In this paper, the potentials of using particles, especially nanoparticles, in enhanced oil recovery is investigated. The effect of different nanoparticles on wettability alteration, which is an important method to increase oil recovery from oil-wet reservoirs, is reviewed. The effect of different kinds of particles, namely solid inorganic particles, hydrophilic or hydrophobic nanoparticles, an...

Calcium carbonate represents a large portion of carbon reservoir and is used commercially for a variety of applications. Microbial carbonate precipitation, a by-product of microbial activities, plays an important metal coprecipitation and cementation role in natural systems. This natural process occurring in various geological settings can be mimicked and used for a number of biotechnologies, s...

chemical flooding, especially alkaline/surfactant/polymer flooding, is of increasing interest due to the world increasing oil demand. this work shows the aspects of using alkaline/surfactant/polymer as an enhanced oil recovery method in the porous media having a high dead-end pore frequency with various dead-end pore parameters (such as opening, depth, aspect ratio, and orientation). using glas...

The performance of petroleum recovery methods is dependent on the characteristics of the reservoir rock, oil quality, and formation water. One fundamental feature for considering petroleum recovery methods is the wettability of the rock reservoir. Also, this feature impacts the displacement of fluids in the rock reservior. In the case of the limestone, which normally features oil wettability, e...

Biosurfactant production using Candida bombicola ATCC 22214, its characterization and potential applications in enhancing oil recovery were studied at laboratory scale. The seed media and the production media were standardized for optimal growth and biosurfactant production. The production media were tested with different carbon sources: glucose (2%w/v) and corn oil (10%v/v) added separately or...

Buried hydrocarbon deposits, such as liquid petroleum, represent an abundant source of reduced carbon for microbes. It is not surprising therefore that many organisms have adapted to an oily, anaerobic life deep underground, often at high temperatures and pressures, and that those organisms have had, and in some cases continue to have, an effect on the quality and recovery of the earth’s dimini...