Effects of Microbial Degradation over Heavy Oil and Oilfield Test

Abstract

Heavy oils are abundant in resins and asphaltenes, and they have the characters of high freezing point, low flowing ability, difficult oil recovery and high recovery cost. Microbial degradation can effectively improve the properties of heavy oils and enhance oil recovery ratio. According to distinctive properties of heavy oils from different oilfields, identical microbial assemblies are sifted and incubated. Then the assemblies are used to degrade the heavy oils in oilfield. The results indicated that microbes selected could degrade resins and asphaltenes in heavy oils. Oilfield tests in Qinghai and Xinjiang Oilfield proved that microbial degradation is evident in enhancing recovery ration and is feasible and economical in heavy oil exploitation.