Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) technology has advanced, pince 1980, from a laboratory-based evaluation of microbial processes, to field applications internationally. In order to adequately support the decline in oil production in certain areas, research on cost-effective technologies such as microbial enhanced oil recovery processes must be focused on both near-term and long-term applications, Many marginal wells are desperately in need of an inexpensive improved oil recovery technology today that can assist producers in order to prevent their abandonment. Microbial enhanced waterflooding technology has also been shown to be an economically feasible technology in the United States. Complementary environmental research and development will also be required to address any potential environmental impacts of microbial processes. The feasibility of microbial EOR processes for reservoirs in the North Sea is discussed.