THE GROWING ROLE OF MICROBIAL BIOSURFACTANTS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Abstract

The world’s energy needs are still growing, but so is the pressure on industries to operate sustainably. This has pushed the petroleum sector to look for innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. One of the most promising answers comes from nature itself: microbial biosurfactants. These are surface-active molecules produced by microorganisms that offer a powerful and green alternative to the synthetic chemicals used today. This review brings together what we know about the main types of biosurfactants—like rhamnolipids and surfactin—and the microbes that create them. We explore their many uses across the oil and gas industry, focusing on how they can help recover more oil, clean up spills, and maintain equipment. We’ll also break down how they work and discuss the real-world challenges of producing them on a large scale. The conclusion is clear: biosurfactants have tremendous potential to make the petroleum industry more efficient and far less polluting. It is necessary to enhance its compatibility in different types of formations, especially to achieve good results in special reservoirs. By controlling the oil displacement cost, it can achieve the goal of reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and further improving crude oil recovery.