title: The microbiology of hydrocarbon degradation in subsurface petroleum reservoirs: perspectives and prospects.
abstract: The majority of the Earth's petroleum resource is partly biodegraded. This is of considerable practical significance and can limit economic exploitation of petroleum reserves and lead to problems during petroleum production. Knowledge of the microorganisms present in petroleum reservoirs, their physiological properties and the biochemical potential for hydrocarbon degradation benefits successful petroleum exploration. Anaerobic conditions prevail in petroleum reservoirs and biological hydrocarbon degradation is apparently inhibited at temperatures above 80-90 degrees C. We summarise available knowledge and conjecture on the dominant biological processes active during subsurface petroleum biodegradation.
authors.affiliation: NRG, Petroleum Group, School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Drummond Building, University of Newcastle, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Wilfred F M
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Röling
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Steve R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Larter
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004579:Electron Transport; D005285:Fermentation; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D005648:Fuel Oils; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005579:Fossil Fuels; D005648:Fuel Oils; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D010578:Petroleum; D008697:Methane