The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1991
John W Costerton, Alberta, CA;
Francene Cusack, Alberta, CA;
Theodore J Cyr, Alberta, CA;
Sandra A Blenkinsopp, Alberta, CA;
Carol P Anderson, Alberta, CA;
Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority, Edmonton, CA;
Abstract
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.