Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a system including at least one computing device for enhancing the recovery of heavy oil in an underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment by performing a method comprising sampling and identifying microbial species (bacteria and/or fungi) that reside in the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment; collecting rock and fluid property data from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment; collecting nutrient data from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment; identifying a preferred microbial species from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that can transform the heavy oil into a lighter oil; identifying a nutrient from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that promotes a proliferation of the preferred microbial species; and introducing the nutrient into the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 2010
Date of Patent:
May 30, 2017
Assignees:
International Business Machines Corporation, Pacific Northwest Division Batelle Memorial Institute
Inventors:
Frederick D. Busche, John B. Rollins, Harold J. Noyes, James G. Bush