An Ohio-based research and development company is changing the future of the oil business by developing new and innovative approaches to common industry challenges, and its solutions are gaining international attention. Scientists at Locus Bio-Energy Solutions have created a series of microbial-based products that substantially increase oil production. The products, which are both cost-effective and nontoxic, are evolving oil well operators’ approaches to maintenance, leading Darcy Partners to name Locus Bio-Energy a Top 10 Emerging Tech Company in the world in the production chemicals sector.
For years, the oil industry has been plagued with many common challenges—including paraffin, asphaltenes, biofilms, poor wettability, and viscosity build up—all resulting in the gradual loss of oil recovery. Current solutions typically include hazardous, toxic chemicals, which are expensive and have not produced lasting results. The microbial blends discovered by Locus Bio-Energy have proven to be a safer alternative from a health, safety, and environment perspective for operators and improve overall well health and protect wellbore equipment—with longer lasting, better results.
This approach, specifically in paraffin dispersal, and the resulting profit increases caught the attention of Darcy Partners, leading to global recognition as an emerging technology company. Experts from Locus Bio-Energy were invited to speak about the technology at multiple closed forums in Texas attended by many industry leaders—with overwhelmingly positive reactions.
“Microbials have been tried in the past but never with the proper approach to confirm efficacy and survivability,” said Gary West, senior vice president of business development at Locus Bio-Energy. “Our products are fermented locally, resulting in up to 1,000 times the potency at injection, and have been shown consistently in field trials to have a strong impact on production and recoverable reserves—meaning these treatments pay for themselves. The approach does not cause corrosive biofilms and actually dissolves them, while reducing sulfate-reducing-bacteria colonies—creating safer solutions that are redefining the approach to oil well maintenance.”
Locus Bio-Energy currently offers two 100% environmentally safe product lines, with treatments customized specifically to the conditions of the wells being treated—AssurEOR FLOW, a paraffin dispersal product with the added benefit of an enhanced-oil-recovery effect, and AssurEOR STIM, a highly potent enhanced-recovery application designed to stimulate reservoirs. Field trials from hundreds of well applications show increased recoverable reserves and a more than 50% average increase in oil sales with AssurEOR FLOW and up to 500% increase in production over extended periods with AssurEOR STIM. The results are gaining attention and momentum across the industry, with new wells being treated daily.