What is MMEOR?

MMEOR is the acronym for Migration Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery. MMEOR was developed through technology transfer between biotechnology and petroleum engineering. This new field of petro-bioengineering is proprietary technology developed by Microbes, Inc. It is the process by which select naturally occurring microorganisms are introduced into petroleum reservoirs. The microorganisms metabolize on the crude oil breaking down the molecular structure and thus thinning the oil to improve its fluidity. The result: oil production is enhanced.

1. What are naturally occurring microorganisms?

Naturally occurring simply means not genetically engineered. Microbes, Inc. has isolated natural bacteria strains from deep subsurface reservoirs and has developed stable high concentration products that can be applied to almost all crude oil reservoir types throughout the world.

2. How does MMEOR work?

Oil producing formations are transformed into effective bioreactors. A bioreactor is a vessel or confined area whereby microbes can colonize and metabolize a food source passing or flowing through the reactor area.  Petroleum reservoirs make excellent bioreactors due to the rock matrix by which the microbes can colonize and attach to food source. As crude oil moves through the reservoir comes in contact with the microbe colony, the molecular structure of the oil is altered and beneficial by-products are produced. One noteworthy change in the crude oil composition is reduced viscosity. The thinner oil is more mobile and easier to extract from the reservoir.  Thinner oil results in greater oil production.

3. Is MMEOR expensive?

While there are several alternatives for enhanced oil recovery, MMEOR provides the lowest cost per incremental oil recovery in the industry. MMEOR cost per incremental barrel of recovery can reach as low as 0.80 cents per incremental barrel. Compared to alternatives that can exceed $6.00 per incremental barrel. MMEOR is the mainstream choice for enhanced oil recovery.

4. What is the potential market for MMEOR?

The number one priority of the global petroleum industry is to increase oil recoveries that remain in maturing fields. EOR processes are needed to commercially withdraw more oil than is possible with conventional methods. MMEOR has fast become a logical solution to increasing oil recoveries in the petroleum industry around the world.