US0096.70395 B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9,670,395 B2 McDaniel (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 6, 2017

(54) TREATMENT OF A SUBTERRANEAN 2009/0023613 A1 ck 1/2009 Li et al. FORMATION WITH COMPOSITION 2010/0093.046 A1 4/2010 Remmereit ...... CE: INCLUDING AMCROORGANISMI OR 2010/0093.095 A1 4, 2010 Yamazaki COMPOUND GENERATED BY THE SAME 2013/0288932 A1* 10/2013 Mackenzie ...... CO8E3 37 003 507 112 (71) Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (72) Inventor: Cato Russell McDaniel, The WO WO-2014, 176061 A1 10, 2014 Woodlands, TX (US) OTHER PUBLICATIONS (73) Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US) “Colombian Application Serial No. 15.209.751, Office Action mailed Sep. 22, 2015”. 4pgs. (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this “International Application Serial No. PCT/US2014/033991, Inter patent is extended or adjusted under 35 national Preliminary Report on Patentability mailed Nov. 5, 2015”. U.S.C. 154(b) by 737 days. 29 pgs. “International Application Serial No. PCT/US2014/033991, Inter (21) Appl. No.: 13/867,536 national Search Report mailed Aug. 25, 2014'. 4pgs. “International Application Serial No. PCT/US2014/033991, Written (22) Filed: Apr. 22, 2013 Opinion mailed Aug. 25, 2014, 27 ps. Nicolous, B., et al., “Polysaccharides from extremophilic microor (65) Prior Publication Data ganisms”. Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere, 34(1-2), (2004), 159-169. US 2014/0315765 A1 Oct. 23, 2014 Arias, S., et al., “Mauran, an exopolysaccharide produced by the 51) Int. C halophilic bacterium Halomonas maura, with a novel composition (51) took 8/60 (2006.01) co sports for biotechnology”. Extremophiles, 7. C09K 8/20 (2006.01) Bouchotroch, S., et al., "Halomonas maura sp. nov...a novel mod C09K 8/582 (2006.01) erately halophilic, exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium'. Inter C09K 8/35 (2006.01) national Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 51. C09K 8/467 (2006.01) (2001), 1625-1632. C09K 8/52 (2006.01) Poli, A., et al., “Synthesis, Production, and Biotechnological Appli C09K 8/64 (2006.01) cations of Exopolysaccharides and Polyhydroxyalkanoates by C09K 8/68 (2006.01) Archaea'. Archaea, vol. 2011, Article ID693253, (2011), 13 pgs. C09K 8/72 (2006.01) “Australian Application Serial No. 2014257381, First Examiner C04B 28/02 (2006.01) Report mailed Mar. 1, 2016, 5 pgs. CO4B 103/OO (2006.01) (Continued) CO4B 103/44 (2006.01) CO4B III/2O (2006.01) Primary Examiner — Aiqun Li (52) U.S. Cl. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm —Tenley Krueger Tumey CPC ...... C09K 8/582 (2013.01); C04B 28/02 LLP. (2013.01); C09K 8/035 (2013.01); C09K 8/467 (2013.01); C09K 8/52 (2013.01); C09K 8/64 (57) ABSTRACT (2013.01); C09K 8/68 (2013.01); C09K 8/725 (2013.01); C04B 2103/0067 (2013.01); C04B As E. R. ress tO th of E. 210344 (2013.01). Coab ii.1/20 (2013.01) compoundsubterranean made ornation by a microorganism win a composition, or a microorganism including a (58) Field of cities. 8/035 CO9K 8/467 that can make the compound. Various embodiments provide ------CO9K 875 2: C09K 8/64; CO9K 8/6 8. methods of using compositions for treatment of subterranean CO9K 8/725 formations including exopolysaccharides or microorganisms that can make exopolysaccharides under downhole condi St. licati------file? ------let------R. 2O1 tions. In various embodiments, the present invention pro ee appl1cauon Ille Ior complete searcn n1story. vides a method of treating a Subterranean formation, includ (56) References Cited 1ng providing at least one exopolysaccharide by Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to con U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS ditions such that the microorganism forms the exopolysac charide, or by Subjecting a microorganism genetically modi 4,481.294 A * 1 1/1984 Downs ...... C12N 1.06 fied using an extremophilic or extremotolerant 166,246 microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism 3. f 38: ACN al forms the exopolysaccharide. The method can also include 6,545.145 Bik 4/2003 Rougeaux ... A23L 1054 contacting a composition including the exopolysaccharide - I - 426,658 with a subterranean material downhole. 6,855,524 B1* 2/2005 Nore ...... C12P 19.06 424,115 17 Claims, No Drawings US 9,670,395 B2 Page 2

(56) References Cited

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Danish Search Report for Danish Patent Application No. PA 2015 00537 dated Nov. 10, 2016. Cojoc, R., et al., “Highly Thermostable Exopolysaccharide Pro duced by the Moderately Halophilic Bacterium Isolated from a Man-Made Young Salt Lake in Romania'. Polish Journal of Micro biology, 58(4), (2009), 289-294. Crapart, S., et al., “Exiguobacterium profindium sp. nov...a moder ately thermophilic, lactic acid-producing bacterium isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent'. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 57. (2007), 287-292. GueZennec, J., “Deep-sea hydrothermal vents: A new Source of innovative bacterial exopolysaccharides of biotechnological inter est?”, Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 29. (2002), 204-208. Leivers, S., et al., “Characterisation of Bacterial Exopolysac charides'. Doctoral Thesis, University of Huddersfield, (2011), 196 pg.S. Nicols, C. A. M., et al., “Bacterial Exopolysaccharides from Extreme Marine Environments with Speical Consideration of the Southern Ocean, Sea Ice, and Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents: A Review”, Marine Biotechnology, 7, (2005), 253-271. Poli, A., et al., “Bacterial Exopolysaccharides from Extreme Marine Habitats: Production, Characterization and Biological Activities”. Marine Drugs, 8(6), (2010), 1779-1802. Radchenkova, N., et al., “Biosynthesis of an Exopolysaccharide Produced by Brevibacillus Thermoruber 438”. Biotechnol. & Biotechnol. Eq., 25(4), Suppl. (2011), 77-79. * cited by examiner US 9,670,395 B2 1. 2 TREATMENT OF A SUBTERRANEAN microorganism includes at least one of Acetobacter, Achro FORMATION WITH COMPOSITION mobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, INCLUDING AMCROORGANISMI OR Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, COMPOUND GENERATED BY THE SAME Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, During the drilling, extraction, and production of petro Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, leum materials, extreme conditions can be experienced Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu downhole that make these activities difficult. For example, 10 conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte Some wells can have high Salinity, extreme pH, high tem rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte perature, high pressure conditions. Wells with undisturbed rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, bottomhole temperatures above about 150-177° C. can be Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, classified as high temperature, with temperatures above Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, about 204-218° C. ultra-high temperature, and with tem 15 Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, peratures above about 260° C. generally considered Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, extreme-high temperature. Wells with wellhead pressure Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. The method also greater than about 10,000-15,000 psi are considered high includes contacting a composition comprising the exopoly pressure, with pressures above about 15,000-20,000 psi saccharide with a Subterranean material downhole. ultra-high pressure, and with pressures above about 30,000 In various embodiments, the present invention provides a psi generally considered extreme high pressure. method of treating a subterranean formation. The method During the drilling, completion, and production phases of includes providing at least one exopolysaccharide by at least wells for petroleum or water extraction, the downhole use of one of Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant compositions having high viscosities is important for a wide microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism variety of purposes. Higher viscosity fluids can more effec 25 forms the exopolysaccharide, and Subjecting a microorgan tively carry materials to a desired location downhole. Such ism genetically modified using an extremophilic or extremo as proppants. Similarly, higher viscosity drilling fluids can tolerant microorganism to conditions such that the microor more effectively carry materials away from a drilling loca ganism forms the exopolysaccharide. The tion downhole. exopolysaccharide can include be any suitable exopolysac Various materials used to affect properties of fluids down 30 charide, for example at least one of acetan, alginate, cellu hole can degrade and become ineffective under the extreme lose, chitosan, curdlan, a cyclosophoran, dextran, emulsan, conditions experienced downhole in some wells. For a galactoglucopolysaccharide, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl example, guar gum can be used to increase viscosity but can glucosamine, N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, indicant, degrade under various extreme downhole conditions. kefiran, lentinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, 35 Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succinoglycan, Xanthan, and SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION welan. The method also includes contacting a composition comprising the exopolysaccharide with a Subterranean mate In various embodiments, the present invention provides a rial downhole. method of treating a subterranean formation. The method In various embodiments, the present invention provides a includes providing at least one exopolysaccharide by at least 40 method of treating a subterranean formation. The method one of Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant includes obtaining or providing a composition including a microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism microorganism. The composition has a viscosity. The forms the exopolysaccharide, and Subjecting a microorgan method also includes contacting the composition with a ism genetically modified using an extremophilic or extremo Subterranean material downhole. The contacting occurs tolerant microorganism to conditions such that the microor 45 under conditions such that the microorganism produces at ganism forms the exopolysaccharide. The method also least one compound. The at least one compound increases includes contacting a composition including the exopoly the Viscosity of the composition. saccharide with a Subterranean material downhole. In some In various embodiments, the present invention provides a examples, the at least one exopolysaccharide can exhibit method of treating a subterranean formation. The method improved properties under extreme conditions, such as 50 includes obtaining or providing a composition including a improved thermostability or salt tolerance, as compared to microorganism. The method also includes contacting the other compounds, as compared to exopolysaccharides gen composition with a subterranean material downhole. The erated by non-extremophilic or non-extremotolerant organ contacting occurs such that the microorganism produces an isms, or as compared to exopolysaccharides made by micro exopolysaccharide. organisms not genetically modified using genes from 55 In various embodiments, the present invention provides a extremophile or extremotolerant microorganisms. method of treating a subterranean formation. The method In various embodiments, the present invention provides a includes obtaining or providing a composition including a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method microorganism. The microorganism includes at least one of includes providing at least one exopolysaccharide by at least Acetobacter, Achronobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, one of Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant 60 Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacillus, Beijer forms the exopolysaccharide, and Subjecting a microorgan inckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo ism genetically modified an extremophilic or extremotoler bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, ant microorganism to conditions such that the microorgan Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, ism forms the exopolysaccharide (e.g., genetically modified 65 Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger, Halloquadratum, Halo using genes from an extremophilic or extremotolerant rubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lenti microorganism). The extremophilic or extremotolerant nus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Meth US 9,670,395 B2 3 4 vlobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, providing a composition including an exopolysaccharide. Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, The method also includes combining the composition with Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, a downhole fluid. Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; Various embodiments of the present invention provide Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, certain advantages over other methods of treating Subterra Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, nean formations and compositions for treating Subterranean Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. The formations, at least some of which are unexpected. For method also includes contacting the composition with a example, compounds normally used to increase viscosity Subterranean material downhole. downhole. Such as guar, Xanthan, and Scleroglucan, can 10 degrade or become ineffective under extreme conditions In various embodiments, the present invention provides a experienced downhole. Such as high temperature, high pres method of treating a subterranean formation. The method Sure, high Salinity, or extreme pH conditions. However, the includes obtaining or providing a composition including an methods and compositions of the present inventions can exopolysaccharide. The method also includes contacting the include exopolysaccharides that degrade less or remain more composition with a Subterranean material downhole. 15 effective under a variety of extreme conditions experienced In various embodiments, the present invention provides a downhole as compared to other methods and compositions. composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation. The In some embodiments, the exopolysaccharides made by the composition includes an exopolysaccharide. microorganism can modify various properties of a compo In various embodiments, the present invention provides a sition contacting a Subterranean material downhole Such as composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation. The Viscosity more easily, with less cost, or more effectively than composition includes a microorganism that generates an other compositions and methods for modifying properties of exopolysaccharide under downhole conditions. The compo downhole compositions under extreme downhole conditions sition also includes a downhole fluid. or other conditions. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a Organisms like Xanthomonas campestris which produce composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation. The 25 Xanthan gum can grow at near room temperature. Xanthan composition includes a microorganism. The microorganism gum is not completely thermally stably in water at 100-140° includes at least one of Acetobacter; Achromobacter, Acine C., since it slowly degrades and loses the ability to provide tobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Altero Viscosity to a drilling fluid. However, microorganisms that monas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter, thrive in or are tolerant of 100° C. growing conditions can Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, 30 produce exopolysaccharides which are more stable at 100° Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermo C. Microorganisms such as extremophilic or extremotoler bacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobi ant microorganisms can produce exopolysaccharides that are forma, Halococcus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger, more tolerant to the extreme conditions the microorganisms Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, thrive in or are tolerant of. Embodiments of the present Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, 35 invention can advantageously utilize the extremophilic or Methanosarcina, Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucor extremotolerant exopolysaccharides produced by extremo ales, Natrialba, Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palle philic or extremotolerant microorganisms to treat Subterra ronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, nean formations and to form compositions for treatment of Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodo Subterranean formations. coccus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomo 40 In some embodiments, viscosity-modifying compounds nas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermo made by the microorganism can be compounds, such as coccus, Thermotoga, Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and certain exopolysaccharides, that have never before been Zymomonas. used in downhole compositions, or that have never been In various embodiments, the present invention provides a used downhole in extreme conditions; various embodiments method for preparing a composition for treatment of a 45 include use of Such compounds in downhole compositions Subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining or wherein the composition does not include the microorgan providing a composition including an exopolysaccharide. ism, while other embodiments include downhole composi The exopolysaccharide is provided by at least one of sub tions including the microorganism. In other embodiments, jecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism the particular viscosity-modifying compound has been pre to conditions such that the microorganism forms the at least 50 viously used in downhole compositions, but has never been one exopolysaccharide, and Subjecting a microorganism made downhole by a microorganism in a method of treating genetically modified using an extremophilic or extremotol a Subterranean formation, or has never been made above the erant microorganism to conditions such that the microor Surface using conditions such as extreme conditions or using ganism forms the at least one exopolysaccharide. The a microorganism genetically modified using an extremo method also includes combining the composition with a 55 philic or extremotolerant microorganism. downhole fluid. In some examples, the exopolysaccharide In various examples, unexpectedly, contacting a compo can be sition including a microorganism downhole can provide In various embodiments, the present invention provides a convenient and effective control of the properties of mate method for preparing a composition for treatment of a rials downhole, allowing easier or more cost effective drill Subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining or 60 ing and extraction during, for example, extreme downhole providing a composition including a microorganism. The conditions, such as at least one of high temperature, high microorganism generates an exopolysaccharide under pressure, high salinity, and extreme pH conditions. For downhole conditions. The method also includes combining example, the compounds made by the microorganism in the composition with a downhole fluid. various embodiments can modify various properties of a In various embodiments, the present invention provides a 65 composition contacting a subterranean material downhole method for preparing a composition for treatment of a Such as viscosity more easily, with less cost, or more Subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining or effectively than other compositions and methods for modi US 9,670,395 B2 5 6 fying properties of downhole compositions in extreme In this document, the terms “a,” “an,” or “the are used to downhole conditions. In some embodiments, by varying the include one or more than one unless the context clearly microorganism, the type of compound used, the concentra dictates otherwise. The term 'or' is used to refer to a tion of the microorganism or compound, and the presence nonexclusive 'or' unless otherwise indicated. In addition, it and concentration of various additives in the