Potential Application of Biogeophysics to EOR and Remediation Investigations

In this work we discuss the potential application of biogeophysical studies to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and remediation. We present the results of our recent biogeophysical laboratory studies that investigate the geophysical response of microbial-active media. We show that complex conductivity measurements are sensitive to metabolic byproducts (e.g. biosurfactants) and increases in microbial cell concentrations resulting from microbial growth. We suggest that geophysical measurements may be used to effectively characterize/monitor in situ biological activity during EOR and remediation.