An oil shale field was found to exhibit classic signs of a heavy microbial burden including incidences of hydrogen sulfide production down hole and surface microbially influenced corrosion downhole pump and surface equipment fouling and fracturing fluid and drilling mud degradation. Over 130 samples including formation core material drilling muds fracturing fluid source waters production well samples samples collected from failed pipe surfaces and samples from salt water disposal facilities were collected in a comprehensive survey. Microbial activity was measured in parallel using four different bacterial quantification methods: 1. Traditional MPN culture-based assay for SRB APB GHB (aka "bug bottles) 2. Direct visualization and counting bacterial cells utilizing live/dead staining coupled to flow cytometry 3. An ATP-based assay for metabolically active cells and 4. A hydrolase-based assay for metabolically active cells. Additionally the microbial populations of some samples were characterized genetically using 16S amplicon metagenomics. Biocide selection tests were performed with frac water sources and a drilling mud sample. The survey results suggested that the bacterial activity could be attributed primarily to introduced water sources as opposed to indigenous formation microbes. Data generated by this exhaustive testing and screening were used to influence biocide choice and applications in the field. Impact of biocides on the field microbial characteristics are described and discussed.
Key words: corrosion, microbial monitoring, biocides, APB, acid producing bacteria, SRB, sulfate
reducing bacteria, biofilm, biofouling, bug bottles, flow cell cytometer, ATP, hydrolase, sulfidogenesis,
16S amplicon metagenomics
Key words: corrosion, microbial monitoring, biocides, APB, acid producing bacteria, SRB, sulfate reducing bacteria, biofilm, biofouling, bug bottles, flow cell cytometer, ATP, hydrolase, sulfidogenesis, 16S amplicon metagenomics