Grant: Engage Grants Program

Bacteria have a huge but under-appreciated impact on the petroleum industry. Bacteria can have beneficial effects, as when they refine oil into more useful forms, or bacteria can have detrimental effects, as when they foul crude oil with unwanted chemicals. Furthermore, bacteria are responsible for detoxifying oil-contaminated environments and restoring ecosystem balance following an oil spill. Because bacteria are found everywhere, including in oil wells, pipelines, and storage tanks, their activities impact many aspects of the petroleum industry, making it imperative that scientists determine how industrial processes promote or hinder specific bacterial activities like refining, fouling, and detoxification. This knowledge is an asset to the industry as it can lead to improved oil recovery and help mitigate the impacts of pollution events.Black Tusk Geophysics is partnering with Dr. Cameron's research group at the University of Regina to study how bacteria alter the chemical and physical properties of petroleum reservoirs. This research partnership will generate new insight into biological activity in petroleum systems, which will directly benefit Black Tusk Geophysics by enabling new technologies for improved efficiency of oil extraction and recovery.