ONGC’s R&D arm developing tech to use microbes to convert residual oil in wells into methane

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ONGC’s R&D arm developing tech to use microbes to convert residual oil in wells into methane

The Keshava Deva Malaviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration (KDMIPE), which is the R&D arm of the public sector oil major ONGC, has made some progress in its quest for identifying microbes that can convert ‘residual oil’ in oil wells into methane that can flow to the surface easily.

BB Chhabra, General Manager (Chemistry) at KDMIPE, told BusinessLine that the Institute’s progress is more or less on par with similar efforts elsewhere in the world.

Oil residues

Using bio-methanisation in oil wells is significant because a lot of oil gets left behind in the wells after production through conventional means. When a well is drilled into an oil-bearing sand zone, the oil flows upwards on its own due to well pressure, but when the pressure drops, it has to be coaxed to the surface.

There are several ‘enhanced oil recovery’ methods, through which oil is pushed up through the pipe – these include pumping water into the well, using chemicals called surfactants that attach themselves to oil particles and bring them up and even burning a part of the oil deep below (called ‘in-situ combustion’), so that the heat lightens the remaining oil, like melting butter, for easy flow. Different situations call for different solutions.

However, even with such measures, about half the oil residues in the reservoir gets left behind. Here come the microbes.

These microbes feed on the oil and burp methane, a useful hydrocarbon. Methane, being a gas, flows upwards easily.

The challenge to scientists lies in identifying the best strains of microbes that would do the job. Coming up with appropriate microbial strains is one of the projects that KDMIPE is engaged in.

Chabbra and another scientist, Rakesh Tripathi, explained that the quest hopes for three outcomes – identifying and characterisation of the best (consortium of) microbes, a good assessment of the potential and efficacy of the oil-to-gas process and the development of a nutrient medium that would aid the conversion of oil to gas.

Work has been going on with oil samples collected from ONGC’s Ankeleshwar field and ‘proof of concept’ for generation of methane has been established, Hiralal said.

Himalayan effort

KDMIPE’s primary engagement, though, is more with research into conventional oil production methods, including interpretation of seismic data and conducting surveys. Its job, as Hiralal, Executive Director, KDMIPE, explained is to tell ONGC “where to go and where to go first” for drilling an exploratory well.

One of its mandates is to find out if, and how much, oil the Himalayas bear. Early days, but this could open up a huge source.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/ongcs-rd-arm-developing-tech-to-use-microbes-to-convert-residual-oil-in-wells-into-methane/article27393766.ece

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