composition, is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology the properties of the composition downhole, such as the employed herein, and not otherwise defined, is for the Viscosity, can be more precisely controlled than in other purpose of description only and not of limitation. Any use of methods and compositions. In various embodiments, use of section headings is intended to aid reading of the document a microorganism in downhole composition to synthesize a and is not to be interpreted as limiting; information that is compound to modify properties of the composition down 10 relevant to a section heading may occur within or outside of hole Such as Viscosity can advantageously supplement, that particular section. Furthermore, all publications, pat maintain, or increase the concentration of the compound as ents, and patent documents referred to in this document are the compound is diluted downhole, or as the compound is incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though degraded by extreme conditions downhole. individually incorporated by reference. In the event of In Some embodiments, generating or Supplementing a 15 inconsistent usages between this document and those docu compound downhole using a microorganism that produces ments so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incor the compound to change the properties of a downhole porated reference should be considered supplementary to composition while the composition is downhole has unique that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the advantages that are lacking from other compositions and usage in this document controls. methods. Most high viscosity liquids must be pumped or In the methods of manufacturing described herein, the otherwise transported to a desired location, which is energy steps can be carried out in any order without departing from intensive and inconvenient. However, in an embodiment of the principles of the invention, except when a temporal or the present invention, the Viscosity or gelation can be operational sequence is explicitly recited. Furthermore, conveniently increased downhole, at least partially avoiding specified steps can be carried out concurrently unless the difficulty and expense of pumping or otherwise trans 25 explicit claim language recites that they be carried out porting a highly viscous fluid to a downhole location. separately. For example, a claimed step of doing X and a In Some embodiments, downhole conditions, such as claimed step of doing Y can be conducted simultaneously extreme downhole conditions, can advantageously trigger within a single operation, and the resulting process will fall the microorganism to produce or increase the production of within the literal scope of the claimed process. a compound that can change the properties of the downhole 30 The term “about as used herein can allow for a degree of composition, such as Viscosity. In various embodiments, an variability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, ability of the composition to increase in viscosity as a result within 5%, or within 196 of a stated value or of a stated limit of extreme conditions such as high heat, high pressure, or of a range. high Salinity can allow the properties of the composition to The term “substantially as used herein refers to a major be adjusted, such as viscosity of the composition to be 35 ity of, or mostly, as in at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, raised, conveniently using events controllable from the 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.9%, 99.99%, Surface when the composition is in or near to the downhole or at least about 99.999% or more. location where a higher viscosity material is desired. In The term “hydrocarbon as used herein refers to a func Some examples, the composition can be selectively heated, tional group or molecule that includes carbon and hydrogen pressurized, or exposed to higher salinity at a downhole 40 atoms. The term can also refer to a functional group or location, conveniently increasing the viscosity of the com molecule that normally includes both carbon and hydrogen position at a desired location at a desired time. atoms but wherein all the hydrogen atoms are substituted with other functional groups. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE The term “solvent as used herein refers to a liquid that INVENTION 45 can dissolve a solid, liquid, or gas. Nonlimiting examples of Solvents are silicones, organic compounds, water, alcohols, Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodi ionic liquids, and Supercritical fluids. ments of the disclosed subject matter. While the disclosed The term “room temperature' as used herein refers to a subject matter will be described in conjunction with the temperature of about 15° C. to 28°C. enumerated claims, it will be understood that the exempli 50 As used herein, the term “polymer refers to a molecule fied subject matter is not intended to limit the claims to the having at least one repeating unit, and can include copoly disclosed Subject matter. CS. Values expressed in a range format should be interpreted The term "copolymer as used herein refers to a polymer in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values that includes at least two different monomers. A copolymer explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to 55 can include any suitable number of monomers. include all the individual numerical values or Sub-ranges The term "downhole' as used herein refers to under the encompassed within that range as if each numerical value surface of the earth, such as a location within or fluidly and Sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a range of connected to a wellbore. “about 0.1% to about 5% or “about 0.1% to 5% should be As used herein, the term “drilling fluid refers to fluids, interpreted to include not just about 0.1% to about 5%, but 60 slurries, or muds used in drilling operations downhole. Such also the individual values (e.g., 1%, 2%. 3%, and 4%) and as the formation of the wellbore. the sub-ranges (e.g., 0.1% to 0.5%, 1.1% to 2.2%, 3.3% to As used herein, the term “stimulation fluid refers to 4.4%) within the indicated range. The statement “about X to fluids or slurries used downhole during stimulation activities Y” has the same meaning as “about X to about Y. unless of the well that can increase the production of a well, indicated otherwise. Likewise, the statement “about X, Y, or 65 including perforation activities. In some examples, a stimu about Z’ has the same meaning as “about X, about Y, or lation fluid can include a fracturing fluid, or an acidizing about Z.' unless indicated otherwise. fluid. US 9,670,395 B2 7 8 As used herein, the term “clean-up fluid refers to fluids between tubing and outer casing above a packer. In various or slurries used downhole during clean-up activities of the examples, the packer fluid can provide hydrostatic pressure well. Such as any treatment to remove material obstructing in order to lower differential pressure across the sealing the flow of desired material from the subterranean forma element, lower differential pressure on the wellbore and tion. In one example, a clean-up fluid can be an acidification 5 casing to prevent collapse, and protect metals and elasto treatment to remove material formed by one or more per mers from corrosion. foration treatments. In another example, a clean-up fluid can As used herein, the term “fluid refers to liquids and gels, be used to remove a filter cake. unless otherwise indicated. As used herein, the term “fracturing fluid refers to fluids As used herein, the term "subterranean material' or or slurries used downhole during fracturing operations. 10 “subterranean formation” refers to any material under the As used herein, the term “spotting fluid refers to fluids or surface of the earth, including under the surface of the slurries used downhole during spotting operations, and can bottom of the ocean. For example, a Subterranean material be any fluid designed for localized treatment of a downhole can be any section of a wellbore and any section of an region. In one example, a spotting fluid can include a lost underground formation in fluid contact with the wellbore, circulation material for treatment of a specific section of the 15 including any materials placed into the wellbore Such as wellbore, such as to seal off fractures in the wellbore and cement, drill shafts, liners, tubing, or screens. In some prevent sag. In another example, a spotting fluid can include examples, a Subterranean material can be any below-ground a water control material. In some examples, a spotting fluid area that can produce liquid or gaseous petroleum materials, can be designed to free a stuck piece of drilling or extraction water, or any section below-ground in fluid contact there equipment, can reduce torque and drag with drilling lubri with. cants, prevent differential sticking, promote wellbore stabil Method of Treating a Subterranean Formation Using a ity, and can help to control mud weight. Composition Including an Exopolysaccharide. As used herein, the term “production fluid refers to fluids In various embodiments, the present invention provides a or slurries used downhole during the production phase of a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method well. Production fluids can include downhole treatments 25 includes obtaining or providing a composition including an designed to maintain or increase the production rate of a exopolysaccharide. The exopolysaccharide is provided by at well. Such as perforation treatments, clean-up treatments, or least one of Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant remedial treatments. microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism As used herein, the term “completion fluid refers to forms the at least one exopolysaccharide, and Subjecting a fluids or slurries used downhole during the completion phase 30 microorganism genetically modified using an extremophilic of a well, including cementing compositions. or extremotolerant microorganism to conditions such that As used herein, the term “remedial treatment fluid” refers the microorganism forms the at least one exopolysaccharide. to fluids or slurries used downhole for remedial treatment of The method also includes contacting the composition with a a well. Remedial treatments can include treatments designed Subterranean material downhole. to increase or maintain the production rate of a well. Such as 35 The composition that contacts the Subterranean material stimulation or clean-up treatments. can be formed in any suitable location and at any Suitable As used herein, the term “abandonment fluid' refers to time with respect to the production of the compound that fluids or slurries used downhole during or preceding the modifies a property of the composition, Such as the Viscosity. abandonment phase of a well. In various examples, the composition can be formed above As used herein, the term “acidizing fluid refers to fluids 40 the surface, in the borehole above a location wherein the or slurries used downhole during acidizing treatments down properties of the composition are desired to be modified, or hole. In one example, an acidizing fluid is used in a clean-up at or near the downhole location wherein the composition operation to remove material obstructing the flow of desired including the exopolysaccharide is contacted with the Sub material. Such as material formed during a perforation terranean material. In some embodiments, the obtaining or operation. In some examples, an acidizing fluid can be used 45 providing of the composition is performed downhole; e.g., for damage removal. an exopolysaccharide can be placed downhole (e.g., As used herein, the term “cementing fluid refers to fluids pumped, injected) to join a downhole fluid mixture that is or slurries used during cementing operations of a well. For present downhole to form the composition that contacts the example, a cementing fluid can include an aqueous mixture Subterranean material. In another embodiment, the obtaining including at least one of cement and cement kiln dust. In 50 or providing of the composition can be performed above the another example, a cementing fluid can include a curable surface, e.g. a suitable downhole fluid can be combined with resinous material such as a polymer that is in an at least the exopolysaccharide above the surface to form the com partially uncured State. position that can contact the Subterranean material downhole As used herein, the term “water control material' refers to and experience a change in properties, such as an increase in a Solid or liquid material that interacts with aqueous material 55 Viscosity. downhole. Such that hydrophobic material can more easily The at least one exopolysaccharide can be provided in any travel to the surface and such that hydrophilic material suitable location and at any suitable time with respect to the (including water) can less easily travel to the Surface. A contacting of the composition including the exopolysaccha water control material can be used to treat a well to cause the ride and the subterranean material. For example, the at least proportion of water produced to decrease and to cause the 60 one exopolysaccharide can be formed by the microorganism proportion of hydrocarbons produced to increase, such as by that is subjected to suitable conditions above the surface, or selectively binding together material between water-produc downhole, or a combination thereof. ing subterranean formations and the wellbore while still The conditions the microorganism is subjected to Such allowing hydrocarbon-producing formations to maintain that it forms the exopolysaccharide can be any Suitable output. 65 conditions. In some embodiments, the conditions can be As used herein, the term “packing fluid refers to fluids or non-extreme conditions, such as for a microorganism that slurries that can be placed in the annular region of a well has been modified using genetic material of an extremo US 9,670,395 B2 10 philic or extremotolerant microorganism to make an exopo about 70,000 ppmw, about 40 ppmw to about 2,500 ppmw. lysaccharide. In other embodiments, the conditions can be or about 1 ppmw or less, or about 10 ppmw, 20, 50, 100, 200, extreme conditions, such as for a microorganism that is 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, extremophilic or extremotolerant. In various embodiments, 50,000, or about 70,000 ppmw or more. During the subject extreme conditions can include conditions typically consid ing the microorganism to conditions such that it forms the ered at least one of high, ultra, or extreme (e.g., any exopolysaccharide, the concentration of Ca' ions can be conditions beyond normal can be considered extreme); in any suitable concentration of Ca" ions, such as about 1 to other embodiments extreme conditions include only condi about 70,000, or about 40 to about 2,500, or about 1 ppmw tions typically considered extreme conditions. In some or less, or about 10 ppmw, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, embodiments, the conditions the microorganism is subjected 10 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, 50,000, or to Such that it forms the exopolysaccharide include at least about 70,000 ppmw or more. During the subjecting the one of high temperature conditions, high Salinity conditions, microorganism to conditions such that it forms the exopo high pressure conditions, and high pH conditions, and low lysaccharide, the concentration of Br ions can be any pH conditions. suitable concentration of Br ions, such as about 0.1 ppmw The microorganism can be subject to the conditions 15 to about 12,000 ppmw, about 5 ppmw to about 450 ppmw. Sufficient for production of the exopolysaccharide in any During the Subjecting the microorganism to conditions Suitable manner. In some embodiments, the microorganism Such that it forms the exopolysaccharide, the pressure can be can be placed in a suitable container with Suitable growth any suitable pressure. In some embodiments, during the medium or other Suitable medium Such that the microorgan Subjecting the microorganism to conditions such that it ism can synthesize the exopolysaccharide. Once a suitable forms the exopolysaccharide, the conditions can include a concentration of exopolysaccharide has been produced, in pressure of about 5,000 psi to about 200,000 psi, about Some embodiments the exopolysaccharide can be separated 10,000 psi to about 100,000 psi, or about 5,000 psi or less, from the microorganism and other materials before being or about 7,500, 10,000, 12,500, 15,000, 17,500, 20,000, placed downhole. In some embodiments, the method can 22,500, 25,000, 27,500, 30,000, 32,500, 35,000, 37,500, include culturing the microorganism Such that it multiplies, 25 40,000, 42,500, 45,000, 47,500, 50,000, 60,000, 75,000, prior to or during the Subjecting of the microorganism to 100,000, 125,000, 150,000, 175,000, or about 200,000 psi or conditions suitable for exopolysaccharide formation. O. During the Subjecting the microorganism to conditions During the Subjecting the microorganism to conditions Such that it forms the exopolysaccharide, the temperature Such that it forms the exopolysaccharide, the pH can be any can be any Suitable temperature. In some embodiments, 30 Suitable pH. In some embodiments, during the Subjecting the during the Subjecting the microorganism to conditions such microorganism to conditions such that it forms the exopo that it forms the exopolysaccharide, the conditions can lysaccharide, the conditions can include a pH of about -20 include a temperature of about 50 to about 600°C., or about to about 20, about -1 to about 14, or about -20 or less, or 150 to about 500° C., or less than about 50° C., or about 60° about -19, -18, -17, -16, -15, -14, -13, -12, -11, -10, -9, C., 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 35 -8, -7, -6, -5,-4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or about 20 or more. 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 375, 400, 450, 500, or about 600° The Viscosity of the composition including the exopoly C. or higher. saccharide can be any suitable viscosity, such as about 0.01 During the Subjecting the microorganism to conditions cP to 1,000,000,000 cp or more (e.g., the composition can be Such that it forms the exopolysaccharide, the salinity can be 40 a gel having essentially infinite viscosity), 1 cP to about any suitable salinity. In some embodiments, during the 100,000,000, or about 10 cP to about 1,000,000, or about Subjecting the microorganism to conditions such that it 0.01 cP or less, or about 0.1 cP 1 cP, 5 cB, 10 cP, 15 cP. 20 forms the exopolysaccharide, the conditions can include a cP, 50 cB, 100 cP, 200 cB, 500 cP 1000 cP, 5000 cP, 10,000 salt concentration of about 0.000,000.1 g/L to about 250 g/L, cP, 50,000 cB, 100,000 cP 500,000 cP 1,000,000 cP, 10,000, or about 10 g/L to about 250 g/L, or about 0.000,000.1 g/L 45 000 cP, 100,000,000 cP, 500,000,000 cP, or about 1,000, or less, or about 0.000,001 g/L, 0.000,01, 0.000, 1, 0.001, 000,000 cp or more. The composition can be a gel, such as 0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, a thixotropic gel. 70, 75, 80,90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275 g/L, In various embodiments, the composition that includes an or about 300 g/L or more. The salt can include at least one exopolysaccharide can include any one or more additional of NaCl, NaBr, CaCl, CaBr, or ZnBr. During the sub 50 ingredients. For example, the composition can include jecting the microorganism to conditions such that it forms water, saline, aqueous base, oil, organic solvent, synthetic the exopolysaccharide, the concentration of Nations can be fluid oil phase, aqueous solution, alcohol or polyol, cellu any suitable concentration of Na' ions, such as about 5 lose, starch, alkalinity control agent, density control agent, ppmw to about 200,000 ppmw, or about 100 ppmw to about density modifier, emulsifier, dispersant, polymeric stabilizer, 7,000 ppmw, or about 5 ppmw or less, or about 10 ppmw, 50. 