College of Resource and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.
Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.
Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2020 Jun;40(4):459-474. doi: 10.1080/07388551.2020.1739618. Epub 2020 Mar 13.
Heavy oil accounts for around one-third of total global oil and gas resources. The progressive depletion of conventional energy reserves has led to an increased emphasis on the efficient exploitation of heavy oil and bitumen reserves in order to meet energy demand. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new technologies for heavy oil upgrading and recovery. Biologically-based technology that involves using microorganisms or their metabolites to mobilize heavy oil trapped in reservoir rocks can make a significant contribution to the recovery of heavy oils. Here, the results of laboratory experiments and field trials applying microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) technologies are summarized. This review provides an overview of the basic concepts, mechanisms, advantages, problems, and trends in MEOR, and demonstrates the credibility of MEOR methods for applications in enhanced heavy oil recovery and the petroleum refining processes. This technology is cost-effective and environmentally-friendly. The feasibility of MEOR technologies for heavier oil has not yet been fully realized due to the perceived process complexity and a lack of sufficient laboratory research and field test data. However, novel developments such as enzyme-enhanced oil recovery continues to improve MEOR methods.HighlightsHeavy oil represents the largest known potentially-recoverable petroleum energy resource.Novel biotechnological processes are needed to recover or upgrade heavy oil.Microbial technologies have great potential for heavy oil recovery.Microorganisms can produce metabolic byproducts to mobilize oil trapped in reservoirs.More technological research is needed to develop microbial enhanced oil recovery.
稠油约占全球油气资源总量的三分之一。常规能源储量的逐渐枯竭使得人们越来越重视有效开发稠油和沥青资源，以满足能源需求。因此，开发稠油升级和回收的新技术势在必行。基于生物的技术涉及利用微生物或其代谢物来动员储油岩石中被困的稠油，这可以为稠油的回收做出重大贡献。在这里，总结了应用微生物强化采油（MEOR）技术的实验室实验和现场试验的结果。本综述概述了 MEOR 的基本概念、机制、优势、问题和趋势，并证明了 MEOR 方法在强化稠油回收和石油精炼过程中的应用的可信度。该技术具有成本效益和环境友好性。由于认为该过程复杂且缺乏足够的实验室研究和现场测试数据，因此 MEOR 技术用于较重的油的可行性尚未得到充分实现。但是，酶增强采油等新的发展继续改进 MEOR 方法。
亮点
稠油是已知最大的潜在可回收石油能源资源。
需要新的生物技术工艺来回收或升级稠油。
微生物技术在稠油回收方面具有巨大潜力。
微生物可以产生代谢副产物来动员储层中被困的石油。
需要更多的技术研究来开发微生物强化采油。
