Application of Bacillus spp. in Pilot Test of Microbial Huff and Puff to Improve Heavy Oil Recovery

Microbial metabolic products, such as biosurfactants, bioemulsifiers, acids, solvents, and biogases, are useful for reducing the viscosity of heavy oils and enhancing oil recovery. Two heavy oil viscosity-reducing microorganisms, namely, SH-2 and SH-3, were selected from produced water which were collected from high-temperature reservoirs by enrichment culture technique. The screened bacteria produce biosurfactants and biogases that can biodegrade heavy crude oil components. The screened bacteria combined with indigenous bacteria were applied in a pilot test of microbial huff and puff. Temperature, porosity, and permeability of the reservoir were 50 degrees C, 14.32%, and 22 mD, respectively. After microbial treatment, the 50 degrees C degassing for crude oil viscosity of the produced oil was decreased from 750 to 634 mPa.s. Moreover, wax and resin asphaltene contents of produced oil were reduced by 12.3% and 16.9%, respectively. The average oil production was improved from 2.2 to 3.5 t/day after microbial treatment. The production remained stable without the chemical viscosity reducer for 54 days. The analysis of bacterial community structure indicated that the number of bacteria species increased and that the microbial diversity was highly abundant. However, harmful microorganisms for microbe-enhanced oil recovery, such as sulfate-reducing bacteria, are inhibited during the progress of microbial huff and puff