The Role of Biotechnology in the Oil Reservoir Recovery

The majority of energy requirements in the world are currently met by non-renewable fossil fuels. The dwindling rate of discovery of new oil fields makes it necessary to maximize the oil recovery from existing or abandoned fields. Primary recovery is the first oil that is produced under natural pressure, which causes the oil to flow from the site of formation to the surface. It is the least expensive method of production and accounts for ۲۰% of original oil in place (OOIP) in reservoirs worldwide. In the search for economical and environmentally friendly solutions, growing attention has been given to biotechnology such as the use of microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). MEOR is an alternate recovery method that uses microorganisms and their metabolic products. In addition, the emerging field of crude oil refining and associated industrial processes such as biodesulfurization, biodemetallation, biodenitrogenation and biotransformation are also covered.