Patent
An isolated microbial consortium is described that includes a first microbial consortium having Thermacetogenium phaeum to metabolize a complex hydrocarbon substrate into metabolic products comprising an acetate compound. The consortium also includes a second microbial consortium having a methanogen to convert the acetate compound into a final product that includes methane. Also, a method of increasing production of materials with enhanced hydrogen content. The method includes isolating Thermacetogenium phaeum from geologic formation water, culturing the isolated Thermacetogenium phaeum to increase the Thermacetogenium phaeum population, and introducing a consortium of the cultured Thermacetogenium phaeum , which may include spores of Thermacetogenium phaeum , into a hydrocarbon formation containing a complex hydrocarbon substrate.
1. A method of isolating Thermacetogenium phaeum from a native consortium of microorganisms, the method comprising:
removing formation water from an underground formation, wherein the formation water comprises the native consortium that includes the Thermacetogenium phaeum ; and
heating the formation water to about 120° C. or more, wherein the Thermacetogenium phaeum survives the heating process.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formation water is heated for about 20 minutes or more.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formation water is heated at a pressure of about 15 psi or more.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formation water is heated in three or more successive heating cycles that take the formation water from room temperature to the heating temperature.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formation water is heated at 120° C. for 20 minutes at 15 psi in three consecutive heating cycles.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the Thermacetogenium phaeum forms spores during the heating process.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formation water is heated in an atmosphere with substantially no free oxygen.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the atmosphere is nitrogen and carbon dioxide.