55 crosslinking agent, polyacrylamide, polymer or combination 100, 500, 1000, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 50,000, of polymers, antioxidant, heat stabilizer, foam control agent, 75,000, 100,000, 150,000, or about 200,000 ppmw or higher. Solvent, diluent, plasticizer, filler or inorganic particle, pig During the Subjecting the microorganism to conditions such ment, dye, precipitating agent, rheology modifier, oil-wet that it forms the exopolysaccharide, the concentration of Cl ting agent, set retarding additive, Surfactant, gas, weight ions can be any suitable concentration of C1 ions, such as 60 reducing additive, heavy-weight additive, lost circulation about 10 ppmw to about 400,000 ppmw, about 200 ppmw to material, filtration control additive, dispersant, salt, fiber, about 14,000 ppmw, or about 10 ppmw or less, or about 20, thixotropic additive, breaker, crosslinker, gas, rheology 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, modifier, density control agent, curing accelerator, curing 12,500, or about 14,000 ppmw or more. During the subject retarder, pH modifier, chelating agent, Scale inhibitor, ing the microorganism to conditions such that it forms the 65 enzyme, resin, water control material, polymer, oxidizer, a exopolysaccharide, the concentration of K" ions can be any marker, Portland cement, poZZolana cement, gypsum suitable concentration of K' ions, such as about 1 ppmw to cement, high alumina content cement, slag cement, silica US 9,670,395 B2 11 12 cement fly ash, metakaolin, shale, Zeolite, a crystalline silica modifier, density control agent, curing accelerator, curing compound, amorphous silica, fibers, a hydratable clay, retarder, pH modifier, chelating agent, Scale inhibitor, microspheres, poZZolan lime, or a combination thereof. Any enzyme, resin, water control material, polymer, oxidizer, a one or more components listed in this paragraph can option marker, Portland cement, poZZolana cement, gypsum ally be present or absent from the composition including the cement, high alumina content cement, slag cement, silica exopolysaccharide. cement fly ash, metakaolin, shale, Zeolite, a crystalline silica In some embodiments, the exopolysaccharide can modify compound, amorphous silica, fibers, a hydratable clay, at least one of the density, Surface tension of the composition microspheres, poZZolan lime, or a combination thereof. Any (e.g. intraficial Surface tension of an emulsion including the one or more components listed in this paragraph can option composition), size of the droplets or particles including the 10 ally be present or absent from the composition including a composition in an emulsion, stability of an emulsion includ microorganism. ing the composition, vapor pressure, propensity toward By at least one of adjusting various conditions such as foaming or toward retention of foam, and ease of revers temperature, pressure, Salinity, or pH, or by adding or ibility of increase in viscosity. removing additional ingredients or adjusting the concentra Method of Treating a Subterranean Formation Using a 15 tion thereof, modifying the concentration of the microor Composition Including a Microorganism. ganism, the beginning and ending viscosity or other prop In various embodiments, the present invention provides a erties of the composition can be precisely controlled. In method of treating a subterranean formation. The method addition, variation of other parameters, such as those can include obtaining or providing a composition including described in this paragraph, can cause variation in other a microorganism, the composition having a viscosity. The properties of the composition aside from Viscosity. In some method can include contacting the composition with a embodiments, the properties that can be varied and in some Subterranean material downhole. The contacting can occur embodiments controlled precisely can include density, Sur under conditions such that the microorganism produces at face tension of the composition (e.g. intraficial Surface least one compound, such as an exopolysaccharide, that tension of an emulsion including the composition), size of changes a property of the composition, such as that increases 25 the droplets or particles including the composition in an the Viscosity of the composition. In some embodiments, the emulsion, stability of an emulsion including the composi method includes obtaining or providing a composition tion, vapor pressure, propensity toward foaming or toward including a microorganism, and contacting the composition retention of foam, and ease of reversibility of increase in with a subterranean material downhole, such that the micro Viscosity. By virtue of the temperature, pressure, Salinity, or organism produces and exopolysaccharide. 30 pH sensitive nature of properties of the composition Such as The composition that contacts the Subterranean material Viscosity, the variation of the properties can be advanta can be formed in any suitable location and at any suitable geously caused to occur prior to the desired use of the time with respect to the production of the compound that composition, or at the location where the particular proper modifies a property of the composition, Such as the Viscosity. ties are desired. The variation of the properties can be In various examples, the composition can be formed above 35 advantageously caused to occur in a portion of the compo the surface, in the borehole above a location wherein the sition near or at the site where the particular properties are properties of the composition are desired to be modified, or desired, while allowing the properties of the remainder of at or near the downhole location wherein the composition the composition to remain the same. including a microorganism is contacted with the Subterra Conditions. During Contacting of Composition and Subter nean material. In some embodiments, the obtaining or 40 ranean Material. providing of the composition is performed downhole; e.g., a The conditions during the contacting of the composition microorganism can be placed downhole (e.g., pumped, with the subterranean material downhole can be any suitable injected) to join a downhole fluid mixture that is present conditions. In some embodiments, the conditions can be downhole to form the composition that contacts the subter non-extreme conditions. In various embodiments, extreme ranean material and that experiences a change in properties, 45 conditions can include conditions typically considered at Such as an increase in viscosity. In another embodiment, the least one of high, ultra, or extreme; in other embodiments obtaining or providing of the composition can be performed extreme conditions include only extreme conditions. In above the surface, e.g. a suitable downhole fluid can be Some embodiments, during the contacting of the composi combined with the microorganism above the surface to form tion with the subterranean material downhole, the conditions the composition that can contact the Subterranean material 50 include at least one of high temperature conditions, high downhole and experience a change in properties, such as an salinity conditions, high pressure conditions, and high pH increase in Viscosity. conditions, and lower pH conditions. In various embodiments, the composition that includes a During the contacting of the composition with the Sub microorganism can include any one or more additional terranean material, the downhole temperature can be any ingredients. For example, the composition can include 55 Suitable temperature. In some embodiments, during the water, saline, aqueous base, oil, organic solvent, synthetic contacting of the composition with the Subterranean material fluid oil phase, aqueous solution, alcohol or polyol, cellu downhole, the conditions can include a temperature of about lose, starch, alkalinity control agent, density control agent, 50 to about 600° C., or about 150 to about 500° C., or less density modifier, emulsifier, dispersant, polymeric stabilizer, than about 50° C., or about 60°C., 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, crosslinking agent, polyacrylamide, polymer or combination 60 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, of polymers, antioxidant, heat stabilizer, foam control agent, 250, 260,270, 280, 290, 300, 310,320,330, 340,350,375, Solvent, diluent, plasticizer, filler or inorganic particle, pig 400, 450, 500, or about 600° C. or higher. ment, dye, precipitating agent, rheology modifier, oil-wet During the contacting of the composition with the Sub ting agent, set retarding additive, Surfactant, gas, weight terranean material, the downhole salinity can be any Suitable reducing additive, heavy-weight additive, lost circulation 65 salinity. In some embodiments, during the contacting of the material, filtration control additive, dispersant, salt, fiber, composition with the subterranean material downhole, the thixotropic additive, breaker, crosslinker, gas, rheology conditions can include a salt concentration of about 0.000, US 9,670,395 B2 13 14 000, 1 g/L to about 250 g/L, or about 10 g/L to about 250 g/L, about 0.01 cP-500,000 cP, 0.1 cB-100,000 cP, or about 0.2 or about 0.000,000.1 g/L or less, or about 0.000,001 g/L, cP-10,000 cp, measured at standard temperature and pres 0.000,01, 0.000, 1, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, Sure. In various examples, the viscosity of the composition 35, 40, 45, 50,55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80,90, 100,125, 150, 175, prior to contacting with the Subterranean material can be 200, 225, 250, 275 g/L, or about 300 g/L or more. The salt about 0.01 cB, 0.1 cP, 1 cP, 5 cP, 10 cP, 15 cB, 20 cP, 50 cP. can include at least one of NaCl, NaBr, CaCl2, CaBr, or 100 cP, 200 cP 500 cP 1000 cP 5000 cP, 10,000 cP, 50,000 ZnBr. During the contacting of the composition with the cP 100,000 cP, or about 500,000 cP, measured at standard subterranean material, the downhole concentration of Na" temperature and pressure. ions can be any Suitable concentration of Nations, such as The increase in Viscosity can be any suitable increase in about 5 ppmw to about 200,000 ppmw, or about 100 ppmw 10 Viscosity. In some examples, the increase in viscosity is a to about 7,000 ppmw, or about 5 ppmw or less, or about 10 thickening of the composition. In some examples, the ppmw, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, increase in Viscosity can be so great that it can be charac 50,000, 75,000, 100,000, 150,000, or about 200,000 ppmw terized as a gelling of the composition. As used herein, “gel or higher. During the contacting of the composition with the refers to a solid, jelly-like material that can have properties subterranean material, the downhole concentration of Cl 15 ranging from Soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels can be ions can be any suitable concentration of Cl ions, such as substantially dilute crosslinked systems, which can exhibit about 10 ppmw to about 400,000 ppmw, about 200 ppmw to little or no flow. Gels can behave like solids or thick liquids about 14,000 ppmw, or about 10 ppmw or less, or about 20, but include predominantly liquid by weight. In some 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, embodiments, the resulting viscosity after contacting with 12,500, or about 14,000 ppmw or more. During the contact the Subterranean material and after generation of a com ing of the composition with the Subterranean material, the pound that modifies the Viscosity of the composition can be downhole concentration of K' ions can be any suitable an intermediate viscosity, wherein the viscosity of the com concentration of K" ions, such as about 1 ppmw to about position can be further increased at a later time. In some 70,000 ppmw, about 40 ppmw to about 2,500 ppmw, or embodiments, the resulting viscosity after contacting with about 1 ppmw or less, or about 10 ppmw, 20, 50, 100, 200, 25 the Subterranean material and after generation of a com 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, pound that modifies the viscosity of the composition before 50,000, or about 70,000 ppmw or more. During the contact or after contacting with the Subterranean material, can be a ing of the composition with the Subterranean material, the final viscosity, with little or no further viscosity increase downhole concentration of Ca" ions can be any suitable occurring later in the composition. The resulting viscosity of concentration of Ca" ions, such as about 1 to about 70,000, 30 the composition can be 0.01 cP to 1,000,000,000 cB or more or about 40 to about 2,500, or about 1 ppmw or less, or about (e.g., the composition can be a gel having essentially infinite 10 ppmw, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, viscosity), 1 cP to about 100,000,000, or about 10 cP to 15,000, 20,000, 25,000, 50,000, or about 70,000 ppmw or about 1,000,000, or about 0.01 cp or less, or about 0.1 cP 1 more. During the contacting of the composition with the cP 5 cP, 10 cP, 15 cP. 20 cP, 50 cP, 100 cP, 200 cP, 500 cP. subterranean material, the downhole concentration of Br 35 1000 cP, 5000 cP, 10,000 cB, 50,000 cB, 100,000 cP 500,000 ions can be any suitable concentration of Br ions, such as cP 1,000,000 cP, 10,000,000 cP, 100,000,000 cP, 500,000, about 0.1 ppmw to about 12,000 ppmw, about 5 ppmw to 000 cP, or about 1,000,000,000 cP or more. about 450 ppmw. In some embodiments, the increase in Viscosity or gela During the contacting of the composition with the Sub tion can be reversible. In other embodiments, the increase in terranean material, the downhole pressure can be any Suit 40 Viscosity or gelation can be irreversible. In some embodi able pressure. In some embodiments, during the contacting ments, the gel can be a thixotropic gel. of the composition with the subterranean material downhole, Microorganism the conditions can include a pressure of about 5,000 psi to The microorganism in various embodiments of the pres about 200,000 psi, about 10,000 psi to about 100,000 psi, or ent invention can be any Suitable microorganism, Such that about 5,000 psi or less, or about 7,500, 10,000, 12,500, 45 the microorganism can generate a compound Such as an 15,000, 17,500, 20,000, 22,500, 25,000, 27,500, 30,000, exopolysaccharide, wherein the compound can changes the 32,500, 35,000, 37,500, 40,000, 42,500, 45,000, 47,500, properties of a composition used downhole, such as Viscos 50,000, 60,000, 75,000, 100,000, 125,000, 150,000, 175, ity. The microorganism can be any microorganism that 000, or about 200,000 psi or more. generates an exopolysaccharide that can be used downhole During the contacting of the composition with the Sub 50 to change the properties of the composition, such as the terranean material, the downhole pH can be any suitable pH. Viscosity. In some embodiments, the microorganism can In some embodiments, during the contacting of the compo generate the exopolysaccharide above the Surface, while in sition with the subterranean material downhole, the condi Some embodiments, the microorganism can generate the tions can include a pH of about -20 to about 20, about -1 exopolysaccharide downhole. In embodiments, the compo to about 14, or about -20 or less, or about -19, -18, -17, 55 sition can include any suitable number of microorganisms, -16, -15, -14, -13, -12, -11, -10, -9, -8, -7, -6, -5,-4, including any Suitable number of different microorganisms, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and any Suitable concentration of each individual type of 16, 17, 18, 19, or about 20 or more. microorganism. The Viscosity of the composition prior to the contacting of In some embodiments, the microorganism can be an the composition with the Subterranean formation can be any 60 extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism, which at Suitable viscosity. In some embodiments, the composition least one of thrives, tolerates, or Survives in extreme con prior to contacting with the Subterranean material (e.g. ditions. In some examples, the microorganism can be at least before placing downhole, or before the composition reaches one of acidophilic, acidotolerant, alkaliphilic, alkalitolerant, the subterranean material downhole) can be free-flowing, anaerobic, cryptoendolithic, halophilic, halotolerant, hyper while in other embodiments the composition can be a thick 65 thermophilic, hyperthermotolerant, hypolithoc, lithoauto liquid. In various examples, the Viscosity of the composition trophic, metallophilic, metallotolerant, oligotrophic, osmo prior to contacting with the Subterranean material can be philic, osmotolerant, piezophilic, piezotolerant, US 9,670,395 B2 15 16 polyextremophilic, polyextremotolerant, psychrophilic, psy Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena hispanica, Lactoba chrotolerant, cryophilic, cryotolerant, radioresistant, ther cillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leuconostoc dextranicum, mophilic, thermotolerant, thermoacidophilic, thermoacido Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Methanococcus jannaschii, tolerant, Xerophilic, or Xerotolerant. Natronobacterium gregoryi, Palleronia marisminoris, Pan In some embodiments, the microorganism can be a micro toea stewartii subsp. Stewartii, Phoma herbarum, Pseudo organism that has been genetically modified using genetic alteromonas antarctica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, material from an extremophilic or extremotolerant organ Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyrococcus firiosus, Pyrolobus ism, such that the modified microorganism can generate an fiumarii, Salipiger mucosus, Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium exopolysaccharide that can be generated by the extremo glucanicum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, philic or extremotolerant organism. In some embodiments, 10 Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, the genetically modified organism can synthesize an exopo Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Tetragenococ lysaccharide under non-extreme conditions; in other cus halophilus, Thermococcus litoralis, Thermotoga mar embodiments, the genetically modified organism can Syn itima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio Diabolicus, Xanthomonas thesis the exopolysaccharide under extreme conditions. The campestris, and Zymomonas mobilis. Any one of the micro genetic modification can occur in any Suitable manner. For 15 organisms listed in this paragraph can be an example of an example, the genetic modification can include insertion of extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism, or of a genes from an extremophilic or extremotolerant microor microorganism that can generate an exopolysaccharide. ganism into the microorganism to be modified, wherein the Exopolysaccharide genes inserted allow the modified microorganism to produce Various embodiments of the present invention provide an exopolysaccharide that is produced by the extremophilic methods of using compositions that include exopolysaccha or extremotolerant microorganism. rides and methods of using compositions that include micro The microorganism can be at least one of archaea, bac organisms that generate exopolysaccharides. Some embodi teria, fungi, and algea. The microorganism is not limited to ments provide compositions that include the microorganisms listed herein, and can be any Suitable exopolysaccharides or compositions that include microor microorganism that is extremophilic, extremotolerant, that 25 ganisms that can make exopolysaccharides. The exopoly can generate an exopolysaccharide, or that can be geneti saccharide can be any Suitable exopolysaccharide. cally modified to produce an exopolysaccharide. In some Exopolysaccharides are high-molecular-weight polymers examples, the microorganism can be at least one of Aceto that are composed of Sugar residues and are secreted by bacter, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobac microorganisms into the Surrounding environment. They can terium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, 30 make up a substantial component of the extracellular poly Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo mers Surrounding most microbial cells in extreme environ halobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo ments like Antarctic ecosystems, saline lakes, geothermal bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, springs, or deep sea hydrothermal vents. Extremophile Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, microorganisms have developed various adaptation strate Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, 35 gies, enabling them to compensate for the deleterious effects Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu of extreme conditions, high temperatures and salt concen conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte trations, low pH or temperature, and high radiation. Among rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte these strategies, the exopolysaccharide biosynthesis is one rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, of the most common protective mechanisms. Many micro Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, 40 organisms (many species of Gram-positive and Gram-nega Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, tive bacteria, archaea, fungi