C - Chemistry – Metallurgy – 12 – P
Patent
C - Chemistry, Metallurgy
12
P
195/140
C12P 19/00 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 1102727
Abstract of the Disclosure This specification discloses a process for the production of petroleum from a petroleum-containing subterranean reservoir employing an aqueous driving fluid containing, as a thickening agent, a biopolymer. The biopolymer is a heteropolysaccharide synthesized by an alga. A particular biopolymer is one synthesized by the alga Porphyridium aerugineum. The biopolymer may be employed in the aqueous driving fluid as an in-vivo solution or in a reconstituted form. There is also disclosed a process for the growth of, and synthesis of, biopolymer by an alga such as Porphyridium aerugineum. In one aspect of this process, the culture for the synthesis of the biopolymer contains dissolved therein sodium nitrate in the amount of about 55 to 250 weight parts per million and a dium glycerophosphate in the amount of about 100 to 300 weight parts per million. In another aspect of the process, the synthesis of the biopolymer is carried out under conditions of illumination of the culture such that three radiant energy-related parameters are controlled, namely: (a) the intrinsic slope of the initial segment of the cumulative absorbed radiant energy versus time curve, denoted ?a; (b) the cumulative moles of light quanta absorbed, denoted (Ea)c; and (c) the group formed by the ratio of (a) to (b), denoted .DELTA.. In a specific embodiment of the synthesis of biopolymer by Porphyridium aerugineum, ?a is about -1- 0.33 Einstein (0.0165 kilowatt-hour) per liter of culture per day, (Ea)c is between about 1.2 to 2.0 Einsteins (0.06 to 0.10 kw-hr) per liter of culture, and the value of .DELTA. is about 0.18 per day. In still another aspect of the process, the biopolymer is synthesized in two stages with manipulation of the three aforementioned radiant energy-related parameters, the culture in the first stage being subjected to artificial illumination for a period of time such that synthesis of the biopolymer begins and the culture in the second stage being subjected to diurnal natural illumination to continue alga growth and synthesis of the biopolymer. In yet another aspect of the process, the growth of the alga and synthesis of the biopolymer is conducted under an illumination regime wherein the energy content of the illumination is enriched with respect to particular wavelengths. In the synthesis of biopolymer by Porphyridium aerugineum, the energy content of the illumination is predominantly in the region of 600 to 700 nanometers. There is also disclosed an upgrading of the biopolymer with respect to its thickening characteristics by complexing with a heavy metal or transitional metal ion such as trivalent chromium ion. There is also disclosed a process wherein the biopolymer is synthesized at the site where the aqueous driving fluid containing the biopolymer as thickening agent is injected into the subterranean formation.
282496
Gowling Lafleur Henderson Llp
Mobil Oil Corporation
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