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The Schizophyllum commune fungus: The white, cotton wool-like structure produces the biopolymer that Wintershall intends to use to increase crude oil production in the future. The brown fruiting body merely serves for reproduction.

Together with BASF, Wintershall is developing the biopolymer schizophyllan, which should help to increase production from older oil fields.

Producing more oil from mature fields is becoming increasingly important in the E&P industry. Together with BASF, Wintershall is researching various different Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods.

The Schizophyllum Commune fungus grows on dead wood in woodlands all around the world. As it grows, it produces the biopolymer schizophyllan that could help to extract more oil from fields that are already in production. This image shows a sample of the fungus at BASF, where schizophyllan is produced.

The Schizophyllum Commune fungus in a nutrient solution. The white flakes produce the biopolymer schizophyllan. This gelatinous substance thickens the water which is pressed into the reservoir as part of the oil production process. Since the water can no longer flow past the oil so easily, more crude oil is forced out of the reservoir and the recovery rate is enhanced.

The biopolymer schizophyllan thickens the water which is pumped into the reservoir to improve production. The thickened water should help to force more oil to the surface.

Schizophyllan solution: When the biopolymer schizophyllan is used in the oil field, it no longer contains the fungus, as it is fully separated from the biopolymer in advance.