and Some alga) can produce Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, extracellular polysaccharides. Exopolysaccharides can be Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, found as in capsular material or as dispersed slime in the Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. In some embodi Surrounding environment with no obvious association to any ments, the microorganism can be at least one of Acetobacter 45 one particular cell. xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Aeropyrum permix, In some examples, exopolysaccharides can be heteropo Agrobacterium radiobacter; Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxo lysaccharides containing three or four different monosac genes, Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas hispanica, Altero charides arranged in groups of 10 or less to form the monas infernus, Alteromonas macleodii Subsp. Fijiensis, repeating units. Exopolysaccharides can be linear and can Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Aureomonas elo 50 have any Suitable average molecular weight, Such as an dea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus average molecular weight ranging from about 1x10 Da to megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermodenitrificans, about 1x10 Da, or about 3x10 Da to about 10x10 Da. Beijerinckia indica, Chromohalobacter beijerinckii, Col They can include monosaccharide and noncarbohydrate wellia psychrerythraea, Escherichia coli, Exiguobacterium Substituents (such as acetate, pyruvate, Succinate, and phos acetylicum, Exiguobacterium aestuarii, Exiguobacterium 55 phate). Some EPSs are neutral macromolecules, and some antarticum, Exiguobacterium artmeiae, Exiguobacterium are polyanionic due to, for example, the presence of uronic aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium marinum, Exiguobacterium acids or ketal-linked pyruvate or inorganic residues. The mexicanum, Exiguobacterium oxidotolerans, Exiguobacte exopolysaccharides synthesized by microorganisms can rium profimsum, Exiguobacterium Sibiricum, Exiguobacte vary greatly in their composition and hence in their chemical rium undae, Geobacillus tepidamans, Geothermobacterium 60 and physical properties. Components of exopolysaccharides ferrireducens, Hahella cheiuensis, Haloarcula hispanica, can include, for example, monosaccharides such as pentoses Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacte (e.g., D-arabinose, D-Ribose, and D-Xylose), hexoses (e.g., rium noricense, Halobiforma haloterrestris, Halococcus D-Glucose, D-Galactose, D-Mannose, D-Allose, L-Rham dombrowski, Halococcus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrifi nose, L-Fucose), amino Sugars (e.g., D-Glucosamine and cans, Haloferax gibbonsii, Haloferax mediterranei, 65 D-Galactosamine) or uronic acids (e.g., D-Glucuronic acids Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas alkaliantarctica, Halomo and D-Galacturonic acids). Organic or inorganic Substitu nas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, Halomonas salaria, ents such as Sulphate, phosphate, acetic acid, Succinic acid US 9,670,395 B2 17 18 and pyruvic acid can be present. The linkages between sii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, monosaccharides can be any Suitable linkage, such as 1,4-B- Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus or 1,3-B-linkages in the backbones of Some exopolysaccha solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Thermococcus rides having stronger rigidity, or Such as 1.2-C- or 1,6-O- litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio linkages in Some exopolysaccharides having greater flex Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Campestris, and Zymomonas ibility. mobilis. In some embodiments of the present invention, the exopo The exopolysaccharide can be any Suitable exopolysac lysaccharide can be at least one of acetan, alginate, cellulose, charide made by any suitable microorganism, so long as the chitosan, curdlan, a cyclosophoran, dextran, emulsan, a exopolysaccharide or microorganism can be used in an galactoglucopolysaccharide, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl 10 embodiment of the method described herein. For example, glucosamine, N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, indicant, acetan can be made by Acetobacter species, such as Aceto kefiran, lentinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, bacter xylinum. Alginate can be made by Azotobacter spe Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succinoglycan, Xanthan, and cies, such as Azotobacter vinelandii. Cellulose can be made welan. In some embodiments, the exopolysaccharide can be by Acetobacter species, such as Acetobacter xylinum. Chi the same as a polysaccharide made by at least one micro 15 tosan can be made by Mucorales species. Curdlan can be organism chosen from (e.g. can be made by the microor made by Alcaligenes species, such as Alcaligenes faecalis ganism or by a different microorganism) Acetobacter; Ach var. myxogenes, such as Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxo romobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, genes. Cyclosophorans can be made by Agrobacterium Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, species, Rhizobium species, or Xanthomonas. Dextran can Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo be made by Leuconostoc species or lactobacillus species, halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo Such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc dextrani bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, cum and Lactobacillus hilgardii. Emulsan can be made by Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, Acinetobacter species, such as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, Galactoglucopolysaccharides can be made by Achromo Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu 25 bacter species, Agrobacterium species, Agrobacterium spe conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte cies, or Rhizobium species, such as Agrobacterium radio rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte bacter, or Pseudomonas marginalis. Gellan can be made by rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, Aureomonas species, or Sphingomonas species, such as Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Aureomonas elodea or Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Glu Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, 30 curonan can be made by Sinorhizobium species, such as Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Sinorhizobium meliloti. N-Acetyl-glucosamine can be made Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, by Staphylococcus species, such as Staphylococcus epider Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. In some embodi midis. N-Acetyl-heparosan can be made by Escherichia ments, the exopolysaccharide can be the same as a polysac species, such as Escherichia coli. Hyaluronic acid can be charide made by at least one microorganism chosen from 35 made by Streptococcus species, such as Streptococcus equi. (e.g. can be made by the microorganism or by a different Indican can be made by Beijerinckia species, such as Bei microorganism) Acetobacter xylinum, Acinetobacter cal jerinckia indica. Kefiran can be made by Lactobacillus coaceticus, Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacterium radiobacter; species, such as Lactobacillus hilgardii. Lentinan can be Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, made by Lentinus species, such as Lentinus elodes. Levan Alteromonas hispanica, Alteromonas infernus, Alteromonas 40 can be made by Alcaligenes species, Zymomonas species, or macleodii Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus Bacillus species, such as Alcaligenes viscosus, Zymomonas fiulgidus, Aureomonas elodea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacil mobilis, or Bacillus subtilis. Pullulan can be made by lus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Aureobasidium species. Such as Aureobasidium pullulans. Bacillus thermodenitrificans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromo Scleroglucan can be made be Sclerotium species, such as halobacter beijerinckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escheri 45 Sclerotium rolfsii, Sclerotium delfinii and Sclerotium glu chia coli, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium canicum. Schizophyllan can be made by Schizophylum aestuarii, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium commune. Stewartan can be made by Pantoea species, such artmeiae, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium as Pantoea stewartii, such as Pantoea Stewartii Subsp. marinum, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exiguobacterium Stewartii. Succinoglycan can be made by Alcaligenes spe Oxidotolerans, Exiguobacterium profiumsun, Exiguobacte 50 cies, or Sinorhizobium species, such as Alcaligenes faecalis, rium Sibiricum, Exiguobacterium undae, Geobacillus tepi Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes, or Sinorhizobium meli damans, Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, Hahella che loti. Xanthan can be made by Xanthomonas species, such as juensis, Haloarcula hispanica, Haloarcula japonica, Xanthomonas Campestris. Welan can be made by Alcali Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacterium noricense, Halo genes species. Mauran can be made by Halomonas species, biforma haloterrestris, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococ 55 Such as Halomonas maura. cus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbon Downhole Mixture or Composition. sii, Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas In various embodiments, at least one of before, during, or alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, after the contacting of the Subterranean material and the Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena composition including at least one of a microorganism and hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leu 60 an exopolysaccharide, the composition including at least one conostoc dextranicum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Metha of a microorganism and an exopolysaccharide that is con nococcus jannaschii, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Pallero tacted with a Subterranean material can be any Suitable nia marisminoris, Pantoea Stewartii Subsp. Stewartii, downhole composition, Such as any Suitable composition Phoma herbarum, Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, used downhole for the drilling, completion, and production Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyro 65 phases of a well. In various examples, the composition can coccus furiosus, Pyrolobus fimarii, Salipiger mucosus, be formed above the surface, in the borehole above a Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolf location wherein the properties of the composition are US 9,670,395 B2 19 20 desired to be modified, or at or near the downhole location the influx of drilling fluid into the porous material, and thus wherein the composition including at least one of a micro preserve the integrity of the borehole organism and an exopolysaccharide is contacted with the A drilling fluid, also known as a drilling mud or simply Subterranean material. In some examples, at least one of a “mud,” is a specially designed fluid that is circulated through microorganism and an exopolysaccharide can include a a wellbore as the wellbore is being drilled to facilitate the Suitable carrier material Such as water or another solvent, drilling operation. The drilling fluid can be water-based or and can be injected downhole to join a downhole fluid that oil-based. The drilling fluid can carry cuttings up from is present downhole to form the composition that contacts beneath and around the bit, transport them up the annulus, the Subterranean material and that experiences a change in and allow their separation. Also, a drilling fluid can cool and properties, such as an increase in viscosity. In another 10 lubricate the drill head as well as reducing friction between embodiment, a downhole fluid can be combined with at least the drill string and the sides of the hole. The drilling fluid one of the microorganism or the exopolysaccharide above aids in support of the drill pipe and drill head, and provides the Surface to form the composition that can contact the a hydrostatic head to maintain the integrity of the wellbore Subterranean material downhole and experience a change in walls and prevent well blowouts. Specific drilling fluid properties. Such as an increase in Viscosity. 15 systems can be selected to optimize a drilling operation in For example, in Some examples, the microorganism or accordance with the characteristics of a particular geological exopolysaccharide can be combined with any Suitable down formation. The drilling fluid can be formulated to prevent hole fluid, such as a drilling fluid, stimulation fluid, fractur unwanted influxes of formation fluids from permeable rocks ing fluid, spotting fluid, clean-up fluid, production fluid, penetrated and also to form a thin, low permeability filter completion fluid, remedial treatment fluid, abandonment cake which temporarily seals pores, other openings, and fluid, pill, acidizing fluid, cementing fluid, packer fluid, or a formations penetrated by the bit. In water-based drilling combination thereof, to form the composition for contacting fluids, Solid particles are suspended in a water or brine with the subterranean material. A mixture that is contacted Solution containing other components. Oils or other non with the Subterranean material can include any Suitable 25 aqueous liquids can be emulsified in the water or brine or at weight percent of the microorganism, the exopolysaccha least partially solubilized (for less hydrophobic non-aqueous ride, or the combination thereof, such as about 0.000,000.01 liquids), but water is the continuous phase. wt % to 99.999,99 wt %, 0.000, 1-99.9 wt %, 0.1 wt % to A water-based drilling fluid in embodiments of the present 99.9 wt %, or about 20-90 wt %, or about 0.000,000,01 wit invention can be any suitable water-based drilling fluid. In % or less, or about 0.000,001 wt %, 0.000, 1, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 30 various embodiments, the drilling fluid can include at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 85, 90,91, one of water (fresh or brine), a salt (e.g., calcium chloride, 92,93, 94, 95, 96, 97,98, 99,99.9, 99.99, 99.999, 99.9999, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, or about 99.999.99 wt % or more of the composition. calcium bromide, Sodium bromide, potassium bromide, cal In some examples, the composition including at least one cium nitrate, Sodium formate, potassium formate, cesium of a microorganism and an exopolysaccharide can be used to 35 formate), aqueous base (e.g., Sodium hydroxide or potas modify the viscosity of the drilling fluid or other downhole sium hydroxide), alcohol or polyol, cellulose, starches, fluid at a desired time or in a desired place, such as before alkalinity control agents, density control agents such as a or after placing the drilling fluid or other fluid downhole, or density modifier (e.g. barium sulfate), Surfactants (e.g. before, during, or after contacting a Subterranean material betaines, alkali metal alkylene acetates, Sultaines, ether with the drilling fluid or other fluid. In some embodiments, 40 carboxylates), emulsifiers, dispersants, polymeric Stabiliz the composition advantageously allows adjustment of the ers, crosslinking agents, polyacrylamides, polymers or com viscosity or other properties of the drilling fluid or other fluid binations of polymers, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, foam as needed while the drilling fluid or other fluid is being used. control agents, solvents, diluents, plasticizers, filler or inor In some examples, the time or location of the microorgan ganic particles (e.g. silica), pigments, dyes, precipitating ism’s production or rate of production of a compound Such 45 agents (e.g., silicates or aluminum complexes), and rheology as an exopolysaccharide allows the Viscosity or other prop modifiers such as thickeners or viscosifiers (e.g. Xanthan erties of the drilling fluid or other fluid to be adjusted such gum). Any ingredient listed in this paragraph can be either that in one or more locations of the borehole the drilling fluid present or not present in the mixture. The drilling fluid can or other fluid including at least one of a microorganism and be present in the mixture with the composition including at an exopolysaccharide has a certain viscosity, while in one or 50 least one of a microorganism and an exopolysaccharide in more other locations of the borehole the drilling fluid or any suitable amount, such as about 1 wt % or less, about 2 other fluid including at least one of a microorganism and an wt %, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 85,90, 95, exopolysaccharide has a different viscosity. For example, 96, 97,98, 99, 99.9, 99.99, 99.999, or about 99.9999 wt % during a drilling process, pressure can build up in the or more of the mixture. borehole due for example to penetration of the drill bit into 55 An oil-based drilling fluid or mud in embodiments of the a particular formation. The agitation or heating from drill present invention can be any suitable oil-based drilling fluid. ing, or agitation or heating from increased flow of petroleum In various embodiments the drilling fluid can include at least liquids or gases into the borehole, can cause an increase in one of a oil-based fluid (or synthetic fluid), Saline, aqueous the Viscosity, thus timely preventing the increased pressure Solution, emulsifiers, other agents of additives for Suspen from causing a blowout or other undesirable consequences. 