Microbial flooding increases recovery factor of depleted Pławowice oil field - from lab to the field

Abstract

The paper relates to the application of microbial enhanced waterflooding to improve the recovery factor and extend the productive life of depleted oil fields in the Carpathians Foreland. This technology and the application method used are categorized as Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR). Results of laboratory tests simulating the microbial flooding process in the oil field are presented along with results from the first two years of microbial flooding at Pławowice oil field. In the first two years of field application this MEOR process has increased the production rate of two oil wells by 70% on average above the rate before treatment.