Water Treatment Suited for Oil Production Wells

摘要

A method of depleting the bacterial content in a water source is provided. The method involves depleting the bacterial content in a water source for a water flooding process, said method comprising contacting a water source with a superparamagnetic or paramagnetic nanoparticle; complexing the bacteria with the particle; and removing the bacteria-particle complex by applying a magnetic field so as to provide a water source with depleted bacterial content. The depleted water can then be pumped into one or more connecting injection well(s) in an oil field pushing the crude oil towards one or more production well(s) thereby allowing for enhanced oil recovery from the production wells.