60 sion control, weight or density control, oil-wetting agents, In another example, during the drilling of porous material fluid loss or filtration control agents, and rheology control such as shale it can be desirable to prevent the influx of agents. For example, see H. C. H. Darley and George R. drilling fluid into the pores of the material to retain the Gray, Composition and Properties of Drilling and Comple stability of the material and thus of the stability of the tion Fluids 66-67, 561-562 (5" ed. 1988). An oil-based or borehole through the material. In some embodiments of the 65 invert emulsion-based drilling fluid can include between present invention, the viscosity of the drilling fluid proxi about 50:50 to about 95:5 by volume of oil phase to water mate to the porous material can be increased to help prevent phase. A substantially all oil mud can includes US 9,670,395 B2 21 22 A pill is a relatively small quantity (e.g. less than about deemed appropriate by one skilled in the art, with the benefit 500 bbl, or less than about 200 bbl) of drilling fluid used to of this disclosure. Any optional ingredient listed in this accomplish a specific task that the regular drilling fluid paragraph can be either present or not present in the com cannot perform. For example, a pill can be a high-viscosity position. For example, the composition can include fly ash, pill to, for example, help lift cuttings out of a vertical metakaolin, shale, Zeolite, set retarding additive, Surfactant, wellbore. In another example, a pill can be a freshwater pill a gas, accelerators, weight reducing additives, heavy-weight to, for example, dissolve a salt formation. Another example additives, lost circulation materials, filtration control addi is a pipe-freeing pill to, for example, destroy filter cake and tives, dispersants, and combinations thereof. In some relieve differential sticking forces. In another example, a pill examples, additives can include crystalline silica com is a lost circulation material pill to, for example, plug a thief 10 Zone. A pill can include any component described herein as pounds, amorphous silica, Salts, fibers, hydratable clays, a component of a drilling fluid. microspheres, poZZolan lime, thixotropic additives, combi A cement fluid can include an aqueous mixture of at least nations thereof, and the like. one of cement and cement kiln dust. The composition Composition for Treatment of a Subterranean Formation. including at least one of a microorganism and an exopoly 15 Various embodiments provide a composition for treat saccharide can form a useful combination with cement or ment of a Subterranean formation. The composition can be cement kiln dust, for example by modifying the viscosity or any suitable composition that can be used to perform an other properties of the cement at a desired time or in a embodiment of the method for treatment of a subterranean desired place. For example, during the cementing phase of formation described herein. forming a well for petroleum extraction, some or parts of a In some embodiments, the present invention provides a particular borehole may require a thicker cement to allow composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation, the cement to properly set or to behave in another desired wherein the composition includes at least one exopolysac manner, while other parts of the borehole may not require as charide. The composition can also include a downhole fluid. thick of a cement. A thicker cement can be more difficult to In some examples, the exopolysaccharide can be generated pump downhole. Various embodiments of the present inven 25 above the Surface by Subjecting an extremophilic or tion allow for thickening or gelling of the cement or varia extremotolerant microorganism to conditions such that the tion of other properties of the cement near or at the location microorganism forms the at least one exopolysaccharide, or where the thickened or otherwise modified material is by Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using desired. In another example, embodiments allow variation of an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to con the Viscosity or other properties of the cement pumped 30 ditions such that the microorganism forms the at least one downhole, such that a thicker or otherwise modified portion exopolysaccharide. The exopolysaccharide can include any of cement can be placed downhole before, after, or between Suitable exopolysaccharide. Such as at least one of acetan, segments of cements having lower viscosity or other differ alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a cyclosophoran, dex ent properties. tran, emulsan, a galactoglucopolysaccharide, gellan, glu The cement kiln dust can be any suitable cement kiln dust. 35 Cement kiln dust can be formed during the manufacture of curonan, N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-heparosan, cement and can be partially calcined kiln feed which is hyaluronic acid, indicant, kefiran, lentinan, levan, mauran, removed from the gas stream and collected in a dust col pullulan, Scleroglucan, Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succino lector during manufacturing process. Cement kiln dust can glycan, Xanthan, and welan. The exopolysaccharide can be be advantageously utilized in a cost-effective manner since 40 the same as a polysaccharide made by any of the microor kiln dust is often regarded as a low value waste product of ganisms described herein, such as the same as a polysac the cement industry. Some embodiments of the cement fluid charide made by at least one of Acetobacter, Achronobacter, can include cement kiln dust but no cement, cement kiln dust Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, and cement, or cement but no cement kiln dust. The cement Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azoto can be any suitable cement. The cement can be a hydraulic 45 bacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromohalobacter, Col cement. A variety of cements can be utilized in accordance wellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geobacillus, Geo with the present invention, for example, those including thermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, calcium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, iron, or Sulfur, which Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopi can set and harden by reaction with water. Suitable cements ger, Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idioma can include Portland cements, poZZolana cements, gypsum 50 rina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, cements, high alumina content cements, slag cements, silica Methanosarcina, Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucor cements, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, ales, Natrialba, Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palle the Portland cements that are suitable for use in the present ronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, invention are classified as Classes A, C, H, and G cements Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodo according to the American Petroleum Institute, API Speci 55 coccus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomo fication for Materials and Testing for Well Cements, API nas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermo Specification 10, Fifth Ed., Jul. 1, 1990. A cement can be coccus, Thermotoga, Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and generally included in the cementing fluid in an amount Zymomonas. Sufficient to provide the desired compressive strength, den In various examples, the composition for treatment of a sity, or cost. In some embodiments, the hydraulic cement can 60 Subterranean formation can include a microorganism that be present in the cementing fluid in an amount in the range generates an exopolysaccharide under downhole conditions. of from 0 wt % to about 100 wt %, 0-95 wt %, 20-95 wt %, The downhole conditions can be any suitable downhole or about 50-90 wt %. A cement kiln dust can be present in conditions, such as extreme downhole conditions including an amount of at least about 0.01 wt %, or about 5 wt %-80 at least one of high temperature, high pressure, or high wt %, or about 10 wt % to about 50 wt %. 65 salinity, or non-extreme downhole conditions. The compo Optionally, other additives can be added to a cement or sition can also include a downhole fluid, such as a drilling kiln dust-containing composition of the present invention as fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting fluid, clean US 9,670,395 B2 23 24 up fluid, production fluid, completion fluid, remedial treat examples, the microorganism can be at least one of Aceto ment fluid, abandonment fluid, pill, acidizing fluid, cement bacter xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Aeropyrum ing fluid, and a packer fluid. pernix, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcaligenes faecalis var. In various embodiments, the microorganism in the com myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas hispanica, position can be any microorganism described herein, such as Alteromonas infernus, Alteromonas macleodii Subsp. Fijien at least one of Acetobacter, Achronobacter, Acinetobacter; sis, Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Aureomonas Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, elodea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus licheniformis, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacil Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermodemi lus, Beijerinckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escheri trificans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromohalobacter beijer chia, Exiguobacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, 10 inckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escherichia coli, Exiguo Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halo bacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium aestuarii, coccus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium artmeiae, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium marinum, Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exiguobacterium oxidotoler Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, 15 ans, Exiguobacterium profium sum, Exiguobacterium Sibiri Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, cum, Exiguobacterium undae, Geobacillus tepidamans, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, Hahella cheiuensis, Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; Haloarcula hispanica, Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, marismortui, Halobacterium noricense, Halobiforma halo Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, terrestris, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococcus Salifodi Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. nae, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbonsii, The exopolysaccharide can be any Suitable exopolysac Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas charide described herein, Such as at least one of acetan, alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a cyclosophoran, dex Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena tran, emulsan, a galactoglucopolysaccharide, gellan, glu 25 hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leu curonan, N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-heparosan, conostoc dextranicum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Metha hyaluronic acid, indicant, kefiran, lentinan, levan, mauran, nococcus jannaschii, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Pallero pullulan, Scleroglucan, Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succino nia marisminoris, Pantoea stewartii Subsp. Stewartii, glycan, Xanthan, and welan. The exopolysaccharide in the Phoma herbarum, Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, composition can be any Suitable exopolysaccharide made by 30 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyro any Suitable microorganism, e.g. the exopolysaccharide can coccus furiosus, Pyrolobus fimarii, Salipiger mucosus, be the same as the exopolysaccharide made by at least one Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolf of Acetobacter, Achronobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, sii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacillus, Beijer 35 solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Thermococcus inckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Campestris, and Zymomonas Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, mobilis. The composition can further include a downhole Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halo fluid. rubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lenti 40 Method for Preparing a Composition for Treatment of a nus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Meth Subterranean Formation. vlobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, In various embodiments, the present invention provides a Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, method for preparing a composition for treatment of a Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, subterranean formation. The method can be any suitable Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; 45 method that produces a composition described herein. For Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, example, the method can include obtaining or providing a Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, composition including an exopolysaccharide. The exopoly Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. saccharide can be provided by at least one of Subjecting an In various embodiments, the present invention provides a extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to condi composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation, the 50 tions such that the microorganism forms the at least one composition including a microorganism including at least exopolysaccharide, and Subjecting a microorganism geneti one of Acetobacter; Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropy cally modified using an extremophilic or extremotolerant rum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacillus, Beijer forms the at least one exopolysaccharide. The method can inckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo 55 also include combining the composition with a downhole bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, fluid. Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, In various embodiments, the present invention provides a Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halo method for preparing a composition for treatment of a rubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lenti subterranean formation. The method can be any suitable nus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Meth 60 method that produces a composition described herein. For vlobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, example, the method can include obtaining or providing a Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, composition including a microorganism that generates an Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, exopolysaccharide under downhole conditions. Such as any Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; Suitable microorganism described herein, and Such as any Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, 65 suitable exopolysaccharide described herein. The method Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, can include combining the composition with a downhole Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. In some fluid, such as a drilling fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing US 9,670,395 B2 25 26 fluid, spotting fluid, clean-up fluid, production fluid, Embodiment 8 provides the method of any one of completion fluid, remedial treatment fluid, abandonment Embodiments 1-7, wherein the conditions the microorgan fluid, pill, acidizing fluid, cementing fluid, and a packer ism is Subjected to comprise a salt concentration of about fluid. 0.000,000.1 g/L to about 250 g/L. In various embodiments, the method for preparing a Embodiment 9 provides the method of any one of composition for treatment of a subterranean formation can Embodiments 1-8, wherein the conditions the microorgan include obtaining or providing a composition including an ism is Subjected to comprise a salinity of about 10 g/L to exopolysaccharide, Such as any suitable exopolysaccharide about 250 g/L. described herein. The method can also include combining Embodiment 10 provides the method of any one of the composition with a downhole fluid. Such as a drilling 10 Embodiments 8-9, wherein the salt comprises at least one of fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting fluid, clean NaCl, NaBr, CaCl, CaBr, or ZnBr. up fluid, production fluid, completion fluid, remedial treat Embodiment 11 provides the method of any one of ment fluid, abandonment fluid, pill, acidizing fluid, cement Embodiments 1-10, wherein the conditions the microorgan ing fluid, and a packer fluid. ism is subjected to comprise a concentration of Na+ ions of The terms and expressions which have been employed are 15 about 5 ppmw to about 200,000 ppmw. used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there Embodiment 12 provides the method of any one of is no intention that in the use of Such terms and expressions Embodiments 1-11, wherein the conditions the microorgan of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and ism is subjected to comprise a concentration of Na+ ions of described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that about 100 ppmw to about 7,000 ppmw. various modifications are possible within the scope of the Embodiment 13 provides the method of any one of invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that Embodiments 1-12, wherein the conditions the microorgan although the present invention has been specifically dis ism is Subjected to comprise a concentration of Cl- ions of closed by preferred embodiments and optional features, about 10 ppmw to about 400,000 ppmw. modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed Embodiment 14 provides the method of any one of may be resorted to by those of ordinary skill in the art, and 25 Embodiments 1-13, wherein the conditions the microorgan that such modifications and variations are considered to be ism is Subjected to comprise a concentration of Cl- ions of within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended about 200 ppmw to about 14,000 ppmw. claims. Embodiment 15 provides the method of any one of Additional Embodiments Embodiments 1-14, wherein the conditions the microorgan The present invention provides for the following exem 30 ism is Subjected to comprise a concentration of K+ ions of plary embodiments, the numbering of which is not to be about 1 ppmw to about 70,000 ppmw. construed as designating levels of importance: Embodiment 16 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 1 provides a method of treating a subterra Embodiments 1-15, wherein the conditions the microorgan nean formation, the method comprising: obtaining or pro ism is Subjected to comprise a concentration of K+ ions of viding a composition comprising an exopolysaccharide pro 35 about 40 ppmw to about 2,500 ppmw. vided by at least one of Subjecting an extremophilic or Embodiment 17 provides the method of any one of extremotolerant microorganism to conditions such that the Embodiments 1-16, wherein the conditions the microorgan microorganism forms the at least one exopolysaccharide, ism is subjected to comprise a concentration of Ca" ions of and Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using about 1 ppmw to about 70,000 ppmw. an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to con 40 Embodiment 18 provides the method of any one of ditions such that the microorganism forms the at least one Embodiments 1-17, wherein the conditions the microorgan exopolysaccharide; and contacting the composition with a ism is subjected to comprise a concentration of Ca" ions of Subterranean material downhole. about 40 ppmw to about 2,500 ppmw. Embodiment 2 provides the method of Embodiment 1, Embodiment 19 provides the method of any one of wherein the conditions the microorganism is subjected to 45 Embodiments 1-18, wherein the conditions the microorgan comprise extreme conditions comprising at least one of high ism is Subjected to comprise a concentration of Br ions of temperature conditions, high salinity conditions, high pres about 0.1 ppmw to about 12,000 ppmw. Sure conditions, and high pH conditions, and low pH con Embodiment 20 provides the method of any one of ditions. Embodiments 1-19, wherein the conditions the microorgan Embodiment 3 provides the method of any one of 50 ism is Subjected to comprise a concentration of Br ions of Embodiments 1-2, wherein the providing of the exopoly about 5 ppmw to about 450 ppmw. saccharide is performed above the surface. Embodiment 21 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 4 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 1-20, wherein the conditions the microorgan Embodiments 1-3, wherein the providing of the exopoly ism is subjected to comprise a pressure of about 5,000 psi to saccharide is performed downhole. 55 about 200,000 psi. Embodiment 5 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 22 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 1-4, wherein contacting the composition with Embodiments 1-21, wherein the conditions the microorgan a Subterranean material downhole comprises adding the ism is subjected to comprise a pressure of about 10,000 psi microorganism to a mixture downhole. to about 100,000 psi. Embodiment 6 provides the method of any one of 60 Embodiment 23 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 1-5, wherein the conditions the microorgan Embodiments 1-22, wherein the conditions the microorgan ism is subjected to comprise a temperature of about 50 to ism is subjected to comprise a pH of about -20 to about 20. about 600° C. Embodiment 24 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 7 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 1-23, wherein the conditions the microorgan Embodiments 1-6, wherein the conditions the microorgan 65 ism is subjected to comprise a pH of about -1 to about 14. ism is subjected to comprise a temperature of about 150 to Embodiment 25 provides the method of any one of about 500° C. Embodiments 1-24, wherein the microorganism is at least US 9,670,395 B2 27 28 one of an acidophile, an alkaliphile, an anaerobe, a cryp Phoma herbarum, Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, toendolith, a halophile, a hyperthermophile, a hypolith, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyro lithoautotroph, metallotolerant, an oligotroph, an osmophile, coccus furiosus, Pyrolobus fimarii, Salipiger mucosus, a piezophile, a polyextremophile, a psychrophile, a Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolf cryophile, radioresistant, a thermophile, a thermoacidophile, sii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and a Xerophile. