World’s Smallest Oil Producer

As one third of all oil produced in Canada is from oilsands, one of the biggest problems facing the industry is how to get the oil out efficiently. But scientists are cracking the code and bacteria may play a key role. Canada Research Chair in Petroleum Geology, Dr. Steve Larter explains that crude oil deposits are broken down by microbes in the reservoir. These microorganisms break the oil down into hydrogen and carbon dioxide then into methane, making it easier to remove from the ground. While the discovery has yet to be field tested, it could mean a significant reduction in pollution and costly thermal based processes currently used to extract bitumen.

Tags: University of Calgary, Petroleum Geology, Microorganism, Methanogen, Jennifer Adams, Heavy Oil, Dr. Steve Larter, Crude Oil, Carbon Dioxide, Bitumen, Alberta, 1315