[Application of biomanufacturing in polymer flooding]

Area of Science:

• Petroleum Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• China's crude oil supply relies heavily on imports, making self-sufficiency a national energy security priority.
• Polymer flooding enhances oil recovery by 15%-20% but faces challenges like poor polymer stability and environmental concerns.
• Existing polymer flooding methods cause issues such as pore plugging and reduced efficiency in mature oil fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of polymer flooding in China.
• To introduce innovative biomanufacturing of polymers and related materials for enhanced oil recovery.
• To explore green and low-carbon pathways for polymer flooding through microbial fermentation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of polymer flooding development and current practices.
• Introduction of biomanufacturing techniques for oil flooding polymers, monomers, and precursors.
• Analysis of microbial fermentation metabolites for enhanced oil recovery applications.

Main Results:

• Biomanufacturing offers a sustainable alternative to traditional polymer synthesis.
• Microbial metabolites like biosurfactants and enzymes can improve oil recovery and address operational issues.
• Integration of biomanufacturing provides a green and low-carbon approach to polymer flooding.

Conclusions:

• Biomanufacturing of polymers and utilization of microbial metabolites can overcome limitations of conventional polymer flooding.
• This approach enhances oil recovery efficiency and addresses environmental concerns in China's oil fields.
• Incorporating biomanufacturing ensures high productivity and stability for China's crude oil production.