FLUID-TO-FLUID AND FLUID-TO-ROCK INTERACTION ON SOPHOROLIPIDS BIOSURFACTANT FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY: A LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29017/scog.v48i1.1688Keywords:
sophorolipids, biosurfactant, fluid-to-fluid, fluid-to-rockAbstract
The promising glycolipids produced by non-pathogenic yeast as biosurfactants are called sophorolipids. Their advantages over chemical surfactants are smaller environmental impact, lower toxicity, and biodegradable. They can reduce interfacial tension (IFT), form microemulsions, and alter wettability in enhanced oil recovery applications. The potential as biosurfactants is due to the resistance to high salinity and high temperature in reservoir conditions.Laboratory experiments for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications require to test fluid-to-fluid and fluid-to-rock interactions in the complex crude oil–rock–brine (CORB) system. This review discusses the sophorolipids mechanisms of fluid-to-fluid and fluid-to-rock interactions.Sophorolipids’ potential in EOR processes can be determined from core flooding experiments, in which some researches reported the incremental oil recovery up to obtained up to 20%. The review and discussion in this article are intended to have a broad impact on science and the petroleum industry, particularly in EOR applications.
References
Abidin, M. H. S. Z., Sakaria, N. D., Azman, N. R., & Asli, U. A. (2023). the Behavior, Stability Properties, and Potential Applications of Rhamnolipid Biosurfactants in Oil Degradation. ASEAN Engineering Journal, 13(4), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.11113/aej.V13.19038
Aboelkhair, H., Diaz, P., & Attia, A. (2022). Biosurfactant production using Egyptian oil fields indigenous bacteria for microbial enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 208(PC), 109601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.109601
Adelzadeh, M. R., Roostaazad, R., Kamali, M. R., & Bagheri Lotfabad, T. (2010). A technical feasibility analysis to apply Pseudomonas aeroginosa MR01 biosurfactant in microbial enhanced oil recovery of low-permeability carbonate reservoirs of Iran. Scientia Iranica, 17(1 C), 46–54.
Ahuekwe, E. F., Okoli, B. E., Stanley, H. O., & Kinigoma, B. (2016). Evaluation of hydrocarbon emulsification and heavy metal detoxification potentials of sophorolipid biosurfactants produced from waste substrates using yeast and mushroom. Society of Petroleum Engineers - SPE African Health, Safety, Security and Environment and Social Responsibility Conference and Exhibition 2016, October, 81–96. https://doi.org/10.2118/183578-ms
Ahuekwe, E., Okoli, B., Stanley, O., & Kinigoma, B. (2016). Experimental Investigation of Sophorolipid Biosurfactants Produced by Candida and Pleurotus Species Using Waste Oils and Rice Bran and Their Oilfield Benefits. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology, 7(4), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.9734/jabb/2016/27467
Al-Sulaimani, H., Al-Wahaibi, Y., Ai-Bahry, S., Elshafie, A., Al-Bemani, A., Joshi, S., & Ayatollahi, S. (2012). Residual-oil recovery through injection of biosurfactant, chemical surfactant, and mixtures of both under reservoir temperatures: Induced-wettability and interfacial-tension effects. SPE Reservoir Evaluation and Engineering, 15(2), 210–217. https://doi.org/10.2118/158022-PA
Al-Sulaimani, H., Al-Wahaibi, Y., Al-Bahry, S., Elshafle, A., Al-Bemani, A., Joshi, S., & Zargari, S. (2011). Optimization and partial characterization of biosurfactants produced by bacillus species and their potential for ex-situ enhanced oil recovery. SPE Journal, 16(3), 672–682. https://doi.org/10.2118/129228-PA
Al-Wahaibi, Y., Joshi, S., Al-Bahry, S., Elshafie, A., Al-Bemani, A., & Shibulal, B. (2014). Biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtilis B30 and its application in enhancing oil recovery. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 114(October), 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.09.022
Astuti, D. I., Purwasena, I. A., Putri, R. E., Amaniyah, M., & Sugai, Y. (2019). Screening and characterization of biosurfactant produced by Pseudoxanthomonas sp. G3 and its applicability for enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 9(3), 2279–2289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-019-0619-8
Austad, T., & Standnes, D. C. (2003). Spontaneous imbibition of water into oil-wet carbonates. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 39(3–4), 363–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(03)00075-5
Bassir, S. M., & Shadizadeh, S. R. (2020). Static adsorption of a new cationic biosurfactant on carbonate minerals: Application to EOR. Petroleum Science and Technology, 38(5), 462–471. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2020.1727922
