Q: What is MEOR?
A: Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

Q: What are Microbial Bio-Chemicals?
A: They are naturally occurring bacteria, not engineered, that are isolated and combined to do what nature intended them to do - grow, break things down, and generate byproducts. These species have been carefully selected to address multiple tasks in problematic wells (paraffin, asphaltines, salt blocks, iron sulfide problems, etc.)

Q: Are they safe to handle?
A: Yes. None of the microbial products are harmful to touch and are not, Department of Transportation (DOT) regulated.

Q: Are they harmful to the environment?
A: No. In fact some of these products are currently being used to clean-up surface spills of oil and/or salt contamination. Recent surface clean-up projects were approved by, and implemented under the direction of the KDHE (Kansas Department of Health & Environment), KCC (Kansas Corporation Commission), and USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency).

Q: How long has this technology been available?
A: The research has been ongoing since 1990, but only recently has the technology caught on as an economic replacement for petrochemicals.

Q: Can microbials increase oil and/or gas production?
A: Yes. The biochemical process involves the use of specially selected natural bacteria that produce specific metabolic events that lead to enhanced oil recovery. More specifically, biosurfactants that are produced "in-situ" which leads to increased mobilization of residual oil. The microbial production of carbon dioxide and bio-organic solvents also help reduce the oil viscosity as the primary mechanism for enhanced oil recovery.

Q: What makes your Bio-Chemicals different from others that might be on the market?
A: Our bio-chemicals are locally produced and are in a concentrated liquid form. Other bio-chemicals on the market are in a freeze-dried form. Because these bacteria are living creatures, the freeze-drying process can destroy cell membranes, thereby reducing the products viability.

Q: What are the long-term benefits of using Bio-Chemicals vs. petrochemicals?
A: An overall reduction of lifting costs and repairs, reduction of corrosion on down hole equipment, and extension of the economic life of the well.

Q: Are they compatible with other petrochemicals?
A: Yes, they can be utilized with other petrochemicals provided those chemicals do not contain biocides, acids, or chlorine. Remember these are living organisms (bacteria) and are therefore sensitive to antibacterial agents. It is therefore very important that we know, in advance, what you are currently utilizing in your chemical program.

Q: How do they work?
A: They break down residual paraffin, asphaltines, and other emulsifying agents within the productive zone that might preclude the transportation of hydrocarbons. The bio-generated CO2 and bio-organic solvents then decrease the surface tension, reduce the viscosity of the oil and make it more "bio-available". This process releases the additional residual reserves and thereby extends the productive life of the well.

Q: How long should I expect a typical well treatment to last?
A: A well-bore clean-up treatment lasts about 30 days. After that period a squeeze is recommended to establish a colony deep within the formation. This process puts a mechanism in place to break down residual blockage back in the formation, decrease surface tension through bio-surfactants, and allow the oil to flow easier. The squeeze treatment should last approximately 3 months, depending on the complexity of the production problems.

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