Assessing the feasibility of enzyme technology for the biodegradation of polymers used in hydraulic fracturing operations

碳氢化合物，如天然气中的甲烷、乙烷和丙烷，是从地下深处的储层中开采出来的。在某些情况下，可以通过在储层中钻一系列威尔斯井来相对容易地获取烃。碳氢化合物很容易从储层移动到收集它们的威尔斯井中。这些被称为常规储层。然而，在某些情况下，气体不容易移动到井中，因此简单地钻井是不够的。这些非常规油气藏需要更多的工作来回收碳氢化合物。已经采取的一种释放碳氢化合物的方法被称为水力压裂。在这种方法中，液体在高压下被泵入井中并进入储集岩，使其破裂。以这种方式压裂储层有利于烃的移动。一旦 除去液体，游离的烃可以进入井中并被收集。用于压裂的液体通常含有聚合物，如聚丙烯酰胺，这有助于该过程。然而，出现的一个问题是，残余聚合物通常保留在裂缝中，随着时间的推移而积聚，从而阻止烃流入井中。已经评估了热和化学方法来分解这种聚合物，但它们效率低下，价格昂贵，并且可能导致有毒副产物。在这个项目中，我们建议使用生物方法来降解聚合物。我们的初步结果表明，自然界中存在含有酶的微生物，这些酶可以自然地分解这些聚合物。我们的目标是鉴定和培养这些微生物，然后评估它们的酶是否能将特定的聚合物分解成无害的 在油藏条件下的产品。我们将在一个新的设备中创造这些条件，我们将设计和建造。如果成功的话，这个项目将对加拿大有很大的好处。增加非常规油气藏的油气产量将产生积极的经济影响。该项目还将导致在新的多学科领域培训个人。最后，它将表明，学术界和工业界可以合作开发环境友好的，基于生物的解决方案，以解决石油和天然气行业的问题。

Hydrocarbons, such as the methane, ethane and propane found in natural gas, are recovered from reservoirs deep under the ground. In some cases, the hydrocarbon can be accessed relatively easily by drilling a series of wells into a reservoir. The hydrocarbons readily move from the reservoir into the wells where they are collected. These are known as conventional reservoirs. However, in some cases the gas does not easily move into a well, and thus simply drilling the well is not sufficient. These unconventional reservoirs require more work to recover the hydrocarbons. One approach that has been taken to free the hydrocarbons is called hydraulic fracturing. In this approach, liquids are pumped at high pressure down a well and into the reservoir rock causing it to crack. Fracturing the reservoir in this manner facilitates the movement of hydrocarbons. Once the liquid is removed, the freed hydrocarbon can enter the well and be collected. The liquid used in fracturing typically contains polymers, such as polyacrylamide, which help in the process. However, one problem that arises is that residual polymer often remains in the fractures, accumulating over time, preventing the hydrocarbon from flowing into the well. Thermal and chemical approaches have been evaluated to break down this polymer, but they are inefficient, expensive, and can result in toxic by-products. In this project, we propose to use a biological approach to degrade the polymers. Our preliminary results suggest that there are microbes in nature that contain enzymes which can naturally break down these polymers. Our aim here is to identify and grow these microbes, and then evaluate if their enzymes can break down specific polymers to harmless products under reservoir conditions. We will create these conditions in a novel device that we will design and construct. If successful, this project will have great benefit to Canada. Increased hydrocarbon production from unconventional reservoirs will have a positive economic impact. This project will also result in the training of individuals in new multidisciplinary areas. Finally, it will show that academia and industry can collaborate to develop environmentally friendly, biology-based solutions to problems in the oil and gas industry.