Batista, S. B., Mounteer, A. H., Amorim, F. R., & Tótola, M. R. (2006). Isolation and characterization of biosurfactant/bioemulsifier-producing bacteria from petroleum contaminated sites. Bioresource Technology, 97(6), 868–875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.04.020
Boneau, D. F., & Clampitt, R. L. (1977). Surfactant System for the Oil-Wet Sandstone of the North Burbank Unit. JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology, 29, 501–506. https://doi.org/10.2118/5820-PA
Bordoloi, N. K., & Konwar, B. K. (2008). Microbial surfactant-enhanced mineral oil recovery under laboratory conditions. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 63(1), 73–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2007.11.006
Buckley, J. S. (1996). Mechanisms and Consequences of Wettability Alteration by Crude Oils. Engineering, 1, 201. file:///C:/Users/omid shahrokhi/Old DB/EndNote Data/My EndNote Library.Data/PDF/2357555551/Buckley_1996.pdf
Budiharjo S., H., Pamungkas, J., Widyaningsih, I., & Wahyuningsih, T. (2020). Biosurfactan Injection of U-Champ on Heavy Oil Sample in Laboratory for Preliminary to Pilot Project. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE), 9(4), 46–50. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.d4751.119420
Desai, J. D., & Banat, I. M. (1997). Microbial production of surfactants and their commercial potential. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 61(1), 47–64. https://doi.org/10.1128/mmbr.61.1.47-64.1997
Dong, P., Puerto, M. C., Ma, K., Mateen, K., Ren, G., Bourdarot, G., Morel, D., Biswal, S. L., & Hirasaki, G. J. (2019). Ultralow-interfacial-tension foam-injection strategy in high-temperature ultrahigh-salinity fractured oil-wet carbonate reservoirs. SPE Journal, 24(6), 2822–2840. https://doi.org/10.2118/190259-PA
Elazzazy, A. M., Abdelmoneim, T. S., & Almaghrabi, O. A. (2015). Isolation and characterization of biosurfactant production under extreme environmental conditions by alkali-halo-thermophilic bacteria from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 22(4), 466–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2014.11.018
Elshafie, A. E., Joshi, S. J., Al-Wahaibi, Y. M., Al-Bemani, A. S., Al-Bahry, S. N., Al-Maqbali, D., & Banat, I. M. (2015). Sophorolipids production by Candida bombicola ATCC 22214 and its potential application in microbial enhanced oil recovery. Frontiers in Microbiology, 6(NOV), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2015.01324
Fardami, A. Y., Kawo, A. H., Yahaya, S., Lawal, I., Abubakar, A. S., & Maiyadi, K. A. (2022). A Review on Biosurfactant Properties, Production and Producing Microorganisms. Journal of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, 10(1), 5–12. https://doi.org/10.54987/jobimb.v10i1.656
Gautam, K. K., & Tyagi, V. K. (2006). Microbial Surfactants: A Review. Journal of Oleo Science, 55(4), 155–166. https://doi.org/10.5650/jos.55.155
Gayathiri, E., Prakash, P., Karmegam, N., Varjani, S., Awasthi, M. K., & Ravindran, B. (2022). Biosurfactants: Potential and Eco-Friendly Material for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Safety—A Review. Agronomy, 12(3), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030662
Geetha, S. J., Banat, I. M., & Joshi, S. J. (2018). Biosurfactants: Production and potential applications in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 14(January), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2018.01.010
Ghojavand, H., Vahabzadeh, F., Roayaei, E., & Shahraki, A. K. (2008). Production and properties of a biosurfactant obtained from a member of the Bacillus subtilis group (PTCC 1696). Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 324(1–2), 172–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2008.05.001
Ghojavand, H., Vahabzadeh, F., & Shahraki, A. K. (2012). Enhanced oil recovery from low permeability dolomite cores using biosurfactant produced by a Bacillus mojavensis (PTCC 1696) isolated from Masjed-I Soleyman field. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 81, 24–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2011.12.002
Hadia, N. J., Ottenheim, C., Li, S., Hua, N. Q., Stubbs, L. P., & Lau, H. C. (2019). Experimental investigation of biosurfactant mixtures of surfactin produced by Bacillus Subtilis for EOR application. Fuel, 251(March), 789–799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.03.111
Imanivarnosfaderani, M. R., Gomari, S. R., & dos Santos, R. G. (2022). Effects of rhamnolipid bio-surfactant and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant on enhanced oil recovery from carbonate reservoirs. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 39(3), 825–833. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43153-021-00208-0
Joice, P. A., & Parthasarathi, R. (2014). Optimization of biosurfactant production from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PBSC1. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 3(9), 140–151.
