Microorganisms of the carbonate petroleum reservoir 302 of the Romashkinskoe oilfield and their biotechnological potential

Abstract

Diversity, geochemical activity, and biotechnological potential of the microorganisms from oil bed 302 of the Romashkinskoe oilfield (Tatarstan, Russia) are reported. The microbial community contained almost no aerobic microorganisms. Sulfatereducing (10 3 -10 6 cells/mL) and fermentative bacteria (10 2 -10 5 cells/mL) pre� dominated in the oilfield. Sulfate reduction was the predominant process in formation water with the rates up to 26.6 µg S 2- L/day. The number of methanogens and methanogenesis rate in formation water did not exceed 10 4 cells/mL and 8.19 µg CH4 L/day, respectively. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene clone library revealed the sequences of denitrifying bacteria of the genera Sulfurimonas and Thauera. The oil recovery tech� nique combining the stimulation of fermentative bacteria and suppression of sulfate reducers in the oilfield was proposed for development of the bed 302. Fermentative bacteria could be activated by the traditional method, i.e., injection of molasses and nitrogen and phosphorus mineral salts through the injection wells. Introduction of high concentrations of nitrate will activate the growth of denitrifying bacteria, suppress the growth of sulfidogenic bacteria, and result in decreased sulfide concentration in formation water. The pro� posed biotechnology is technologically simple and environmentally friendly.