Spore-forming thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria isolated from North Sea oil field waters

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 UTC 1991 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5382549

Rosnes, J T; Torsvik, T; Lien, T ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Bergen (Norway)

Thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria were isolated from oil field waters from oil production platforms in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Spore-forming rods dominated in the enrichments when lactate, propionate, butyrate, or a mixture of aliphatic fatty acids (C{sub 4} through C{sub 6}) was added as a carbon source and electron donor. Representative strains were isolated and characterized. The isolates grew autotrophically on H{sub 2}-CO{sub 2} and heterotrophically on fatty acids such as formate, propionate, butyrate, caproate, valerate, pyruvate, and lactate and on alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and propanol. Sulfate, sulfite, and thiosulfate but not nitrate could be used as an electron acceptor. The temperature range for growth was 43 to 78C; the spores were extremely heat resistant and survived 131C for 20 min. The optimum pH was 7.0. The isolates grew well in salt concentrations ranging from 0 to 800 mmol of NaCl per liter. Sulfite reductase P582 was present, but cytochrome c and desulfoviridin were not found. Electron micrographs revealed a gram-positive cell organization. The isolates were classified as a Desulfotomaculum sp. on the basis of spore formation, general physiological characteristics, and submicroscopic organization. To detect thermophilic spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacteria in oil field water, polyvalent antisera raised against antigens from two isolates were used. These bacteria were shown to be widespread in oil field water from different platforms. The origin of thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria in the pore water of oil reservoirs is discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5382549
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 57:8; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ALCOHOLS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BACTERIA
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ENZYMES
ETHANOL
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METHANOL
MICROORGANISMS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OIL FIELDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PHYSIOLOGY
PRODUCTIVITY
PROPANOLS
RESOURCES
SEAS
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
SULFATES
SULFITES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
THERMOPHILIC CONDITIONS
THIOSULFATES