System and method for preparing near-surface heavy oil for extraction using microbial degradation

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention provides an analytical processing system for enhancing the recovery of heavy oil in an underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment, comprising: a data collection engine configured for receiving data relating to the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment, wherein the data includes in situ microbial species data, oil properties data and in situ nutrient information that are identified as being germane to the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment; a data warehouse for storing data collected from the data collection engine; and a data modeling system for analyzing data stored in the data warehouse and facilitating an identity of a preferred microbial species from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that can transform the heavy oil into a lighter oil.

1 . An analytical processing system for enhancing the recovery of heavy oil in an underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment, comprising:
 a data collection engine configured for receiving data relating to an underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment, wherein the data include in situ microbial species data, oil properties data, and in situ nutrient information that are identified as being germane to the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment;   a data warehouse for storing data collected from the data collection engine; and   a data modeling system for analyzing data stored in the data warehouse and facilitating an identification of a preferred microbial species from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that can transform a heavy oil into a lighter oil.   
     
     
         2 . The analytical processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second data modeling system for facilitating an identification of a nutrient from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that promotes a proliferation of the preferred microbial species. 
     
     
         3 . The analytical processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the data collection engine is further configured to receive transformation data obtained by monitoring the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment. 
     
     
         4 . The analytical processing system of  claim 3 , further comprising a third data modeling system for analyzing the transformation data and generating a predictive outcome. 
     
     
         5 . The analytical processing system of  claim 4 , further comprising a recovery control system for facilitating an identity of a corrective measure that can be introduced to the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment to address a negative outcome. 
     
     
         6 . The analytical processing system of  claim 4 , wherein the first, second, and third data modeling systems are each independently selected from a group consisting of: an association analysis system, a geostatistical analysis system, a sequential pattern analysis system, and a transform regression analysis system. 
     
     
         7 . The analytical processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the preferred microbial species is selected from a group consisting of bacteria and fungi. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for enhancing the recovery of heavy oil in an underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment by performing a method comprising:
 receiving data relating to an underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment, wherein the data include in situ microbial species data, fluid properties data, and in situ nutrient information that are identified as being germane to the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment;   storing the received data in a data warehouse; and   analyzing data stored in the data warehouse and facilitating an identification of a preferred microbial species from the underground, near-surface oil extraction environment that can transform the heavy oil into a lighter oil.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 facilitating an identification of a nutrient from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment that promotes a proliferation of the preferred microbial species.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving transformation data obtained by monitoring the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment during a transformation.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 analyzing the transformation data and generating a predictive outcome.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 facilitating an identification of a corrective measure that can be introduced to the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment to address a predictive outcome that is negative.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 modeling data stored in the data warehouse using a technique selected from a group consisting of: an association analysis, a geostatistical analysis, a sequential pattern analysis, and a transform regression analysis.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving laboratory test data obtained from testing samples collected from the underground, near-surface crude oil extraction environment.