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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants
Published on: June 3, 2022
Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery by Alkylbenzene-Oxidizing Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria
Navreet Suri1, Fatma Gassara1,2, Paul Stanislav1
1Petroleum Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Ethylbenzene enhances microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) similarly to toluene. Injecting nitrate and specific bacterial biomass, particularly from continuous cultures, significantly boosts residual oil recovery through emulsification and flow channel blockage.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is hindered by low light hydrocarbon concentrations in heavy oil and bitumen.
- Previous work demonstrated toluene and nitrate injection can stimulate microbial activity for oil recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate ethylbenzene as an alternative to toluene for MEOR.
- To investigate the impact of bacterial biomass concentration and nitrate on oil recovery.
Main Methods:
- Sand pack column experiments with heavy oil.
- Microbial community analysis using batch and continuous cultures.
- Evaluation of biomass from cultures grown with ethylbenzene or toluene and nitrate.
Main Results:
- Ethylbenzene demonstrated effectiveness comparable to toluene in MEOR.
- Thauera and Pseudomonas were identified as key microbial players.
- Increased biomass concentration from continuous cultures significantly improved residual oil recovery, with nitrate approximately doubling the recovery rate.
Conclusions:
- Ethylbenzene is a viable substrate for MEOR, similar to toluene.
- Bacterial biomass concentration and nitrate availability are critical factors for successful MEOR.
- Oil emulsification and pore-blocking by emulsions are proposed mechanisms for enhanced oil recovery.
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