The Lost Hills oil and water gathering system was not designed to handle microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). A number of system change combined to cause prolific bacterial growth in a system in which bacteria had been relatively inactive. MIC has been mitigated using a combination of an effective biocide treating program, installation of an extensive pipeline pigging system, the use of MIC “resistant” materials, a vessel cleaning program, and an extensive monitoring program. The history of MIC at Lost Hills along with the cost and extent of MIC to this production system are presented.
Keywords: MIC, sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), acid producing bacteria (APB), corrosion, pitting, biocide treating, gathering system, production equipment, filters, pigging, water quality, sessile, and planktonic.