Practical use of new microbiology tools in oil production

Torben Lund Skovhus, Bo Højris, Aaron Marc Saunders, Trine Rolighed Thomsen, Mikkel Agerbæk, Jan Larsen

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The features and benefits of applying new microbiology tools to two situations often encountered in offshore oil production in the North Sea are presented. These new tools, i.e., FISH, Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), and Denaturant Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), give improved information compared to cultivation-based techniques. The two case studies include monitoring bacterial populations with molecular tools using nitrate injection on the Halfdan water injection system and the use of bacterial fingerprinting to identify the most probable corrosion process in scale samples. For the first case study, the FISH technique measures at least 100 times greater counts than obtained with the MPN technique. Molecular techniques can be applied much faster (typically within a few days) compared to traditional MPN techniques with a 30 days incubation time. This results in a potentially faster response time to maltreatments. For the second case study, the semi-quantitative PCR showed that scale deposits contain higher concentrations of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), as compared to produced water samples. The DGGE results showed that the majority of the scale community consisted of SRB and methanogenic bacteria, which are all potentially causing microbiologically influenced corrosion.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Petroleum Engineers - Offshore Europe Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2007
Number of pages8
PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
Publication date1 Jan 2007
Pages646-653
ISBN (Print)9781604239782
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2007
EventSociety of Petroleum Engineers - Offshore Europe Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2007 - Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Duration: 4 Sept 20077 Sept 2007

Conference

ConferenceSociety of Petroleum Engineers - Offshore Europe Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2007
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityAberdeen
Period04/09/200707/09/2007

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