Research and application of microbial exploration for oil and gas

Abstract:

[Objective] Microbial prospecting for hydrocarbons is based on the hydrocarbon microseepage, the natural phenomenon that hydrocarbon gases of subsurface petroleum accumulations migrate upward by reservoir pressure. The detection of the activity and distribution of these highly specialized populations can be used to forecast the existence of oil and gas deposits. However, the hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacterial population is usually not predominant in soil samples above the typical onshore oil and gas reservoirs. It is hard to assess the abundance, distribution, and community composition of the hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria, neither to assess the functional activity and distribution of different groups. [Methods] In this study, the hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria will be studied under simulated environment. Furthermore, hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria above the typical onshore oil and gas reservoirs in Puguang gas field, were studied. [Results] A coincidence existed between elevated CH4 oxidation activity and the methanotrophic community structure with Lacibacter cauensis, Methylococcaceae, and Methylophilaceae, whereas unculture sulfur oxidizing bacteria had a coincidence with butane oxidation activity. Analysis of the biotechnology profile data for hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria was used to extend genetic information for the bacteria and to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in specific biological processes above the typical onshore oil and gas reservoirs. [Conclusion] The profiling data of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria will provide a comprehensive insight at different areas of onshore oil and gas reservoirs and lay the foundation for the study of optimizing the technology of microbial prospecting at the biotechnology level.