Introduction to Petroleum Biotechnology introduces the petroleum engineer to biotechnology, bringing together the various biotechnology methods that are applied to recovery, refining and remediation in the uses of petroleum and petroleum products. A significant amount of petroleum is undiscoverable in reservoirs today using conventional and secondary methods. This reference explains how microbial enhanced oil recovery is aiding to produce more economical and environmentally-friendly metabolic events that lead to improved oil recovery. Meanwhile, in the downstream side of the industry, petroleum refining operators are facing the highest levels of environmental regulations while struggling to process more of the heavier crude oils since conventional physical and chemical refining techniques may not be applicable to heavier crudes. This reference proposes to the engineer and refining manager the concepts of bio-refining applications to not only render heavier crudes as lighter crudes through microbial degradation, but also through biodenitrogenation, biodemetallization and biodesulfurization, making more petroleum derivatives purified and upgraded without the release of more pollutants. Equipped for both upstream and downstream to learn the basics, this book is a necessary primer for today's petroleum engineer. - Presents the fundamentals behind petroleum biotechnology for both upstream and downstream oil and gas operations - Provides the latest technology in reservoir recovery using microbial enhanced oil recovery methods - Helps readers gain insight into the current and future application of using biotechnology as a refining and fuel blending method for heavy oil and tar sands

This book is one of a kind in the field of petroleum biorefining and biological upgrade of petroleum; it presents a critical review as well as an integrated overview of the potential biochemical processes, bridging the gap between academia and industry. It addresses today's demanding production challenges, taking into account energy efficient and environmentally friendly processes, and also looks at the future possibility of implementing new refinery systems. Suitable for those practitioners the petroleum industry, students and researchers interested in petroleum biotechnology.* Covers a new application field for biotechnology* Looks at innovative processes for the petroleum industry* Presents examples of modern environmental processes

This book contains a compilation of papers presented at the II International Conference on Environmental, Industrial and Applied Microbiology (BioMicroWorld2007) held in Seville, Spain on 28 November - 1 December 2007, where over 550 researchers from about 60 countries attended and presented their cutting-edge research. The main goals of this book are to: (1) identify new approaches and research opportunities in applied microbiology, presenting works that link microbiology with research areas usually related to other scientific and engineering disciplines; and (2) communicate current research priorities and progress in the field. The contents of this book mirror this focus.Microbiologists interested in environmental, industrial and applied microbiology and, in general, scientists whose research fields are related to applied microbiology can find an overview of the current state of the art in the topic. In addition to the more general topic, some chapters are devoted to specific branches of microbiology research, such as bioremediation; biosurfactants; microbial factories; biotechnologically relevant enzymes and proteins; microbial physiology, metabolism and gene expression; and future bioindustries.

Petroleum hydrocarbons are both a product of, and rich substrate for, microorganisms from across all Domains of life. Rooted deeply in the history of microbiology, hydrocarbons have been studied as sources of carbon and energy for microorganisms for over a century. As global demand for petroleum and its refined products continues to rise, so do challenges associated with environmental pollution, oil well souring, infrastructure corrosion, oil recovery, transport, refining, and upgrading of heavy crude oils and bitumens. Advances in genomics, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering has invigorated interest in petroleum microbial biotechnology as interest grows in technologies for in situ methane production, biodesulfurization and biodenitrogenation, bio-upgrading of heavy crudes, microbial enhanced oil recovery, corrosion control, and biocatalysts for generating value-added products. Given the complexity of the global petroleum industry and the harsh conditions in which it operates, a deeper understanding of the ecophysiology of aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities that have associations with petroleum hydrocarbons is needed if robust technologies are to be deployed successfully. This research topic highlights recent advances in microbial enhanced oil recovery, methanogenic hydrocarbon metabolism and carbon dioxide sequestration, bioremediation, microbiologically influenced corrosion, biodesulfurization, and the application of metagenomics to better understand microbial communities associated with petroleum hydrocarbons.

