Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
15:19
Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Influence of surfaces on sulphidogenic bacteria
C J Bass1, J S Webb, P F Sanders
1a Department of Biological Sciences , University of Exeter , Hatherly Building, Prince of Wales Road , Exeter , EX4 4PS , UK.
Biofouling
|November 26, 2011
Summary
Thermophilic sulphidogenic bacteria in oil reservoirs significantly increase sulphide production when attached to surfaces. These bacteria can survive nutrient deprivation and utilize available nutrients opportunistically.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Petroleum Geoscience
Background:
- Sulphidogenic bacteria in oil reservoirs cause significant economic issues like souring, fouling, and corrosion.
- Oil reservoirs offer large surface areas within porous matrices, ideal for bacterial colonization and growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of surfaces on sulphide production rates by thermophilic sulphidogen consortia.
- To investigate the survival and opportunistic nutrient utilization of thermophilic sulphidogens in simulated reservoir conditions.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of thermophilic sulphidogenic bacterial consortia from North Sea chalk formations.
- Measurement of sulphide production rates with and without additional surfaces in planktonic cultures.
- Incubation of thermophilic sulphidogens with chalk rock chips and varying nutrient concentrations.
Main Results:
- The presence of surfaces significantly enhanced both the rate and extent of sulphide generation.
- Sulphide production was rapid when thermophilic sulphidogens were introduced to chalk rock chips with nutrients.
- Renewed sulphide generation occurred upon subsequent nutrient addition, indicating opportunistic utilization.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial attachment to surfaces is a critical factor in enhancing sulphide production in oil reservoirs.
- Thermophilic sulphidogens can endure prolonged nutrient scarcity within porous rock matrices.
- These bacteria opportunistically utilize available nutrients, contributing to reservoir souring and corrosion issues.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur is a vital element in Earth's biogeochemical systems. It transitions through various inorganic states, including sulfate (SO₄²⁻), elemental sulfur (S⁰), and sulfide (S²⁻). Abiotic and biological mechanisms across oxic and anoxic environments intricately mediate these transformations. Sulfate, the most oxidized form of sulfur, is predominantly stored in rocks, marine sediments, and oceanic waters, acting as a long-term reservoir in the global sulfur cycle.In oxic environments,...
01:25Microbial Mats
Microbial communities forming biofilms and mats represent complex, spatially structured ecosystems where metabolic processes are stratified according to light, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. Biofilms are initial colonization stages, only a few millimeters thick, while mature microbial mats can reach centimeter-scale thickness and display intricate vertical organization. Their structural and functional heterogeneity allows microorganisms to occupy distinct ecological niches within a few...
01:24Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
01:24Microbial Corrosion
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
01:18Deep Sea Microbial Ecology
The deep ocean and its underlying sediments represent vast, largely unexplored microbial habitats that extend far beyond the sunlit photic zone. The photic (euphotic) zone typically spans the upper ~100–200 meters of pelagic waters in the open ocean, but its depth varies geographically and seasonally, where sufficient light supports photosynthetic life. Below this lies the deep sea, spanning roughly 1000–6000 meters (bathypelagic to abyssal zones), with deeper hadal trenches extending beyond...
01:30Marine Microbial Ecology
Marine microbial ecosystems are shaped by distinct physicochemical limits, including high salinity, low nutrient availability, and fluctuating oxygen levels. These conditions favor smaller microbial cell sizes, which maximize their surface-to-volume ratio for efficient nutrient uptake.Microbial activity and community composition are closely linked to biogeochemical cycles, particularly in dynamic environments like estuaries, where halotolerant microbes thrive in response to variable salinity...