EPA Grant Number: X83242801
Title: Microbial Enhanced Energy Recovery Via The Production Of Methane From Residual Hydrocarbons In Oklahoma Reservoirs
Investigators: Dr. Joseph M. Suflita; Department of Botany and Microbiology and Institute for Energy and the Environment, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019; phone: 405-325-3771; FAX: 405-325-7619; e-mail: jsuflita@ou.edu
Institutions: University of Oklahoma
EPA Project Officer: Bala Krishnan
Project Period: TBA
Project Amount: $80,000
Research Category: Pollution Prevention

Abstract

Description: Thus, this project is designed to evaluate the utility of using an anaerobic bacterial consortium capable of converting oil in petroliferous reservoirs to methane and carbon dioxide.

Objectives:  Determine the rate and efficiency of conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons entrained in a marginally producing reservoir as a source of natural gas production. Characterize the hydrocarbon degrading cultures to determine the identity of the inoculant. Examine some of the ecological boundaries of the proposed bioconversion

Approach:  The approach of this proposal is to evaluate the utility of a bacterial consortium to convert hydrocarbons entrained in petroliferous rock from a marginal Oklahoma reservoir to methane. We will determine what hydrocarbons in the oil are amenable to decay and what percentage of the oil can ultimately be mineralized. We will explore several hypotheses on why the rate of methanogenesis is faster in incubations containing rock particles. We will determine the identity of the requisite microorganism through the construction of clone libraries and metagenome analysis. We will also determine the ecological boundaries of the metabolism.

Expected Results: At the end of the project, we will have a good understanding of the practical feasibility of this approach for the enhanced recovery of energy from Oklahoma domestic reservoirs.

Key Words: Anaerobic biodegradation; Methanogenesis; Enhanced Energy Recovery

Abstract: New technology is needed to recover the rather sizable amount of energy that is inherent in Oklahoma domestic oil reservoirs. A novel approach to this problem is the conversion of hydrocarbons entrained in marginally producing fields to methane gas. Thus, this project is designed to evaluate the utility of using an anaerobic bacterial consortium capable of converting oil in petroliferous reservoirs to methane and carbon dioxide. The approach has the prospect of producing more energy, as methane, from hydrocarbons that would ordinarily escape primary and secondary recovery methods. However, the in situ formation of methane and carbon dioxide might also increase the mobility of trapped oil thereby allowing this resource to be more easily obtained. The experiments will use reservoir samples from a well field in Nowata, OK, but will also take advantage of the collection of archived cores in the University of Oklahoma collection. This approach will provide an indication of how widespread this potential approach might be. We will evaluate the efficiency and rate of oil bioconversion to methane by the inoculum and delineate the tolerance of the organisms to select ecological variables. The cost sharing aspects will focus on the characterization of the organisms involved in the conversion of hydrocarbons to methane. At the end of the project, we will better understand the feasibility of the approach for the enhanced recovery of energy from Oklahoma domestic reservoirs. Since the combustion of methane vs. oil produces less CO₂, NO_x, SO₂ and particulates, this approach also has many attendant environmental benefits to recommend it.