Sulfate-reducing bacteria and their activities in oil production

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/13554-PA· OSTI ID:6789841

Cord-Ruwisch, R; Kleinitz, W; Widdell, F

This paper presents an overview of the microbiology of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and their detrimental effects in oil technology and summarizes a study on SRB in an oil field. SRB are a group of specialized microorganisms that occur in aqueous environments in the absence of oxygen. The main nutrients for SRB are simple organic acids and molecular hydrogen (H/sub 2/) from decomposing natural organic matter. The nutrients are oxidized, with sulfate being reduced to sulfide (hydrogen sulfide, H/sub 2/S). The formed H/sub 2/S is the principal agent in the disastrous effects caused by SRB. It contaminates gas and stored oil, precipitates ferrous sulfide that plugs injection wells, and promotes corrosion of iron and steel in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic corrosion). Another principal mechanism by which SRB are involved in corrosion is their ability to depolarize iron surfaces by consumption of cathodically formed hydrogen. The postulate mechanisms in anaerobic corrosion are briefly explained. As an example for a microbiological study of SRB in oil technology, examination of an oil treater in a field in northern Germany is presented. On the basis of measured growth characteristics of the SRB, possibilities for controlling their activity are discussed.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Konstanz
• OSTI ID: 6789841
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 39:1; ISSN JPTJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALLOYS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
CORROSION PROTECTION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
DECOMPOSITION
DEPOLARIZATION
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
EUROPE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
FIELD PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
INJECTION WELLS
IRON
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NONMETALS
NUTRIENTS
OIL FIELDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
STEELS
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WELLS
WESTERN EUROPE