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery by Alkylbenzene-Oxidizing Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) of heavy oil and bitumen is challenging because light hydrocarbons, which can feed resident microbial communities are present in low concentrations, if at all. We have recently shown that increasing the toluene concentration of heavy oil by aqueous injection followed by injection of nitrate boosts the activity of toluene-oxidizing nitrate-reducing bacteria in heavy oil-containing sand pack columns, giving production of residual oil in place (ROIP). In the current work we found that ethylbenzene is as effective as toluene. Microbial community analyses indicated Thauera and Pseudomonas to be main components of nitrate-containing batch and continuous cultures, regardless whether ethylbenzene or toluene was used as the electron donor. Biom

SUBMITTER: Suri N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6591262 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature