Oil Exploration Technology: MPOG & MIOR
MPOG is a surface oil exploration technology based on the
detection of anomalies in microbial distribution in soil
samples. Microbial Prospection is a unique, stand-alone method
which has proved itself effective even in complex geological
reservoir conditions. Its effective application and the high
level of accuracy attained is the result of many years of
practical experience. The use of specialized microbiological
techniques to detect the presence of various groups of methane-,
propane- and butane-oxidizing micro-organisms can reliably
differentiate between prospective and non-prospective areas, as
well as between oil and gas reservoirs. This process is
inexpensive; and before any intensive seismic exploration is
undertaken, MPOG should be carried out over the whole area on
the basis of a minimum of one test per kilometre. A significant
number (17) of microbial anomalies both onshore and offshore
have been subsequently confirmed by exploratory boreholes over
an area of 6,000 km. In practice, the majority of the producing
wells have been located within microbial anomalies. The success
rate of this microbial method of surface prospecting already
exceeds 90 %. Non-yielding wells have been limited to the edges
of the structure or to areas without any hydrocarbon content.
The reservoirs detected by microbial research have been situated
predominately in chalk zechstein and rotliegend down to a
maximum depth of 3,500m.
MIOR - Microbial Improved Oil Recovery
MIOR is a secondary oil production process on a microbiological
basis, which enables a greater production of oil through the
injection of molasses and specialized bacteria, which synthesize
various products and so improves the level of oil recovery. In
comparison to other applicable methods such as Enhanced Oil
Recovery (EOR), Microbial Improved Oil Recovery (MIOR) or
Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) is rated as a more
advanced EOR technique. MIOR can be applied as a cyclic ("huff
and puff") or as a continuous flooding process. For this purpose
selected micro-organisms, (which can grow under reservoir
conditions) and nutrients (molasses, nitrogen- and phosphate
salts) are injected into the reservoir. MIOR is a powerful and
cost-effective method for recovery of additional oil from a
reservoir. MIOR has been progressively developed over the course
of 40 years, and differing techniques have been developed for
sandstone and carbonate layers with ordinary and extreme
reservoir conditions (high temperature high salinity).
Please Write to
Oil-Net to receive detailed information about this
technology.
About the author:
Austin Culley is the Vice President for Oil-Net.Com Inc.
http://www.oil-net.com