Bacterial Growth in Oilfield Reservoirs: Souring and Biofouling Related to Reservoir Treatments and Characteristics

Abstract

Bacterial Growth in Oilfield Reservoirs: Souring and Biofouling Related to Reservoir Treatments and Characteristics

Studies on a range of bacteria from oilfield reservoirs have been directed towards gaining an understanding of the factors which control the growth and survival of both beneficial and detrimental organisms. Thermophilic sulphate-reducing bacteria and other anaerobic bacteria isolated from oil formations have been used to establish the effects of oilfield chemicals on sulphide production rates, bacterial tolerance to reduced water availability, survival, growth, distribution and attachment of bacteria to surfaces in laboratory sandpod and coreflood equipment. The laboratory data, combined with other data from field studies, have been used to develop conceptual models for bacterial distribution, growth and control in different reservoir structures.

The on-going work is planned to extend into a field testing phase, whereby selected treatment regimes can be tested under well defined reservoir conditions and the conceptual models can be confirmed, refined and modified as appropriate.