Exploiting Microbes in the Petroleum Field: Analyzing the Credibility of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)

Crude oil is a major energy source that exploited globally to achieve economic growth. To meet the growing demands for oil, in an environment of stringent environmental regulations and technical pressure, industries have been required develop novel salvaging techniques. The remaining ~70% world’s conventional (one-third available total petroleum) trapped depleted marginal reservoirs, could thus be potentially recovered used. only means extracting this via microbial enhanced recovery (MEOR). This tertiary method employs indigenous microorganisms their metabolic products enhance mobilization. Although significant amount research has undertaken on MEOR, absence convincing evidence contributed petroleum industry’s low interest, as evidenced by issuance 400+ patents MEOR not accepted sector. majority field trials are briefly described review. However, presented fails provide valid verification system potential address identified constraints. Rather than promising certainty, will persist unverified concept unless further investigations carried out.