Microbial Community Composition and Function in Jiangsu Oil Reservoir Cores, China

Shale oil reservoirs are typically characterised by elevated temperatures, confined spaces and oligotrophic conditions. Understanding the role of microorganisms in shale oil reservoirs is essential for elucidating biogeochemical cycles and the origins of life. However, the composition and metabolic functions of microbial communities in shale oil reservoirs remain elusive. In this study, shale core samples were collected from the HY1-1 and HY7 wells in the Jiangsu Oilfield. A combination of X-ray fluorescence, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses revealed that the samples contained various transition metals, abundant clay minerals and numerous pores with diameters greater than 1 μm. Fractionation of extracted crude oil fractions revealed that HY1-1 and HY7 contained 60% and 74% saturated hydrocarbons, primarily comprising C₁₁-C₃₅ n-alkanes. Various hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms, including Marinobacter, Alcanivorax, Alkanindiges and Nocardioides were present in HY1-1 or HY7 samples. Metagenomic analysis showed the presence of genes associated with aerobic hydrocarbon degradation, denitrification and DNRA in the HY7 sample, suggesting that microorganisms may utilise crude oil for growth and participate in the subsurface carbon and nitrogen cycle. This study elucidates the microbial community structure and functional gene profiles in shale core samples, providing critical insights for harnessing in situ microorganisms in shale oil reservoir development.