Effect of selected biocides on microbiologically influenced corrosion caused by Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5

Abstract

The marine bacterial strain Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5, known for its lithotrophic growth ability to use metallic iron as a sole electron donor and for causing corrosion of steel, was used in the current study. Four commonly used biocides in the oil and gas industry, namely tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS), glutaraldehyde (GLUT), benzalkonium chloride (BAC), and GLUT/BAC were selected to study their efficacy in controlling carbon steel corrosion in the presence of this strain. Incubations containing strain IS5 and low carbon steel coupons were prepared in the presence and absence of the four biocides, and these were monitored using both electrochemical methods (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear polarization resistance and potentiodynamic polarization) and surface analyses (scanning electron microscopy, confocal measurements, optical microscopy, and profilometry) to assess the biofilm/metal interactions. When THPS, BAC, and GLUT/BAC treatments were applied, minimal corrosion was measured by all methods. In contrast, severe pitting was observed in the presence of 50 ppm GLUT, similar to what was observed when D. ferrophilus IS5 was incubated in the absence of biocide, suggesting that GLUT alone may not be effective in controlling MIC in marine environments. This study also showed that the use of non-destructive electrochemical methods is effective for screening for real time biocide selection and monitoring of the impact of chemicals post-dosage in oil and gas operations.

Complementary DNA/RNA-Based Profiling: Characterization of Corrosive Microbial Communities and Their Functional Profiles in an Oil Production Facility

“…Likewise, there are microorganisms that can degrade THPS at sub-lethal concentrations, using it as a nutrient for growth (Vorholt et al, 2000). THPS degradation produces formaldehyde under aerobic conditions and methanol under anaerobic conditions (Sharma et al, 2018). Since oil production systems are anaerobic environments, methanol is the most probable byproduct in THPS degradation.…”

“…This molecule can be used as a carbon source by several of the methanogens detected in the oilfield. Additionally, THPS dissociation releases sulfate and phosphorus to the environment, both also used by many microorganisms in their metabolic functions (Sharma et al, 2018). In fact, station PW2 that undergoes biocide treatment had a higher phosphate concentration compared to other stations and was the sole station where sulfate was detected.…”

Potential of dynamic bacterial communities in the bio-corrosion process: a proof study with surface morphology of metal coupons

“…The presence of acid gas creates an acidic environment. As reported by Dong et al and Sharma et al, 30,31 low pH (acidic environments) and high conductivity are responsible for acid attack on metals and create an environment for accelerated microbial corrosion. These results communicate the corrosion mechanism on the coupon bottles.…”

Severe Corrosion of Carbon Steel in Oil Field Produced Water Can Be Linked to Methanogenic Archaea Containing a Special Type of [NiFe] Hydrogenase

“…SRB impact metal integrity by producing hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) as a corrosive metabolic end product of sulfate reduction with (usually) organic electron donors. A small number of lithotrophic SRB isolates have further been shown to severely accelerate corrosion of steel in laboratory tests by utilizing cathodic electrons for their metabolism ( 8 – 10 ). It was proposed that outer membrane c -type cytochromes enable the direct uptake of electrons from steel in one such isolate, Desulfovibrio ferrophilus strain IS5 ( 11 ).…”