Controlling bioavailability of nutrient additions in subsurface formations

摘要

Controlling microbial growth and activity during Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery processes is disclosed. Specific control of microbial growth and activity in this process results in prevention of nutrient loss in transit and allows better targeting of microbial activity to the desired subsurface location(s).

主权项

1. A method of enhancing the growth of microbes at targeted subsurface location comprising:
a. providing a subsurface location comprising an injection site; b. providing the components of an inhibited nutrient composition selected from the group consisting of:
i) nutrients;ii) chemical inhibitors; andiii) live microbial cultures; c. performing an analysis of site treatment parameters selected from the group consisting of; determining the dispersion rate of subsurface water from the injection site; analyzing the composition oil at the oil well site to determine absorption rates of the chemical inhibitors; and analyzing the composition of subterranean fluids for hydrolysis rates of the chemical inhibitors; d. formulating an inhibited nutrient composition comprising specific nutrient concentrations on the basis of the analysis of step c) in such that injection of the inhibited nutrient composition in fluid at the injection site results in enhanced microbial growth at a target site distant from the injection site.