title: Profiling of Indigenous Microbial Community Dynamics and Metabolic Activity During Enrichment in Molasses-Supplemented Crude Oil-Brine Mixtures for Improved Understanding of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery.
abstract: Anaerobic incubations using crude oil and brine from a North Sea reservoir were conducted to gain increased understanding of indigenous microbial community development, metabolite production, and the effects on the oil-brine system after addition of a complex carbon source, molasses, with or without nitrate to boost microbial growth. Growth of the indigenous microbes was stimulated by addition of molasses. Pyrosequencing showed that specifically Anaerobaculum, Petrotoga, and Methanothermococcus were enriched. Addition of nitrate favored the growth of Petrotoga over Anaerobaculum. The microbial growth caused changes in the crude oil-brine system: formation of oil emulsions, and reduction of interfacial tension (IFT). Reduction in IFT was associated with microbes being present at the oil-brine interphase. These findings suggest that stimulation of indigenous microbial growth by addition of molasses has potential as microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) strategy in North Sea oil reservoirs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Energy Resources Engineering (CERE), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Søltofts Plads, b 229, Lyngby, 2800, Denmark, amah@kt.dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Amalia Yunita
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Halim
authors.forename: Dorthe Skou
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Sidsel Marie
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Anna Eliasson
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lantz
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D017016:Methanococcaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008965:Molasses / Q000032:analysis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D009659:North Sea; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields / Q000382:microbiology*; D000066388:Oil and Gas Industry / Q000379:methods; D010578:Petroleum / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D000068357:Saline Waters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013500:Surface Tension; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020124:Thermotoga maritima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D010578:Petroleum; D013501:Surface-Active Agents