This book, Petroleum Nanobiotechnology: Modern Applications for a Sustainable Future, explores the unique fusion of biotechnology and nanotechnology as applied to the different sectors of the oil and gas industry. It is a concise resource on the most recent and most up-to-date bottom-up fabrication techniques in petroleum nanobiotechnology, covering the advantages of biofabrication over chemical or physical techniques from the point of being more cost-effective, ecofriendly, biocompatibly superior, and highly stable. The volume covers the important topic of microbial and phytosynthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. The key applications discussed here include the application of these nanoparticles in different sectors of the oil and gas industry, with special emphasis on antimicrobial applications, reduction of environmental pollutants, and bio-upgrading of petroleum and its fractions. The discussion of each application is augmented with a critical review of the potential for continued development. The book first provides an overview of petroleum microbiology and nanotechnology and proceeds to consider phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles, microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles, biosynthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles, nanobiotechnology and mitigation of microbial-influenced corrosion in petroleum industry, applications of nanobiotechnology in petroleum refining, and how nanobiotechnology can be used for petroleum wastewater treatment. This book covers the very important principle of nanobiotechnology as applied in the petroleum industry and how it can be used for: Oil recovery Microbial enhanced oil recovery Petroleum refinery, such as, for example, desulfurization, denitrogenation, demetallization, biotransformation, and bio-upgrading Bioremediation of oil polluted soil and water Mitigation of microbial corrosion and bio-fouling Toxicity of nano-materials and its obstacles upon application Nanobiotechnology in petroleum industry and the 17 goals of sustainable development The advantages of the application of nanobiotechnology in the oil industries are enormous and clearly outweigh any negligible cons. The success can have a huge impact on the exploration, production, refining, mitigation of corrosion, waste management, and economics. This informative volume will be valuable for petroleum engineers and petroleum microbiologists, scientists, and researchers concerned with nanotechnology, environmental pollution, petroleum biotechnology, petroleum microbiology, petroleum refining, and the petroleum industry in general.

A state-of-the-art presentation of the specific microbes that inhabit oil reservoirs, with an emphasis on the ecological significance of anaerobic microorganisms. Provides fundamental and applied biological approaches, and serves as an invaluable reference source for petroleum engineers, remediation professionals, and field researchers."

Since the early 1970s, experts have recognized that petroleum pollutants were being discharged in marine waters worldwide, from oil spills, vessel operations, and land-based sources. Public attention to oil spills has forced improvements. Still, a considerable amount of oil is discharged yearly into sensitive coastal environments. Oil in the Sea provides the best available estimate of oil pollutant discharge into marine waters, including an evaluation of the methods for assessing petroleum load and a discussion about the concerns these loads represent. Featuring close-up looks at the Exxon Valdez spill and other notable events, the book identifies important research questions and makes recommendations for better analysis ofâ€"and more effective measures againstâ€"pollutant discharge. The book discusses: Inputâ€"where the discharges come from, including the role of two-stroke engines used on recreational craft. Behavior or fateâ€"how oil is affected by processes such as evaporation as it moves through the marine environment. Effectsâ€"what we know about the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marine organisms and ecosystems. Providing a needed update on a problem of international importance, this book will be of interest to energy policy makers, industry officials and managers, engineers and researchers, and advocates for the marine environment.

Biotechnology for Biofuel Production and Optimization is the compilation of current research findings that cover the entire process of biofuels production from manipulation of genes and pathways to organisms and renewable feedstocks for efficient biofuel production as well as different cultivation techniques and process scale-up considerations. This book captures recent breakthroughs in the interdisciplinary areas of systems and synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess engineering for renewable, cleaner sources of energy. - Describes state-of-the-art engineering of metabolic pathways for the production of a variety of fuel molecules - Discusses recent advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering for rational design, construction, evaluation of novel pathways and cell chassis - Covers genome engineering technologies to address complex biofuel-tolerant phenotypes for enhanced biofuel production in engineered chassis - Presents the use of novel microorganisms and expanded substrate utilization strategies for production of targeted fuel molecules - Explores biohybrid methods for harvesting bioenergy - Discusses bioreactor design and optimization of scale-up

This volume offers environmentally friendly technical solutions that can be implemented to solve problems throughout the value chain of the fossil fuel industry. This new book presents an up-to date view of hydrocarbon microbiology and biotechnology, presented by experts around the world with interest in how our expanding understanding of hydrocarbonoclast ecology and physiology can translate to better tools for bioremediation, oil recovery, bio-upgrading of unconventional crudes, the development of biorefining technologies, and the production of hydrogen and electricity from hydrocarbon wastes. The common theme across the chapters in this book is an interest in how developing hydrocarbon biotechnologies may reduce our impact on the global environment. Written by eminent scientists from both academia and industry, the book starts with a historical perspective on hydrocarbon chemistry and formation, petroleum microbiology, and biotechnology. This is followed by a review of recent research developments in bioremediation and other biotechnologies for hydrocarbons, the principal constituents of petroleum and natural gas.

Human actions across the past few centuries have led to a depletion of the world's natural energy sources, as well as large scale environmental degradation. In the context of these current global issues, this book covers the latest research on the application and use of microbes in topical areas such as bioremediation and biofuels. With chapters covering environmental clean-up, microbial fuel cells and biohydrogen, it provides a comprehensive discussion of the latest developments in the field of microbe utilization.