Modeling microbial-induced oil viscosity reduction: Effect of temperature, salinity and nutrient concentration

This research simulated oil recovery with emphasis on oil viscosity reduction by direct microbe action and metabolites; predicted hydrogeochemical reactions involved with nutrient – brine interaction in reservoirs. PHREEQC was used to simulate reactions between the reservoir brine and nutrient minus microbe. Hitherto, UTCHEM was employed for the enhancement of oil viscosity by assuming production of gases and by the direct microbe action. The model depicted the precipitation of calcite plus dissolution of k-feldspar combined with the evolution of CO2 and CH4 influenced by temperature and pH. Oil recovery was directly proportional to salinity reduction and increasing nutrient concentration.