Feasibility study of P-wave monitoring of selective bioplugging caused by biofilms

Abstract

Selective plugging of high permeability zones using bacterial biofilms is considered as a promising technique to enhance oil recovery (i.e., microbially enhanced oil recovery, or MEOR). We explored the feasibility of using P-wave to monitor the bacterial biofilm accumulation and resulting bioclogging in unconsolidated sediments. A lab-scale experiment was conducted, in which we stimulated our model bacteria Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 to produce biofilms in fully saturated sands and monitored the responses of permeability and P-wave signals. During biofilm accumulation in the sand, we observed the permeability reduction and P-wave amplitude reduction, which provides the unique experimental results for assessing the feasibility of using the response of P-wave amplitudes for bacterial selective plugging for MEOR.