Wellbore Leakage Mitigation Using Engineered Biomineralization

Abstract

Research on microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is reported. MICP may serve to reduce near-wellbore permeability, reduce CO2– related corrosion, and lower the risk of unwanted migration of CO2 or other fluids. MICP research on the lab scale has demonstrated the ability to seal sandstone cores using injection strategies engineered to control precipitation. Experimentation was also aimed at transitioning MICP strategies for field implementation. MICP was evaluated in the field in a hydraulically fractured sandstone formation at a Walker County, Alabama well. The field experiment resulted in greatly reduced injectivity indicating that the fractured formation was plugged after MICP treatment.