KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticle Nutrient delivery system for Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Li_ku_0099D_14472_DATA_1.pdf (4.849Mb)
    Issue Date
    2015-05-31
    Author
    Li, Weiwei
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    185 pages
    Type
    Dissertation
    Degree Level
    Ph.D.
    Discipline
    Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) techniques stimulate naturally occurring reservoir microbes or inject specially selected consortia of natural bacteria into the reservoir. The stimulated microbes produce specific metabolites such as surfactants, polymers, acid or gases that lead to the extraction of oil trapped in capillary pores of the formation rock or in areas not swept by the classical or modern enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. Although the potential benefits of MEOR applications are considerable, improvement of oil recovery via the manipulation of microbial metabolism in the reservoir remains an unproven concept. One of the major issues of MEOR application is that biomass and extracellular polymeric substances produced in response to high injected nutrient concentrations can cause plugging close to the injection point (near wellbore plugging). In this study, a novel approach to MEOR is discussed. Polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PECs) were used to encapsulate and propagate nutrients, and release the nutrient substrate slowly, to enable stimulation of the microbes to occur over an extended distance and prevent near wellbore plugging. In the present study, polyethylenimine-dextran sulfate (PEI-DS) polyelectrolyte complexes were used to entrap nutrients commonly used in microbial stimulation. Stability of PEC nanoparticles were tested over time. The toxicity of PEI and DS to a bacterial consortium isolated from Wellington oil field, Wellington, KS was also monitored by aerobic batch culture. The microbes survived at a DS concentration up to 6000 ppm and a PEI concentration up to 3000 ppm. Bacteria growth, as revealed by plate counting, was delayed, compared to equivalent systems where the nutrient mixture was not entrapped (positive control group). This is consistent with the hypothesis that PEC nanoparticles delay the growth of microbes by entrapping their nutrient source. Compared to the positive control group, the entrapped nutrient group has a 102 magnitude decrease in microbial number for the first 72 hours; also the entrapped nutrient group requires at least 96 hours more to reach the stationary phase.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/21979
    Collections
    • Engineering Dissertations and Theses [705]
    • Dissertations [4050]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps