Oil reservoir biofouling control

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Abstract
The potential tocontrol biological activity in reservoirs through removal of sulphate from the injection water is evaluated theoretically and experimentally in this study. A sandstone core and a transparent glass cell with an etched pore pattern (2‐D cell) were used as porous media, and these were continuously flooded with lactate‐containing sea water. Biological activity was studied by microscopy of the glass cell and through lactate and sulphide analyses of the effluent from the sandstone core. Reduction in permeability was registered as pressure across the cells. The results indicate that limitation of sulphate in the injection water may lead to increase in permeability in porous media. The souring problem may also be reduced through reduction of sulphate load on porous formations. Sulphate can be efficiently removed from sea water through nano‐filtration (membrane technology), thereby reducing the potential for hydrogen sulphide generation from more than 500 ppm to less than 19 ppm. The potential for controlling sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) activity through sulphate removal from injection water appears to be good.

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