Fracture permeability reduction and sealing mechanisms of microbial cementation in underground fractured media: Application to low-permeability reservoirs
Abstract
Microbially induced calcium precipitation has emerged as a promising approach for sealing fractures in low-permeability reservoirs. While previous studies have mainly focused on aerobic model microorganisms, the behavior of anaerobic indigenous microorganisms under reservoir-relevant conditions remains to be explored. Motivated by this knowledge gap, this study investigated the mechanisms by which anaerobic indigenous microorganisms reduce fracture permeability and induce fracture sealing, with an emphasis on strain screening, environmental adaptability, stimulation strategies, and the competitive roles of surface adsorption and particle deposition in fracture sealing. First, reservoir samples were enriched under anaerobic conditions, and a urease-producing indigenous strain, identified as Bacillus megaterium, was isolated. Then, its growth behavior, tolerance to reservoir-related environmental conditions, and response to stimulation media were systematically evaluated. Subsequently, the physicochemical characteristics of the biomineralization products were examined, and the fracture sealing behavior was analyzed using visual fracture models. The selected strain adapted well to underground fractured media and secreted extracellular polymeric substances that could promote calcium enrichment and biomineral formation, producing calcite as the dominant mineral phase. Dynamic fracture experiments demonstrated that microbial cementation achieved substantial permeability reduction and effective sealing. Based on the observed permeability evolution and spatial distribution patterns, a mechanistic framework is proposed in which surface adsorption dominates sealing in narrow fractures, whereas deposition, settling and migration become more important as the fracture aperture increases. The findings of this study provide a mechanistic basis for the application of indigenous anaerobic microorganisms for subsurface fracture sealing and permeability control.
Document Type: Original article
Keywords:
Microbial enhanced oil recovery, microbially induced calcium precipitation , indigenous microorganisms, Bacillus megateriumReferences
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Copyright (c) 2026 Yanlong He, Shizi An, Tayfun Babadagli, Keyi Liu, Lu Bai, Hai Huang
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