Microbes are used in oil fields to help production. One such microbe is product called Para-Bac/S. Para-Bac/S is light pink to tan when it is sold for use. It can survive in a 6.5 to 8 pH. The weight is 8.51 lbs, with a specific gravity of 1.02. The freezing point is 32 degrees F. The viscosity if 1.20 cps - 60 degrees F and it has a mild organic odor. All of the microbes in Para-Bac/S are either bacilli or spirillum, and none are spore forming. The bacteria are motile by flagellum, and they produce minimal amouts of an extracellualr polysaccharide, known as a capsule or slime. Para-Bac/S is a mixture of microorganisms and may contain several different principal strains, and are rigidly controlled for the presence of extraneous bacteria. The principal strains are facultative anerobes, which allows them to survive in oil wells. The growth rate of various strains can vary from 30 minutes to four hours.
A unique ability of Para-Bac/S is that it can disperse, dissolve and prevent paraffin deposition through its metabolic byproducts, such as biosurfactants, organic acids, ketones, and alcohols. The bacteria does not ruin the oil or make it less accepted by petroleum refineries or buyers. The changes made in oil are only in the viscosity and APT gravity of it, which are generally a small percentage of the various petroleum constituents. When applied to the oil well, Para-Bac/S can also result in cleansing of the formation face, production string, flowline, production vessels, and an tanks. New applications of Para-Bac is in use in various types of lift systems and in hydrogen sulfide control.
Para-Bac/S is not the only product containing bacteria that is used in oil field operations. Others include Para-Bac X which can work in a wider spectrum of alkanes (C16 to C40), and for most applications can replace Para-Bac/S. Para-Bac XXX can break down paraffin compounds from C45 to C60, however, paraffins of this number minimal in crude oil. Litho-Bac was originally developed for H2O flood injection. It was designed to control corrosion by breaking down calcium carbonate, sulfate, and iron oxidation and reduction.
*Disclaimer - This report was written by a student participaring in a microbiology course at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The accuracy of the contents of this report is not guaranteed and it is recommended that you seek additional sources of information to verify the contents.
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