Kamal, M. S., Hussain, S. M. S., & Fogang, L. T. (2019). Role of ionic headgroups on the thermal, rheological, and foaming properties of novel betaine-based polyoxyethylene zwitterionic surfactants for enhanced oil recovery. Processes, 7(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7120908
Kang, S. W., Kim, Y. B., Shin, J. D., & Kim, E. K. (2010). Enhanced biodegradation of hydrocarbons in soil by microbial biosurfactant, sophorolipid. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 160(3), 780–790. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-009-8580-5
Liu, Q., Niu, J., Yu, Y., Wang, C., Lu, S., Zhang, S., Lv, J., & Peng, B. (2021). Production, characterization and application of biosurfactant produced by Bacillus licheniformis L20 for microbial enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Cleaner Production, 307(April), 127193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127193
Liu, X., Yao, T., Lai, R., Xiu, J., Huang, L., Sun, S., Luo, Y., Song, Z., & Zhang, Z. (2019). Recovery of crude oil from oily sludge in an oilfield by sophorolipid. Petroleum Science and Technology, 37(13), 1582–1588. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2019.1594286
Maeng, Y., Kim, K. T., Zhou, X., Jin, L., Kim, K. S., Kim, Y. H., Lee, S., Park, J. H., Chen, X., Kong, M., Cai, L., & Li, X. (2018). A novel microbial technique for producing high-quality sophorolipids from horse oil suitable for cosmetic applications. Microbial Biotechnology, 11(5), 917–929. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13297
Negin, C., Ali, S., & Xie, Q. (2017). Most common surfactants employed in chemical enhanced oil recovery. Petroleum, 3(2), 197–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petlm.2016.11.007
Nikolova, C., & Gutierrez, T. (2021). Biosurfactants and Their Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry: Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9(February). https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2021.626639
Oliveira, M. R., Magri, A., Baldo, C., CAmiliou-Neto, D., Minucelli, T., & Celligoi, M. A. P. C. (2018). Review: Sophorolipids A Promising Biosurfactant and it’s Applications. International Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research, 6(April), 161–174.
Pal, S., Chatterjee, N., Das, A. K., McClements, D. J., & Dhar, P. (2023). Sophorolipids: A comprehensive review on properties and applications. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 313(February), 102856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2023.102856
Pandey, R., Krishnamurthy, B., Singh, H. P., & Batish, D. R. (2022). Evaluation of a glycolipopepetide biosurfactant from Aeromonas hydrophila RP1 for bioremediation and enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Cleaner Production, 345(September 2021), 131098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131098
Paria, S., & Khilar, K. C. (2004). A review on experimental studies of surfactant adsorption at the hydrophilic solid-water interface. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 110(3), 75–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2004.03.001
Prasad, R. V., Kumar, R. A., Sharma, D., Sharma, A., & Nagarajan, S. (2021). Sophorolipids and rhamnolipids as a biosurfactant: Synthesis and applications. Green Sustainable Process for Chemical and Environmental Engineering and Science: Microbially-Derived Biosurfactants for Improving Sustainability in Industry, 423–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823380-1.00014-9
Rocha, V. A. L., de Castilho, L. V. A., Castro, R. de P. V. de, Teixeira, D. B., Magalhães, A. V., Abreu, F. de A., Cypriano, J. B. S., Gomez, J. G. C., & Freire, D. M. G. (2021). Antibiofilm effect of mono-rhamnolipids and di-rhamnolipids on carbon steel submitted to oil produced water. Biotechnology Progress, 37(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/btpr.3131
Ron, E. Z., & Rosenberg, E. (2001). Natural roles of biosurfactants. Environmental Microbiology, 3(4), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1462-2920.2001.00190.x
Saborimanesh, N., & Mulligan, C. N. (2015). Effect of Sophorolipid Biosurfactant on Oil Biodegradation by the Natural Oil-Degrading Bacteria on the Weathered Biodiesel, Diesel and Light Crude Oil. Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation, 06(06). https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-6199.1000314
Santos, D. K. F., Rufino, R. D., Luna, J. M., Santos, V. A., & Sarubbo, L. A. (2016). Biosurfactants: Multifunctional biomolecules of the 21st century. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(3), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17030401
Sari, C. N., Hertadi, R., Gozan, M., & Roslan, A. M. (2019). Factors Affecting the Production of Biosurfactants and their Applications in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). A Review. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 353(1), 0–14. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/353/1/012048
