Problems Caused by Microbes and Treatment Strategies The Effect of Nitrate Injection in Oil Reservoirs – Experience with Nitrate Injection in the Halfdan Oilfield

Larsen, Jan; Skovhus, Torben Lund

doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9252-6_13

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Addition of nitrate to injection water may also provide a thermodynamic competitive advantage to organisms that grow by denitrification or nitrate reduction, or to sulfide-oxidizing bacteria that outcompete sulfidogens. In laboratory studies, adding nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor reduced sulfide production as well as sulfidogen abundance. , In field studies, nitrate injection has seen mixed success, − and its benefits at the field scale are not always observed …”

Section: Microbial Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Dynamics and Control in Shale Gas Production

Gaspar

Mathieu

Yang

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Microorganisms can cause detrimental effects in shale gas production, such as reservoir souring, plugging, equipment corrosion, and a decrease in hydrocarbon production volume and quality, thus representing a multi-billion-dollar problem. Prefracturing fluids, drilling mud, and impoundment water likely introduce deleterious microorganisms into shale gas reservoirs. Conditions within the reservoir generally select for halotolerant anaerobic microorganisms. Microbial abundance and diversity in flowback waters decrease shortly after hydraulic fracturing, with Clostridia, a class that includes spore-forming microorganisms, becoming dominant. The rapid microbial community successions observed suggest biocides are not fully effective, and more targeted treatment strategies are needed. At the impoundment level, microbial control strategies should consider biocide rotation, seasonal loading adjustments, and biocide pulse dosing. In shale plays where souring is common, stable 34 S/ 32 S isotope analysis to identify abiotic H 2 S is recommended to evaluate the merits of biocide application in treating reservoir souring. Overall, an improved understanding of the microbial ecology of shale gas reservoirs is needed to optimize microbial control, maximize well productivity, and reduce environmental and financial burdens associated with the ad hoc misuse and overuse of biocides.

show abstract