Laboratory Investigation of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

Twelve bacterial strains were isolated from Saudi crude oils and formation waters. Experimental work was conducted to identify the bacterial isolates, determine the compositions of the appropriate nutrients and carry out surface phenomena measurements. Based on the results obtained, three bacterial strains (O12, O6a, O9) were selected for displacement tests.The effects of nutrient type, bacterial type, permeability, API and salinity on oil recovery were investigated. Results show that the bacterial strains O12 and O6a were found to produce biogases and biosurfactants. Biopolymers were produced by O9. The greatest oil recovery was obtained from activation of the indigenous bacteria by 1% molasses concentration. Injection of the bacterial strains O9 and O6a in glucose or sucrose media resulted in a higher recovery of oil. No effects on oil recovery was observed upon changing permeability from 453 to 3736 md and salinity from 4.2 to 10% of total dissolved salt

Laboratory Investigation of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

Twelve bacterial strains were isolated from Saudi crude oils and formation waters. Experimental work was conducted to identify the bacterial isolates, determine the compositions of the appropriate nutrients and carry out surface phenomena measurements. Based on the results obtained, three bacterial strains (O12, O6a, O9) were selected for displacement tests.The effects of nutrient type, bacterial type, permeability, API and salinity on oil recovery were investigated. Results show that the bacterial strains O12 and O6a were found to produce biogases and biosurfactants. Biopolymers were produced by O9. The greatest oil recovery was obtained from activation of the indigenous bacteria by 1% molasses concentration. Injection of the bacterial strains O9 and O6a in glucose or sucrose media resulted in a higher recovery of oil. No effects on oil recovery was observed upon changing permeability from 453 to 3736 md and salinity from 4.2 to 10% of total dissolved salt

The use of political risk assessment techniques in Jordanian multinational corporations

This paper describes and explains the use of political risk assessment techniques in Jordanian multinational corporations (MNCs). A multi-method approach to collect data was followed. A self-report questionnaire was delivered by hand to the general managers of all Jordanian MNCs which were identified as operating internationally. Semi-structured interviews were used as a means of elaborating on the findings from the questionnaire. The study identified the extensive use of heuristic political risk assessment techniques (due to their flexibility, simplicity and low cost). Scientific techniques, on the other hand, were used by only a minority of MNCs. As has been the case in earlier studies, flexibility, simplicity and cost considerations were all found to be influential in this regard. However, the study also found that key decision-makers in Jordanian MNCs believe that official data are subject to censorship and are therefore not reliable. This undermines the efficiency of using highly sophisticated scientific techniques. Since there are a number of other countries in the Middle East - and elsewhere - in which these considerations also apply, this finding has important implications for international businesses which operate in these countries, whatever their home country