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Profiling of Indigenous Microbial Community Dynamics and Metabolic Activity During Enrichment in Molasses-Supplemented Crude Oil-Brine Mixtures for Improved Understanding of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

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Abstract

Anaerobic incubations using crude oil and brine from a North Sea reservoir were conducted to gain increased understanding of indigenous microbial community development, metabolite production, and the effects on the oil–brine system after addition of a complex carbon source, molasses, with or without nitrate to boost microbial growth. Growth of the indigenous microbes was stimulated by addition of molasses. Pyrosequencing showed that specifically Anaerobaculum, Petrotoga, and Methanothermococcus were enriched. Addition of nitrate favored the growth of Petrotoga over Anaerobaculum. The microbial growth caused changes in the crude oil–brine system: formation of oil emulsions, and reduction of interfacial tension (IFT). Reduction in IFT was associated with microbes being present at the oil–brine interphase. These findings suggest that stimulation of indigenous microbial growth by addition of molasses has potential as microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) strategy in North Sea oil reservoirs.

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Acknowledgements

This study has been carried as a part of the BioRec project supported by the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, Maersk Oil and DONG E&P. Maersk Oil is acknowledged for supplying the crude oil and produced water samples. The authors also wish to thank Son Huu Do from Maersk Oil for reviewing the manuscript. Nordic Sugar is acknowledged for providing the molasses for the experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Energy Resources Engineering (CERE), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Søltofts Plads, b 229, Lyngby, 2800, Denmark

    Amalia Yunita Halim & Sidsel Marie Nielsen

  2. Danish Technological Institute (DTI), DTI Oil & Gas, Kongsvang Allé 29, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark

    Dorthe Skou Pedersen

  3. Chemical Reaction Engineering and Combustion (CHEC), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, DTU, Søltofts Plads, b 229, Lyngby, 2800, Denmark

    Anna Eliasson Lantz

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  1. Amalia Yunita Halim
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Correspondence to Amalia Yunita Halim.

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Halim, A.Y., Pedersen, D.S., Nielsen, S.M. et al. Profiling of Indigenous Microbial Community Dynamics and Metabolic Activity During Enrichment in Molasses-Supplemented Crude Oil-Brine Mixtures for Improved Understanding of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 176, 1012–1028 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1626-y

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