Functional genes (dsr) approach reveals similar sulphidogenic prokaryotes diversity but different structure in saline waters from corroding high temperature petroleum reservoirs

Abstract

Oil reservoirs and production facilities are generally contaminated with H2S resulting from the activity of sulphidogenic prokaryotes (SRP). Sulphidogenesis plays a major role in reservoir souring and microbial influenced corrosion in oil production systems. In the present study, sulphidogenic microbial diversity and composition in saline production fluids retrieved from three blocks of corroding high temperature (79 ~ 95 °C) oil reservoirs with high sulfate concentrations were investigated by phylogenetic analyses of gene fragments of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsr). Analysis of dsr gene fragments revealed the presence of several clusters of sulphidogenic prokaryotes that cover the orders Desulfovibrionales (Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium thermophilum), Desulfobacterales (Desulfobacterium, Desulfosarcina, Desulfococcus, Desulfotignum, Desulfobotulus, Desulfobulbus), Syntrophobacterales (Desulfacinum, Thermodesulforhabdus, Desulforhabdus), Clostridiales (Desulfotomaculum) and Archaeoglobales (Archaeoglobus); among which sequences affiliated to members of Desulfomicrobium, Desulfotomaculum and Desulfovibrio appeared to be the most encountered genera within the three blocks. Collectively, phylogenetic and non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses indicated similar but structurally different sulphidogenic prokaryotes communities within the waters retrieved from the three Blocks. This study show the diversity and composition of sulphidogenic prokaryotes that may play a role in the souring mediated corrosion of the oilfield and also provides a fundamental basis for further investigation to control oil reservoir souring and corrosion of pipelines and topside installations.

Dominance of Desulfotignum in sulfate-reducing community in high sulfate production-water of high temperature and corrosive petroleum reservoirs

“…Before injection, biocides are added to the recycled water. Souring and corrosion are commonly observed in Jiangsu oilfield, and millions of US dollars are spent annually to maintain the oilfield facilities (Guan et al, 2014). The two wells were selected for this study due to their severe pipeline corrosion and reservoir souring.…”

“…For example, at a high-temperature oilfield in Huabei (China), the predominant microorganisms were Gammaproteobacteria, and Methanothermobacter (Tang et al, 2012). Using functional genes, Desulfomicrobium, Desulfotomaculum and Desulfovibrio appeared to be the most common genera in a saline oil production water sample (Guan et al, 2014). However, community and composition of microorganisms and SRP in different petroleum reservoirs may differ greatly and the variations may also be apparent from one geographic location to another.…”

Abundance and diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the sediment of the Zhou Cun drinking water reservoir in Eastern China

“…The clone YX5-10 was 95% similar to an uncultured Desulfobulbus sp clone (Oakley et al, 2010) found in estuarine sediment. According to our phylogenetic analysis, 10 clones were very similar to each other and clustered into a main group of Desulfobacterium sp, and were found to be closely related to sequences retrieved from an oil field (Guan et al, 2013b). Both Desulfobulbus sp and Desulfobacterium sp belong to the Desulfobacteraceae family, whose members play an important role in the production of sulfide along coastal seas.…”

Sulfidogenic Microbial Communities From Technogenically Transformed Soils

“…Сульфидогенные микробные сообщества присутствуют во многих техно-генных и природных экотопах, например, подземных пластовых водах [4], высокотемпературных нефтяных пластах [2] и прочее [9]. Выполняя важные биосферные функции трансформации соединений серы и железа, данные со-общества являются одним из агентов биокоррозионных процессов.…”