title: Identification and characterization of microbial biofilm communities associated with corroded oil pipeline surfaces.
abstract: Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) has long been implicated in the deterioration of carbon steel in oil and gas pipeline systems. The authors sought to identify and characterize sessile biofilm communities within a high-temperature oil production pipeline, and to compare the profiles of the biofilm community with those of the previously analyzed planktonic communities. Eubacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA sequences of DNA recovered from extracted pipeline pieces, termed 'cookies,' revealed the presence of thermophilic sulfidogenic anaerobes, as well as mesophilic aerobes. Electron microscopy and elemental analysis of cookies confirmed the presence of sessile cells and chemical constituents consistent with corrosive biofilms. Mass spectrometry of cookie acid washes identified putative hydrocarbon metabolites, while surface profiling revealed pitting and general corrosion damage. The results suggest that in an established closed system, the biofilm taxa are representative of the planktonic eubacterial and archaeal community, and that sampling and monitoring of the planktonic bacterial population can offer insight into biocorrosion activity. Additionally, hydrocarbon biodegradation is likely to sustain these communities. The importance of appropriate sample handling and storage procedures to oilfield MIC diagnostics is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology , OU Biocorrosion Center, University of Oklahoma , Norman , OK , USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Lenhart
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Iwona B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Beech
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sunner
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonifay
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biri
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Suflita
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000145:classification*; D003343:Corrosion; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013232:Steel / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013232:Steel
keywords: biocorrosion; hydrocarbon degradation; microbially influenced corrosion; petroleum microbiology; pipeline biofilm