Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T12:57:30.877Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effects of indigenous and introduced microbes on deeply buried hydrocarbon reservoirs, North Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

I. Spark ,
I. Patey ,
B. Duncan ,
A. Hamilton ,
C. Devine  and
C. McGovern-Traa
I. Spark*
Affiliation:
Corex (UK) Ltd, Units B1-B3 Airport Industrial Park, Howe Moss Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen, AB21 0GL
I. Patey
Affiliation:
Corex (UK) Ltd, Units B1-B3 Airport Industrial Park, Howe Moss Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen, AB21 0GL
B. Duncan
Affiliation:
Corex (UK) Ltd, Units B1-B3 Airport Industrial Park, Howe Moss Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen, AB21 0GL
A. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
C. Devine
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
C. McGovern-Traa
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Ashgrove Road West, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Anaerobic bacteria were identified in live drilling muds and cores from nine different North Sea and Irish Basin oilfields, varying in depth from 3500 to 15000 ft, and at temperatures up to 150°C. The anaerobic bacteria may be introduced into the reservoir during drilling operations or injection of water, but in many cases the bacteria are indigenous to the oilfield reservoirs. Confirmation of the indigenous anaerobic bacteria was made using molecular biology techniques (16S rDNA sequence analysis), comparing microbial populations present in the blank drilling mud as supplied to wellsite, in the live drilling mud taken during coring, and in the live core. The role of anaerobic bacteria in oilfield diagenesis is not fully understood, though pyrite precipitation, and exopolymer and H2S gas production were noted in this study, up to temperatures of 95°C.

Keywords

North Seamicrobeshydrocarbon reservoirs
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , March 2000 , pp. 5 - 12
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bastin, E.S., Grear, F.E., Merritt, C.A. & Moulton, G. (1926) The presence of sulphate reducing bacteria in oil field waters. Science, 63, 63–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bernard, F. & Connan, J. (1992) Indigenous microorganisms in connate water of many oil fields: A new tool in exploration and production techniques. Soc. Pet. Eng 67th Ann. Tech. Conf., SPE 24811, 24811–461.Google Scholar
Cline, D. (1969) Spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen sulphide in natural waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 14–454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cord-Ruwisch, R., Kleinitz, W. & Widdel, F. (1987) Sulfate-reducing bacteria and their activities in oil production. J. Petrol. Tech. (January), 97-106.Google Scholar
Cusack, F., Brown, D., Costerton, J. & Clementz, D. (1987) Field and laboratory studies of microbial/ fines plugging of water injection wells: Mechanism, diagnosis and removal. J. Petrol. Sci. Eng. 1, 1–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Douglas, S. & Beveridge, T. (1998) Mineral formation by bacteria in natural microbial communities. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 26, 26–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folk, R. (1993) SEM imaging of bacteria and nannobacteria in carbonate sediments and rocks. J. Sed. Pet. 63, 63–990.Google Scholar
Folk, R. & Lynch, F. (1997) The possible role of nannobacteria (dwarf bacteria) in clay-mineral diagenesis and the importance of careful sample preparation in high-magnification SEM study. J. Sed. Res. 67, 67–583.Google Scholar
Giangiacomo, L. & Dennis, D. (1997) Field testing of the biocompetitive exclusion process for control of iron and hydrogen sulfides. Soc. Petrol. Eng. Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting, SPE 38351, 125-135.Google Scholar
Hitzman, D. (1994) A new microbial technology for enhanced oil recovery and sulfide prevention and reduction. Soc. Petrol. Eng. Ninth Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, SPE/DOE 27752, 171-179.Google Scholar
Lappan, R. & Fogler, H. (1990) The effects of bacterial polysaccharide production on formation damage. Soc. Petrol. Eng. Formation Damage Control Symposium, Lafayette, SPE 19418, 165-172.Google Scholar
Penny, G. (1982) An improved method for the rapid detection of microbiological contamination in stimulation fluids. Soc. Petrol. Eng. Formation Damage Control Symposium, Lafayette, SPE 10672, 273-276.Google Scholar
Pfennig, N., Widdel, F. & Trûper, H. (1983) The Dissimilatory SRB. Pp. 926-940 in: Prokaryotes. (Starr, M.P., Stolp, H., Trouper, H.G., Balows, A. & Schlegel, H.G., editors). Springer-Verlag, New York.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, E. (1989) Biofilms on water-insoluble substrates. Pp. 59-71 in: Structure and Function of Biofilms. (Characklis, W.G. & Wilderer, P.A., editors). John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester and New York.Google Scholar
Rosnes, J. et al. (1990) Activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria under simulated reservoir conditions. Soc. Petrol. Eng. Formation Damage Control Symposium, Lafayette, SPE 19429, 231-236.Google Scholar
Scott, P. & Davies, M. (1993) Souring of new Irian Jaya wells traced to indigenous bacteria. Oil Gas J. June 14, 14–47.Google Scholar
Tyrie, J. & Ljosland, E. (1993) Predicted increase in Gullfaks H2S production associated with injected sea water - Application of biofilm model. Soc. Petrol. Eng. Offshore European Conference, Aberdeen, SPE 26700. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
West, J.M. & Chilton, P.J. (1997) Aquifers as environments for microbiological activity. Q. I Eng. Geol. 30, 30–147.Google Scholar