Microbial enhanced oil recovery: application of biosurfactants in oil and gas industry

The emerging desire for a sustainable approach toward energy production led the oil and gas industries to shift their interest from chemicals to microbial biosurfactants. As per the IEA report, global oil demands will rise by 7%, contributing 28% of total energy utilized. Developments in the field of microbiology have provided us with the solution of using microbes for the synthesis of biosurfactants. Microbial biosurfactants are classified as low–molecular weight (LMW) and high–molecular weight (HMW) biosurfactants. LMW biosurfactants are utilized to lower the interfacial tension, alter the rock wettability, and enhance oil recovery. These are found to improve oil recovery by up to 80%. HMW biosurfactants are generally used for the emulsification of fuels. This chapter focuses on providing an overview of different biosurfactants, emphasizing their role in enhancing the recovery of crude oil. In addition, additional applications of biosurfactants are discussed to reflect the significance of biosurfactants in the oil and gas industry.