An Experimental Investigation of Parameters Affecting Oil Recovery Efficiency Alteration during a Microbially Aided Water Flooding Process

Abstract In order to evaluate the potential of microbial recovery in the Iranian Maroon oilfield, laboratory core flood tests were designed and conducted. The effect of biosurfactant production on the recovery of crude oil during waterflooding and the effect of bioproducts on wettability alteration of the cores was investigated. Three different kinds of microbes in two different kinds of growth media as nutrient media were studied. The results showed that the oil recovery was affected by adjustment time, source of carbon, type of microorganism, phosphorus and nitrogen quantity, and salt concentration. In addition, it was found that there are optimum values of adjustment time, phosphorus and nitrogen quantity, and salt concentration that maximize the oil recovery factor. The results of this work can be helpful for designing and developing successful microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) operations.