Study examines sulfate-reducing bacteria activity

Low-sulfate seawater injection can reduce the potential of an oil reservoir turning sour because of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Sulfate-reducing bacteria convert sulfate ions in seawater used in waterflooding into sulfide with the concomitant oxidation of a carbon source. In the case of seawater-floo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Oil & gas journal 1996-12, Vol.94 (50), p.68-69
Main Authors: McELHINEY, J.E, HARDY, J.A, RIZK, T.Y, STOTT, J.F.D, EDEN, R.D
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Anions
Applied sciences
Bacteria
Carbon
Carbon sources
Corrosion
Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products
Crude oil, natural gas, oil shales producing equipements and methods
Energy
Enhanced oil recovery methods
Equilibrium
Exact sciences and technology
Fuels
Hydrogen
Hydrogen sulfide
Nanofiltration
Offshore oil wells
Oil reservoirs
Oilfield equipment & services
Organic acids
Petroleum industry
Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands
Seawater
Studies
Sulfate reduction
Sulfates
Water flooding
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Summary:Low-sulfate seawater injection can reduce the potential of an oil reservoir turning sour because of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Sulfate-reducing bacteria convert sulfate ions in seawater used in waterflooding into sulfide with the concomitant oxidation of a carbon source. In the case of seawater-flooded oil reservoirs, these carbon sources are water soluble organic acids or their anions. The most important organic acid anion is acetate. It is naturally present in most North Sea formation waters at concentrations greater than 100 mg/kg. The investigation of the efficiency of sulfate-reducing bacteria under various conditions of sulfate limitation is discussed.
ISSN:0030-1388
1944-9151