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus Embodiment 26 provides the method of any one of solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Thermococcus Embodiments 1-25, wherein the microorganism is at least litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio one of acidotolerant, alkalitolerant, anaerobe, a cryptoendo Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Campestris, and Zymomonas lith, halotolerant, a hyperthermophile, a hypolith, a lithoau 10 mobilis. totroph, metallotolerant, an oligotroph, osmotolerant, piezo Embodiment 31 provides the method of any one of tolerant, polyextremotolerant, psychrotolerant, cryotolerant, Embodiments 1-30, wherein the exopolysaccharide is at radioresistant, thermotolerant, thermoacidotolerant, and least one of acetan, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a Xerotolerant. cyclosophoran, dextran, emulsan, a galactoglucopolysac Embodiment 27 provides the method of any one of 15 charide, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl-glucosamine, Embodiments 1-26, comprising Subjecting a plurality of N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, indicant, kefiran, len microorganisms to the conditions. tinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, Schizophyllan, Embodiment 28 provides the method of any one of Stewartan, Succinoglycan, Xanthan, and welan. Embodiments 1-27, wherein the microorganism is at least Embodiment 32 provides the method of any one of one of archaea, bacteria, fungi, and algea. Embodiments 1-31, wherein the exopolysaccharide is the Embodiment 29 provides the method of any one of same as an exopolysaccharide made by a microorganism Embodiments 1-28, wherein the microorganism is at least comprising at least one of Acetobacter, Achronobacter, one of Acetobacter; Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropy Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, rum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azoto Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacillus, Beijer 25 bacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromohalobacter, Col inckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo wellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geobacillus, Geo bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, thermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopi Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halo ger, Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idioma rubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lenti 30 rina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, nus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Meth Methanosarcina, Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucor vlobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, ales, Natrialba, Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palle Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, ronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodo Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; 35 coccus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomo Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, nas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermo Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, coccus, Thermotoga, Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. Zymomonas. Embodiment 30 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 33 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 1-29, wherein the microorganism is at least 40 Embodiments 1-32, wherein the exopolysaccharide is the one of Acetobacter xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, same as an exopolysaccharide made by a microorganism Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcaligenes comprising at least one of Acetobacter xylinum, Acineto faecalis var. myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas bacter calcoaceticus, Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacterium hispanica, Alteromonas infernus, Alteromonas macleodii radiobacter; Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes, Alcali Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, 45 genes viscosus, Alteromonas hispanica, Alteromonas infer Aureomonas elodea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus nus, Alteromonas macleodii Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeoli licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacil cus, Archaeoglobus fiulgidus, Aureomonas elodea, lus thermodenitrificans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromoha Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lobacter beijerinckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escheri megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermodenitrificans, chia coli, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium 50 Beijerinckia indica, Chromohalobacter beijerinckii, Col aestuarii, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium wellia psychrerythraea, Escherichia coli, Exiguobacterium artmeiae, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium aestuarii, Exiguobacterium marinum, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium artmeiae, Exiguobacterium Oxidotolerans, Exiguobacterium profiumsun, Exiguobacte aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium marinum, Exiguobacterium rium Sibiricum, Exiguobacterium undae, Geobacillus tepi 55 mexicanum, Exiguobacterium oxidotolerans, Exiguobacte damans, Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, Hahella che rium profimsum, Exiguobacterium Sibiricum, Exiguobacte juensis, Haloarcula hispanica, Haloarcula japonica, rium undae, Geobacillus tepidamans, Geothermobacterium Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacterium noricense, Halo ferrireducens, Hahella cheiuensis, Haloarcula hispanica, biforma haloterrestris, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococ Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacte cus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbon 60 rium noricense, Halobiforma haloterrestris, Halococcus sii, Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas dombrowski, Halococcus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrifi alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, cans, Haloferax gibbonsii, Haloferax mediterranei, Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas alkaliantarctica, Halomo hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leu nas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, Halomonas salaria, conostoc dextranicum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Metha 65 Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena hispanica, Lactoba nococcus jannaschii, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Pallero cillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leuconostoc dextranicum, nia marisminoris, Pantoea Stewartii Subsp. Stewartii, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Methanococcus jannaschii, US 9,670,395 B2 29 30 Natronobacterium gregoryi, Palleronia marisminoris, Pan ganism comprising at least one of Acetobacter, Achromo toea stewartii subsp. Stewartii, Phoma herbarum, Pseudo bacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, alteromonas antarctica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyrococcus firiosus, Pyrolobus Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo fiumarii, Salipiger mucosus, Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo glucanicum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Tetragenococ Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, cus halophilus, Thermococcus litoralis, Thermotoga mar Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu itima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio Diabolicus, Xanthomonas 10 campestris, and Zymomonas mobilis. conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte Embodiment 34 provides the method of any one of rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte Embodiments 1-33, further comprising combining the com rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, position with an aqueous or oil-based fluid comprising a Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, drilling fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting 15 Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, fluid, clean-up fluid, production fluid, completion fluid, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, remedial treatment fluid, abandonment fluid, pill, acidizing Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, fluid, cementing fluid, packer fluid, or a combination Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas; and contacting a thereof, to form a mixture, wherein the contacting of the composition comprising the exopolysaccharide with a Sub Subterranean material and the composition comprises con terranean material downhole. tacting the Subterranean material and the mixture. Embodiment 39 provides a method of treating a subter Embodiment 35 provides the method of any one of ranean formation, the method comprising: providing at least Embodiments 34, wherein the cementing fluid comprises one exopolysaccharide by at least one of Subjecting an Portland cement, poZZolana cement, gypsum cement, high extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to condi alumina content cement, slag cement, silica cement, or a 25 tions such that the microorganism forms the exopolysaccha combination thereof. ride, and Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified Embodiment 36 provides the method of any one of using an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to Embodiments 1-35, wherein at least one of prior to, during, conditions such that the microorganism forms the exopoly and after the contacting of the Subterranean material and the saccharide, the exopolysaccharide comprising at least one of composition, the composition is used downhole, at least one 30 acetan, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a cycloSo of alone and in combination with other materials, as a drilling fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting phoran, dextran, emulsan, a galactoglucopolysaccharide, fluid, clean-up fluid, production fluid, completion fluid, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-heparo remedial treatment fluid, abandonment fluid, pill, acidizing san, hyaluronic acid, indicant, kefiran, lentinan, levan, mau fluid, cementing fluid, packer fluid, or a combination 35 ran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succi thereof. noglycan, Xanthan, and welan; and contacting a composition Embodiment 37 provides the method of any one of comprising the exopolysaccharide with a Subterranean mate Embodiments 1-36, wherein the composition further com rial downhole. prises water, saline, aqueous base, oil, organic solvent, Embodiment 40 provides a method of treating a subter synthetic fluid oil phase, aqueous solution, alcohol or polyol. 40 ranean formation, the method comprising: obtaining or cellulose, starch, alkalinity control agent, density control providing a composition comprising a microorganism, the agent, density modifier, emulsifier, dispersant, polymeric composition having a viscosity; and contacting the compo stabilizer, crosslinking agent, polyacrylamide, polymer or sition with a Subterranean material downhole under condi combination of polymers, antioxidant, heat stabilizer, foam tions such that the microorganism produces at least one control agent, solvent, diluent, plasticizer, filler or inorganic 45 compound that increases the viscosity of the composition. particle, pigment, dye, precipitating agent, rheology modi Embodiment 41 provides the method of Embodiment 40, fier, oil-wetting agent, set retarding additive, Surfactant, gas, wherein during the contacting of the composition with the weight reducing additive, heavy-weight additive, lost circu Subterranean material downhole, the conditions comprise at lation material, filtration control additive, dispersant, salt, least one of high temperature conditions, high salinity con fiber, thixotropic additive, breaker, crosslinker, gas, rheol 50 ditions, high pressure conditions, and high pH conditions, ogy modifier, density control agent, curing accelerator, cur and lower pH conditions. ing retarder, pH modifier, chelating agent, scale inhibitor, Embodiment 42 provides the method of any one of enzyme, resin, water control material, polymer, oxidizer, a Embodiments 40-41, wherein the obtaining or providing of marker, Portland cement, poZZolana cement, gypsum the composition is performed downhole. cement, high alumina content cement, slag cement, silica 55 Embodiment 43 provides the method of Embodiment 42, cement fly ash, metakaolin, shale, Zeolite, a crystalline silica wherein obtaining or providing the composition comprises compound, amorphous silica, fibers, a hydratable clay, adding the microorganism to a mixture downhole. microspheres, poZZolan lime, or a combination thereof. Embodiment 44 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 38 provides a method of treating a subter Embodiments 40-43, wherein the obtaining or providing of ranean formation, the method comprising: providing at least 60 the composition is performed above the Surface. one exopolysaccharide by at least one of Subjecting an Embodiment 45 provides the method of any one of extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to condi Embodiments 40-44, wherein during the contacting of the tions such that the microorganism forms the exopolysaccha composition with the subterranean material downhole, the ride, and Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified conditions comprise a temperature of about 50 to about 600° using an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to 65 C. conditions such that the microorganism forms the exopoly Embodiment 46 provides the method of any one of saccharide, the extremophilic or extremotolerant microor Embodiments 40-45, wherein during the contacting of the US 9,670,395 B2 31 32 composition with the subterranean material downhole, the Embodiment 60 provides the method of any one of conditions comprise a temperature of about 150 to about Embodiments 40-59, wherein during the contacting of the 500° C. composition with the subterranean material downhole, the Embodiment 47 provides the method of any one of conditions comprise a pressure of about 5,000 psi to about Embodiments 40-46, wherein during the contacting of the 200,000 psi. composition with the subterranean material downhole, the Embodiment 61 provides the method of any one of conditions comprise a salt concentration of about 0.000. Embodiments 40-60, wherein during the contacting of the 000, 1 g/L to about 250 g/L. composition with the subterranean material downhole, the Embodiment 48 provides the method of any one of conditions comprise a pressure of about 10,000 psi to about 10 100,000 psi. Embodiments 40-47, wherein during the contacting of the Embodiment 62 provides the method of any one of composition with the subterranean material downhole, the Embodiments 40-61, wherein during the contacting of the conditions comprise a salinity of about 10 g/L to about 250 composition with the subterranean material downhole, the g/L. conditions comprise a pH of about -20 to about 20. Embodiment 49 provides the method of any one of 15 Embodiment 63 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 47-48, wherein the salt comprises at least one Embodiments 40-62, wherein during the contacting of the of NaCl, NaBr, CaCl, CaBr, or ZnBr. composition with the subterranean material downhole, the Embodiment 50 provides the method of any one of conditions comprise a pH of about -1 to about 14. Embodiments 40-49, wherein during the contacting of the Embodiment 64 provides the method of any one of composition with the subterranean material downhole, the Embodiments 40-63, wherein the microorganism is at least conditions comprise a concentration of Nations of about 5 one of an acidophile, an alkaliphile, an anaerobe, a cryp ppmw to about 200,000 ppmw. toendolith, a halophile, a hyperthermophile, a hypolith, a Embodiment 51 provides the method of any one of lithoautotroph, metallotolerant, an oligotroph, an osmophile, Embodiments 40-50, wherein during the contacting of the a piezophile, a polyextremophile, a psychrophile, a composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 25 cryophile, radioresistant, a thermophile, a thermoacidophile, conditions comprise a concentration of Na" ions of about and a Xerophile. 100 ppmw to about 7,000 ppmw. Embodiment 65 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 52 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 40-64, wherein the composition comprises a Embodiments 40-51, wherein during the contacting of the plurality of microorganisms. composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 30 Embodiment 66 provides the method of any one of conditions comprise a concentration of Cl ions of about 10 Embodiments 40-65, wherein the microorganism is at least ppmw to about 400,000 ppmw. one of archaea, bacteria, fungi, and algea. Embodiment 53 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 67 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 40-52, wherein during the contacting of the Embodiments 40-66, wherein the microorganism is at least composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 35 one of Acetobacter; Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropy conditions comprise a concentration of Clions of about 200 rum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, ppmw to about 14,000 ppmw. Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacillus, Beijer Embodiment 54 provides the method of any one of inckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo Embodiments 40-53, wherein during the contacting of the bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 40 Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, conditions comprise a concentration of K' ions of about 1 Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger, Halloquadratum, Halo ppmw to about 70,000 ppmw. rubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lenti Embodiment 55 provides the method of any one of nus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Meth Embodiments 40-54, wherein during the contacting of the vlobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 45 Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, conditions comprise a concentration of K' ions of about 40 Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, ppmw to about 2,500 ppmw. Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Embodiment 56 provides the method of any one of Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Embodiments 40-55, wherein during the contacting of the Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 50 Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. conditions comprise a concentration of Ca" ions of about 1 Embodiment 68 provides the method of any one of ppmw to about 70,000 ppmw. Embodiments 40-67, wherein the microorganism is at least Embodiment 57 provides the method of any one of one of Acetobacter xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Embodiments 40-56, wherein during the contacting of the Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcaligenes composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 55 faecalis var. myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas conditions comprise a concentration of Ca" ions of about 40 hispanica, Alteromonas infernus, Alteromonas macleodii ppmw to about 2,500 ppmw. Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Embodiment 58 provides the method of any one of Aureomonas elodea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus Embodiments 40-57, wherein during the contacting of the licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacil composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 60 lus thermodenitrificans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromoha conditions comprise a concentration of Brions of about 0.1 lobacter beijerinckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escheri ppmw to about 12,000 ppmw. chia coli, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium Embodiment 59 provides the method of any one of aestuarii, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium Embodiments 40-58, wherein during the contacting of the artmeiae, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium composition with the subterranean material downhole, the 65 marinum, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exiguobacterium conditions comprise a concentration of Br ions of about 5 Oxidotolerans, Exiguobacterium profiumsun, Exiguobacte ppmw to about 450 ppmw. rium Sibiricum, Exiguobacterium undae, Geobacillus tepi US 9,670,395 B2 33 34 damans, Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, Hahella che damans, Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, Hahella che juensis, Haloarcula hispanica, Haloarcula japonica, juensis, Haloarcula hispanica, Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacterium noricense, Halo Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacterium noricense, Halo biforma haloterrestris, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococ biforma haloterrestris, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococ cus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbon cus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbon sii, Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas sii, Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leu hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leu conostoc dextranicum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Metha 10 conostoc dextranicum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Metha nococcus jannaschii, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Pallero nococcus jannaschii, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Pallero nia marisminoris, Pantoea Stewartii Subsp. Stewartii, nia marisminoris, Pantoea stewartii Subsp. Stewartii, Phoma herbarum, Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, Phoma herbarum, Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyro Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyro coccus furiosus, Pyrolobus fimarii, Salipiger mucosus, 15 coccus furiosus, Pyrolobus fimarii, Salipiger mucosus, Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolf Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolf sii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, sii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Thermococcus solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Thermococcus litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Campestris, and Zymomonas Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Campestris, and Zymomonas mobilis. mobilis. Embodiment 69 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 72 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 40-68, wherein the compound is at least one Embodiments 40-71, further comprising combining the of acetan, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a cycloSo 25 composition with an aqueous or oil-based fluid comprising phoran, dextran, emulsan, a galactoglucopolysaccharide, a drilling fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-heparo fluid, clean-up fluid, production fluid, completion fluid, san, hyaluronic acid, indicant, kefiran, lentinan, levan, mau remedial treatment fluid, abandonment fluid, pill, acidizing ran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succi fluid, cementing fluid, packer fluid, or a combination noglycan, Xanthan, and welan. 30 thereof, to form a mixture, wherein the contacting of the Embodiment 70 provides the method of any one of Subterranean material and the composition comprises con Embodiments 40-69, wherein the compound is the same as tacting the subterranean material and the mixture. a compound made by a microorganism comprising at least Embodiment 73 provides the method of Embodiment 72, one of Acetobacter; Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropy wherein the cementing fluid comprises Portland cement, rum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, 35 poZZolana cement, gypsum cement, high alumina content Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacillus, Beijer cement, slag cement, silica cement, or a combination inckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo thereof. bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Embodiment 74 provides the method of any one of Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Embodiments 40-73, wherein at least one of prior to, during, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halo 40 and after the contacting of the Subterranean material and the rubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lenti composition, the composition is used downhole, at least one nus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Meth of alone and in combination with other materials, as a vlobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, drilling fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, fluid, clean-up fluid, production fluid, completion fluid, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, 45 remedial treatment fluid, abandonment fluid, pill, acidizing Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; fluid, cementing fluid, packer fluid, or a combination Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, thereof. Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Embodiment 75 provides the method of any one of Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. Embodiments 40-74, wherein the composition further com Embodiment 71 provides the method of any one of 50 prises water, saline, aqueous base, oil, organic solvent, Embodiments 40-70, wherein the compound is the same as synthetic fluid oil phase, aqueous Solution, alcohol or polyol. a compound made by a microorganism comprising at least cellulose, starch, alkalinity control agent, density control one of Acetobacter xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, agent, density modifier, emulsifier, dispersant, polymeric Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcaligenes stabilizer, crosslinking agent, polyacrylamide, polymer or faecalis var. myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas 55 combination of polymers, antioxidant, heat stabilizer, foam hispanica, Alteromonas infernus, Alteromonas macleodii control agent, solvent, diluent, plasticizer, filler or inorganic Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, particle, pigment, dye, precipitating agent, rheology modi Aureomonas elodea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus fier, oil-wetting agent, set retarding additive, Surfactant, gas, licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacil weight reducing additive, heavy-weight additive, lost circu lus thermodenitrificans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromoha 60 lation material, filtration control additive, dispersant, salt, lobacter beijerinckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escheri fiber, thixotropic additive, breaker, crosslinker, gas, rheol chia coli, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium ogy modifier, density control agent, curing accelerator, cur aestuarii, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium ing retarder, pH modifier, chelating agent, scale inhibitor, artmeiae, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium enzyme, resin, water control material, polymer, oxidizer, a marinum, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exiguobacterium 65 marker, Portland cement, poZZolana cement, gypsum Oxidotolerans, Exiguobacterium profiumsun, Exiguobacte cement, high alumina content cement, slag cement, silica rium Sibiricum, Exiguobacterium undae, Geobacillus tepi cement fly ash, metakaolin, shale, Zeolite, a crystalline silica US 9,670,395 B2 35 36 compound, amorphous silica, fibers, a hydratable clay, dombrowski, Halococcus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrifi microspheres, poZZolan lime, or a combination thereof. cans, Haloferax gibbonsii, Haloferax mediterranei, Embodiment 76 provides a method of treating a subter Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas alkaliantarctica, Halomo ranean formation, the method comprising: obtaining or nas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, Halomonas salaria, providing a composition comprising an exopolysaccharide; 5 Halopiger aswanensis, Haloterrigena hispanica, Lactoba contacting the composition with a subterranean material cillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leuconostoc dextranicum, downhole. Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Methanococcus jannaschii, Embodiment 77 provides the method of Embodiment 76, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Palleronia marisminoris, Pan wherein the exopolysaccharide is generated above the Sur toea stewartii subsp. Stewartii, Phoma herbarum, Pseudo face by at least one of Subjecting an extremophilic or 10 alteromonas antarctica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, extremotolerant microorganism to conditions such that the Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyrococcus firiosus, Pyrolobus microorganism forms the at least one exopolysaccharide, fiumarii, Salipiger mucosus, Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium and Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using glucanicum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to con Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, ditions such that the microorganism forms the at least one 15 Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Tetragenococ exopolysaccharide. cus halophilus, Thermococcus litoralis, Thermotoga mar Embodiment 78 provides the method of any one of itima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Embodiments 76-77, wherein the exopolysaccharide com campestris, and Zymomonas mobilis. prises at least one of acetan, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, Embodiment 81 provides a method of treating a subter curdlan, a cyclosophoran, dextran, emulsan, a galactoglu 20 ranean formation, the method comprising: obtaining or copolysaccharide, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl-glu providing a composition comprising a microorganism, the cosamine, N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, indicant, microorganism comprising at least one of Acetobacter; Ach kefiran, lentinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, romobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succinoglycan, Xanthan, and Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, welan. 25 Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo Embodiment 79 provides the method of any one of halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo Embodiments 76-78, wherein the exopolysaccharide com bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, prises an exopolysaccharide made by a microorganism com Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, prising at least one of Acetobacter, Achronobacter, Acine Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, tobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, 30 Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azoto conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte bacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromohalobacter, Col rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte wellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geobacillus, Geo rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, thermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopi 35 Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, ger, Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idioma Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, rina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucor Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas; contacting the com ales, Natrialba, Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palle position with a subterranean material downhole. ronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, 40 Embodiment 82 provides the method of Embodiment 81, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodo wherein the microorganism comprises at least one of Aceto coccus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomo bacter xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Aeropyrum nas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermo pernix, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcaligenes faecalis var. coccus, Thermotoga, Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas hispanica, Zymomonas. 45 Alteromonas infernus, Alteromonas macleodii Subsp. Fijien Embodiment 80 provides the method of any one of sis, Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Aureomonas Embodiments 76-79, wherein the exopolysaccharide com elodea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus licheniformis, prises an exopolysaccharide made by a microorganism com Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermodemi prising at least one of Acetobacter xylinum, Acinetobacter trificans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromohalobacter beijer calcoaceticus, Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacterium radio 50 inckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escherichia coli, Exiguo bacter, Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes, Alcaligenes bacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium aestuarii, viscosus, Alteromonas hispanica, Alteromonas infernus, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium artmeiae, Alteromonas macleodii Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeolicus, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium marinum, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Aureomonas elodea, Azotobacter Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exiguobacterium oxidotoler vinelandii, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, 55 ans, Exiguobacterium profium sum, Exiguobacterium Sibiri Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermodenitrificans, Beijerinckia cum, Exiguobacterium undae, Geobacillus tepidamans, indica, Chromohalobacter beijerinckii, Colwellia psy Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, Hahella cheiuensis, chrerythraea, Escherichia coli, Exiguobacterium acetyli Haloarcula hispanica, Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula cum, Exiguobacterium aestuarii, Exiguobacterium antarti marismortui, Halobacterium noricense, Halobiforma halo cum, Exiguobacterium artmeiae, Exiguobacterium 60 terrestris, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococcus Salifodi aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium marinum, Exiguobacterium nae, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbonsii, mexicanum, Exiguobacterium oxidotolerans, Exiguobacte Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas rium profimsum, Exiguobacterium Sibiricum, Exiguobacte alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, rium undae, Geobacillus tepidamans, Geothermobacterium Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena ferrireducens, Hahella cheiuensis, Haloarcula hispanica, 65 hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leu Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacte conostoc dextranicum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Metha rium noricense, Halobiforma haloterrestris, Halococcus nococcus jannaschii, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Pallero US 9,670,395 B2 37 38 nia marisminoris, Pantoea Stewartii Subsp. Stewartii, Embodiment 88 provides the composition of any one of Phoma herbarum, Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, Embodiments 86-87, further comprising a downhole fluid. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyro Embodiment 89 provides the composition of any one of coccus furiosus, Pyrolobus fimarii, Salipiger mucosus, Embodiments 86-88, wherein the exopolysaccharide com Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolf prises acetan, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a sii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, cyclosophoran, dextran, emulsan, a galactoglucopolysac Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus charide, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl-glucosamine, solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Thermococcus N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, indicant, kefiran, len litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio tinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, Schizophyllan, 10 Stewartan, Succinoglycan, Xanthan, and welan. Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Campestris, and Zymomonas Embodiment 90 provides the composition of any one of mobilis. Embodiments 86-89, wherein the exopolysaccharide com Embodiment 83 provides a method of treating a subter prises an exopolysaccharide made by at least one of Aceto ranean formation, the method comprising: obtaining or bacter; Achronobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobac providing a composition comprising a microorganism; and 15 terium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, contacting the composition with a subterranean material Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo downhole. Such that the microorganism produces an exopo halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo lysaccharide. bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, Embodiment 84 provides the method of Embodiment 83, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, wherein the microorganism comprises at least one of Aceto Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, bacter, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobac Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu terium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, 25 Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte 30 Embodiment 91 provides a composition for treatment of rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, a Subterranean formation, the composition comprising: a Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, microorganism that generates an exopolysaccharide under Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, downhole conditions; and a downhole fluid. Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Embodiment 92 provides the method of Embodiment 91, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, 35 wherein the downhole conditions comprise a temperature of Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. about 50 to about 600° C. Embodiment 85 provides the method of any one of Embodiment 93 provides the method of any one of Embodiments 83-84, wherein the exopolysaccharide is an Embodiments 91-92, wherein the downhole conditions com exopolysaccharide made by a microorganism comprising at prise a salt concentration of about 0.000,000.1 g/L to about least one of Acetobacter, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter; 40 250 g/L. Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Embodiment 94 provides the method of Embodiment 93, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacil wherein the salt comprises at least one of NaCl, NaBr, lus, Beijerinckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escheri CaCl, CaBr, or ZnBr. chia, Exiguobacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, Embodiment 95 provides the method of any one of Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halo 45 Embodiments 91-94, wherein the downhole conditions com coccus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, prise a pressure of about 5,000 psi to about 200,000 psi. Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Embodiment 96 provides the method of any one of Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Embodiments 91-95, wherein during the downhole condi Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, tions comprise a pH of about -20 to about 20. Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, 50 Embodiment 97 provides the composition of any one of Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Embodiments 91-96, wherein the downhole fluid comprises Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; at least one of a drilling fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, fluid, spotting fluid, clean-up fluid, production fluid, Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, completion fluid, remedial treatment fluid, abandonment Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. 55 fluid, pill, acidizing fluid, cementing fluid, and a packer Embodiment 86 provides a composition for treatment of fluid. a Subterranean formation, the composition comprising: an Embodiment 98 provides the composition of any one of exopolysaccharide. Embodiments 91-97, wherein the microorganism comprises Embodiment 87 provides the composition of Embodiment at least one of Acetobacter; Achronobacter, Acinetobacter, 86, wherein the exopolysaccharide is generated above the 60 Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Surface by at least one of Subjecting an extremophilic or Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacil extremotolerant microorganism to conditions such that the lus, Beijerinckia, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escheri microorganism forms the at least one exopolysaccharide, chia, Exiguobacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, and Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halo an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to con 65 coccus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, ditions such that the microorganism forms the at least one Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, exopolysaccharide. Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, US 9,670,395 B2 39 40 Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, artmeiae, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobacterium Natronobacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, marinum, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exiguobacterium Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Oxidotolerans, Exiguobacterium profiumsun, Exiguobacte Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger; rium Sibiricum, Exiguobacterium undae, Geobacillus tepi Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, 5 damans, Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, Hahella che Sulfolobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, juensis, Haloarcula hispanica, Haloarcula japonica, Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacterium noricense, Halo Embodiment 99 provides the composition of any one of biforma haloterrestris, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococ Embodiments 91-98, wherein the exopolysaccharide com cus Salifodinae, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbon prises at least one of at least one of acetan, alginate, 10 sii, Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a cyclosophoran, dextran, emul alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, san, a galactoglucopolysaccharide, gellan, glucuronan, Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leu indicant, kefiran, lentinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, Sclero conostoc dextranicum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Metha glucan, Schizophyllan, Stewartan, Succinoglycan, Xanthan, 15 nococcus jannaschii, Natronobacterium gregoryi, Pallero and welan. nia marisminoris, Pantoea stewartii Subsp. Stewartii, Embodiment 100 provides the composition of any one of Phoma herbarum, Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, Embodiments 91-99, wherein the exopolysaccharide com Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyro prises an exopolysaccharide made by at least one of Aceto coccus furiosus, Pyrolobus fimarii, Salipiger mucosus, bacter, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobac Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolf terium, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, sii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, Thermococcus bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, 25 Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Campestris, and Zymomonas Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, mobilis. Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu Embodiment 103 provides the composition of any one of conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte Embodiments 101-102, further comprising a downhole rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte fluid. rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, 30 Embodiment 104 provides a method for preparing a Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation, the Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, method comprising: obtaining or providing a composition Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, comprising an exopolysaccharide provided by at least one of Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorgan Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. 35 ism to conditions such that the microorganism forms the at Embodiment 101 provides a composition for treatment of least one exopolysaccharide, and Subjecting a microorgan a Subterranean formation, the composition comprising a ism genetically modified using an extremophilic or extremo microorganism comprising at least one of Acetobacter; Ach tolerant microorganism to conditions such that the microor romobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, ganism forms the at least one exopolysaccharide; and Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, 40 combining the composition with a downhole fluid. Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo Embodiment 105 provides a method for preparing a halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation, the bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, method comprising: obtaining or providing a composition Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, comprising a microorganism that generates an exopolysac Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, 45 charide under downhole conditions; combining the compo Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu sition with a downhole fluid. conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte Embodiment 106 provides a method for preparing a rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte composition for treatment of a Subterranean formation, the rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, method comprising: obtaining or providing a composition Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, 50 comprising an exopolysaccharide; combining the composi Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, tion with a downhole fluid. Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Embodiment 107 provides the apparatus or method of any Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, one or any combination of Embodiments 1-106 optionally Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas. configured such that all elements or options recited are Embodiment 102 provides the composition of Embodi 55 available to use or select from. ment 101, wherein the microorganism comprises at least one of Acetobacter xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Aero What is claimed is: pyrum permix, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcaligenes fae 1. A method of treating a Subterranean formation, the calis var. myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas method comprising: hispanica, Alteromonas infernus, Alteromonas macleodii 60 providing at least one exopolysaccharide by at least one of Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeolicus, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant micro Aureomonas elodea, Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus organism to conditions comprising a temperature of licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacil about 150° C. to about 500° C. Such that the micro lus thermodenitrificans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromoha organism forms the exopolysaccharide, or lobacter beijerinckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escheri 65 Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using chia coli, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism aestuarii, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium to conditions comprising a temperature of about US 9,670,395 B2 41 42 150° C. to about 500° C. such that the microorgan- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the ism forms the exopolysaccharide; and exopolysaccharide is performed downhole. contacting the Subterranean formation with a composition 4. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the composi comprising the exopolysaccharide, the exopolysaccha- tion in the Subterranean formation comprises placing the ride being a viscosity modifying compound that 5 microorganism in the Subterranean formation. increases viscosity of the composition, 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature is wherein the extremophilic or extremotolerant microor- about 200° C. to about 500° C. ganism is at least one of Acetobacter; Achromobacter; 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, Alcali- at least one of an acidophile, an alkaliphile, an anaerobe, a genes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, 10 cryptoendolith, a halophile, a hyperthermophile, a hypolith, Aureomonas, Azotobacter; Bacillus, Beijerinckia, a lithoautotroph, metallotolerant, an oligotroph, an osmo Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo- phile, a piezophile, a polyextremophile, a psychrophile, a bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, cryophile, radioresistant, a thermophile, a thermoacidophile, Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, or a Xerophile. Halococcus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger, Halo- 15 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is quadratum, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, at least one of acidotolerant, alkalitolerant, anaerobe, a Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leuconostoc, Methanococcus, cryptoendolith, halotolerant, a hyperthermophile, a hypolith, Methanosarcina, Methylobacterium, Micrococcus, a lithoautotroph, metallotolerant, an oligotroph, osmotoler Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacterium, Natronococ- ant, piezotolerant, polyextremotolerant, psychrotolerant, cus, Paleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseu- 20 cryotolerant, radioresistant, thermotolerant, thermoacidotol doalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, erant, or Xerotolerant. Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sul- at least one of archaea, bacteria, fungi, or algea. folobus, Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermo- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the exopolysaccharide toga, Thermus, Vibrio, Xanthomonas, Zymomonas, 25 is at least one of acetan, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curd Acetobacter xylinum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, lan, a cyclosophoran, dextran, emulsan, a galactoglucopo Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcali- lysaccharide, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl-glucosamine, genes faecalis var. myxogenes, Alcaligenes viscosus, N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, indicant, kefiran, len Alteromonas hispanica, Alteromonas infernus, Altero- tinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, Scleroglucan, Schizophyllan, monas macleodii Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex aeolicus, 30 Stewartan, Succinoglycan, Xanthan, or welan. Archaeoglobus fulgidus, Aureomonas elodea, Azoto- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the exopolysaccha bacter vinelandii, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus ride is the same as an exopolysaccharide made by a micro megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermodernitri- organism comprising at least one of Acetobacter; Achromo ficans, Beijerinckia indica, Chromohalobacter beijer- bacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, inckii, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Escherichia coli, 35 Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, Exiguobacterium acetylicum, Exiguobacterium aestu- Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Chromo arii, Exiguobacterium antarticum, Exiguobacterium halobacter; Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguobacterium, Geo artmeiae, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum, Exiguobac- bacillus, Geothermobacterium, Hahella, Haloarcula, terium marinum, Exiguobacterium mexicanum, Exig- Halobacterium, Halobiforma, Halococcus, Haloferax, uobacterium oxidotolerans, Exiguobacterium profilm- 40 Halomonas, Halopiger; Halloquadratum, Halorubrum, sum, Exiguobacterium Sibiricum, Exiguobacterium Haloterrigena, Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leu undae, Geobacillus tepidamans, Geothermobacterium conostoc, Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte ferrireducens, Hahella cheiuensis, Haloarcula his- rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natronobacte panica, Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula marismortui, rium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, Paracoccus, Halobacterium noricense, Halobiforma haloterrestris, 45 Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Halococcus dombrowski, Halococcus Salifodinae, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, Haloferax denitrificans, Haloferax gibbonsii, Sinorhizobium, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Haloferax mediterranei, Haloferax volcanii, Halomo- Tetragenococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, nas alkaliantarctica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomo- Vibrio, Xanthomonas, or Zymomonas. nas maura, Halomonas salaria, Halopiger as wanensis, 50 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the exopolysaccha Haloterrigena hispanica, Lactobacillus hilgardii, ride is the same as an exopolysaccharide made by a micro Lentinus elodes, Leuconostoc dextranicum, Leuconos- organism comprising at least one of Acetobacter xylinum, toc mesenteroides, Methanococcus jannaschii, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Aeropyrum permix, Agrobacte Natronobacterium gregoryi, Palleronia marisminoris, rium radiobacter, Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes, Pantoea Stewarti Subsp. Stewartii, Phoma herbarum, 55 Alcaligenes viscosus, Alteromonas hispanica, Alteromonas Pseudoalteromonas antarctica, Pseudomonas aerugi- infernus, Alteromonas macleodii Subsp. Fijiensis, Aquifex nosa, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyrococcus furiosus, aeolicus, Archaeoglobus filgidus, Aureomonas elodea, Azo Pyrolobus fumarii, Salipiger mucosus, Sclerotium delf tobacter vinelandii, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus mega inii, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sclerotium rolfsii, terium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermodenitrificans, Bei Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, 60 jerinckia indica, Chromohalobacter beijerinckii, Colwellia Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus equi, Sul- psychrerythraea, Escherichia coli, Exiguobacterium acetyli folobus solfataricus, Tetragenococcus halophilus, cum, Exiguobacterium aestuarii, Exiguobacterium antarti Thermococcus litoralis, Thermotoga maritima, Ther- cum, Exiguobacterium artmeiae, Exiguobacterium auran mus aquaticus, Vibrio Diabolicus, Xanthomonas camp- tiacum, Exiguobacterium marinum, Exiguobacterium estris, or Zymomonas mobilis. 65 mexicanum, Exiguobacterium oxidotolerans, Exiguobacte 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the rium profimsum, Exiguobacterium Sibiricum, Exiguobacte exopolysaccharide is performed above the Surface. rium undae, Geobacillus tepidamans, Geothermobacterium US 9,670,395 B2 43 44 ferrireducens, Hahella chejuensis, Haloarcula hispanica, Halococcus, Haloferax, Halomonas, Halopiger, Haloarcula japonica, Haloarcula marismortui, Halobacte Haloquadratum, Halorubrum, Haloterrigena, rium noricense, Halobiforma haloterrestris, Halococcus Idiomarina, Lactobacillus, Lentinus, Leuconostoc, dombrowskii, Halococcus salifodinae, Haloferax denitrifi Methanococcus, Methanosarcina, Methylobacte cans, Haloferax gibbonsii, Haloferax mediterranei, rium, Micrococcus, Mucorales, Natrialba, Natrono Haloferax volcanii, Halomonas alkaliantarctica, Halomo bacterium, Natronococcus, Palleronia, Pantoea, nas eurihalina, Halomonas maura, Halomonas salaria, Paracoccus, Phoma, Pseudoalteromonas, Halopiger as wanensis, Haloterrigena hispanica, Lactoba Pseudomonas, Pyrococcus, Pyrolobus, Rhizobium, Cillus hilgardii, Lentinus elodes, Leuconostoc dextranicum, Rhodococcus, Salipiger, Sclerotium, Sinorhizobium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Methanococcus jannaschii, 10 Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Sulfolobus, Tetrag Natronobacterium gregoryi, Palleronia marisminoris, Pan enococcus, Thermococcus, Thermotoga, Thermus, toea stewartii subsp. Stewartii, Phoma herbarum, Pseudo Vibrio, Xanthomonas, and Zymomonas; and alteromonas antarctica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, contacting the subterranean formation with a composition Pseudomonas marginalis, Pyrococcus firiosus, Pyrolobus comprising the exopolysaccharide, the exopolysaccha fitmarii, Salipiger mucosus, Sclerotium delfinii, Sclerotium 15 glucanicum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Sinorhizobium meliloti, ride being a Viscosity modifying compound that Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, increases Viscosity of the composition. 16. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the Streptococcus equi, Sulfolobus solfataricus, Tetragenococ method comprising: cus halophilus, Thermococcus litoralis, Thermotoga mar providing at least one exopolysaccharide by at least one of itima, Thermus aquaticus, Vibrio Diabolicus, Xanthomonas Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant micro campestris, or Zymomonas mobilis. organism to conditions comprising a temperature of 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition about 150° C. to about 500° C. such that the micro comprises a mixture of the exopolysaccharide and an aque organism forms the exopolysaccharide, or ous or oil-based fluid comprising a drilling fluid, stimulation Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting fluid, clean-up fluid, produc 25 an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism tion fluid, completion fluid, remedial treatment fluid, aban to conditions comprising a temperature of about donment fluid, pill, acidizing fluid, cementing fluid, packer 150° C. to about 500° C. such that the microorgan fluid, or a combination thereof. ism forms the exopolysaccharide, 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cementing fluid the exopolysaccharide comprising at least one of comprises Portland cement, pozzolana cement, gypsum 30 acetan, alginate, cellulose, chitosan, curdlan, a cement, high alumina content cement, slag cement, silica cyclosophoran, dextran, emulsan, a galactoglucopo cement, or a combination thereof. lysaccharide, gellan, glucuronan, N-acetyl-glu 14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of prior cosamine, N-acetyl-heparosan, hyaluronic acid, indi to, during, or contacting the subterranean formation with the cant, kefiran, lentinan, levan, mauran, pullulan, composition, the composition is used downhole, at least one 35 Scleroglucan, schizophyllan, stewartan, succinogly of alone or in combination with other materials, as a drilling can, Xanthan, and welan; and fluid, stimulation fluid, fracturing fluid, spotting fluid, clean contacting the subterranean formation with a compo up fluid, production fluid, completion fluid, remedial treat sition comprising the exopolysaccharide, the exopo ment fluid, abandonment fluid, pill, acidizing fluid, cement lysaccharide being a viscosity modifying compound ing fluid, packer fluid, or a combination thereof. 40 15. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the that increases viscosity of the composition. method comprising: 17. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the providing at least one exopolysaccharide by at least one of method comprising: Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant micro providing at least one exopolysaccharide by at least one of organism to conditions comprising a temperature of 45 Subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant micro about 150° C. to about 500° C. such that the micro organism to conditions comprising a temperature of about 150° C. to about 500° C. such that the micro organism forms the exopolysaccharide, or organism forms the exopolysaccharide, or Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using Subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to conditions comprising a temperature of about 50 to conditions comprising a temperature of about 150° C. to about 500° C. such that the microorgan 150° C. to about 500° C. such that the microorgan ism forms the exopolysaccharide, ism forms the exopolysaccharide; and the extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism contacting the subterranean formation with a composition comprising at least one of Acetobacter, Achromo comprising the exopolysaccharide, the exopolysaccha bacter, Acinetobacter, Aeropyrum, Agrobacterium, 55 Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Aquifex, Archaeoglobus, ride being a viscosity modifying compound that Aureomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, increases viscosity of the composition, Chromohalobacter, Colwellia, Escherichia, Exiguo wherein the providing of the exopolysaccharide is bacterium, Geobacillus, Geothermobacterium, performed above the surface. Hahella, Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halobiforma, ck ck ck k ck