Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority

Francene Cusack

J William Costerton

Theodore J Cyr

Carol P Anderson

John W Costerton

Sandra A Blenkinsopp

Fraser A MacLeod

A microbial system is provided for selective plugging of permeable regions of a subterranean formation, for use in conjunction with injection of surfactant-containing foams. Bacteria indigenous to the target formation are isolated, and selected for ability to degrade the surfactant of interest. Small, non-adherent ultramicrobacteria, or UMB, are prepared from the selected culture by starvation. The UMB and the surfactant-containing foam are then injected into the target formation. The surfactant allows the foam to penetrate into the formation. The UMB then revive to their vegetative state, degrade the surfactant and produce exopolymer, thus plugging the formation.

Microbial manipulations of surfactant-containing foams to reduce

A microbial process is provided for selectively plugging a high permeability stratum or zone in a subterranean reservoir. Starved bacteria of reduced size are injected into the zone. A poor-nutrient media is either simultaneously or subsequently thereafter injected into the zone to substantially uniformly resuscitate the starved bacteria. Thereupon, the bacteria regain full cell size, proliferate, and commence production of biofilm-forming exocellular polysaccharides. The biofilm is functional to selectively seal off the high permeability zone of the formation and reduce aqueous flow through the zone.

Microbial process for selectively plugging a subterranean formation

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Francene Cusack