Data Mining to Prevent Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion?

Abstract

Abstract Oilfield microorganisms are directly responsible for many problems in the oil and gas industry, including microbiologically influenced corrosion, biofouling, reservoir souring, as well as employee injury. Recent efforts in both industrial and academic microbiology labs have been focused on identifying the particular types of bacteria and archaea responsible for causing these issues. This knowledge will assist in the design of better prevention, treatment, and control strategies for microbial activity. A series of in-depth analyses were carried out on a database of field samples submitted for microbial speciation in order to assist in making microbiology-related recommendations for the initial design phase of assets. This database contains over 500 different bacterial and archaeal species identified from >4000 samples submitted since 2009 from locations around the globe. These analyses showed an array of correlations between the types of microbes present in the submitted samples and the locations and processes in which they originated. The key learnings from these analyses have increased our overall understanding of the oilfield microbial population as well as better prepared us to intervene in their corrosive and undesirable activities.