Sen, S., Borah, S. N., Bora, A., & Deka, S. (2017). Production, characterization, and antifungal activity of a biosurfactant produced by Rhodotorula babjevae YS3. Microbial Cell Factories, 16(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-017-0711-z
Shaik, I. K., Song, J., Biswal, S. L., Hirasaki, G. J., Bikkina, P. K., & Aichele, C. P. (2020). Effect of brine type and ionic strength on the wettability alteration of naphthenic-acid-adsorbed calcite surfaces. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 185(October 2019), 106567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106567
Sharma, R., Singh, J., & Verma, N. (2018). Optimization of rhamnolipid production from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PBS towards application for microbial enhanced oil recovery. 3 Biotech, 8(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-017-1022-0
Shekhar, S., Sundaramanickam, A., & Balasubramanian, T. (2015). Biosurfactant producing microbes and their potential applications: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 45(14), 1522–1554. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2014.955631
Sheng, J. J. (2013). Review of Surfactant Enhanced Oil Recovery in Carbonate Reservoirs. Advances in Petroleum Exploration and Development, 6(June), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3968/j.aped.1925543820130601.1582
Singh, P., & Cameotra, S. S. (2004). Potential applications of microbial surfactants in biomedical sciences. Trends in Biotechnology, 22(3), 142–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2004.01.010
Standnes, D. (2001). Enhanced Oil Recovery from Oil-Wet Carbonate Rock by Spontaneous Imbibition of Aqueous Surfactant Solutions. 1(1285), 90. http://mdh.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:121656%5Cnhttp://dx.doi.org/
Tobergte, D. R., & Curtis, S. (2013). Surfactant-Induced Relative Permeability Modifications for Oil Recovery Enhancement. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 53(9), 1689–1699.
Udoh, T., & Vinogradov, J. (2019). A synergy between controlled salinity brine and biosurfactant flooding for improved oil recovery: An experimental investigation based on zeta potential and interfacial tension measurements. International Journal of Geophysics, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2495614
Van Bogaert, I. N. A., Saerens, K., De Muynck, C., Develter, D., Soetaert, W., & Vandamme, E. J. (2007). Microbial production and application of sophorolipids. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 76(1), 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-0988-7
Varjani, S. J., & Upasani, V. N. (2016). Core Flood study for enhanced oil recovery through ex-situ bioaugmentation with thermo- and halo-tolerant rhamnolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 5514. Bioresource Technology, 220, 175–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.08.060
Viades-Trejo, J., & Gracia-Fadrique, J. (2007). Spinning drop method. From Young-Laplace to Vonnegut. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 302(1–3), 549–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2007.03.033
Wang, Y., Xu, H., Yu, W., Bai, B., Song, X., & Zhang, J. (2011). Surfactant induced reservoir wettability alteration: Recent theoretical and experimental advances in enhanced oil recovery. Petroleum Science, 8(4), 463–476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-011-0164-7
Zeng, Z., Liu, Y., Zhong, H., Xiao, R., Zeng, G., Liu, Z., Cheng, M., Lai, C., Zhang, C., Liu, G., & Qin, L. (2018). Mechanisms for rhamnolipids-mediated biodegradation of hydrophobic organic compounds. Science of the Total Environment, 634, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.349
Zezzi do Valle Gomes, M., & Nitschke, M. (2012). Evaluation of rhamnolipid and surfactin to reduce the adhesion and remove biofilms of individual and mixed cultures of food pathogenic bacteria. Food Control, 25(2), 441–447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2011.11.025
Zhang, R., & Somasundaran, P. (2006). Advances in adsorption of surfactants and their mixtures at solid/solution interfaces. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 123–126(SPEC. ISS.), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2006.07.004
Zhao, F., Shi, R., Zhao, J., Li, G., Bai, X., Han, S., & Zhang, Y. (2015). Heterologous production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhamnolipid under anaerobic conditions for microbial enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 118(2), 379–389. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.12698
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OIL AND GAS (SCOG)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors are free to Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms, under the following terms Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.